As a learner of languages in general and of English in particular, sooner or later one comes across transitive and intransitive verbs. For most of the learners this only means that there are these verbs, which take a direct object (transitive) and those, which do not (intransitive). (1) Susan left. (2) He is writing something.
When comparing example (1) and (2), the average student of EFL 1 would claim the second one to be transitive, while the first one would be described as intransitive. For learners at school this explanation might be sufficient, but as a linguist the notion of Transitivity goes far beyond the simple declaration of verbs to be object-taking or not.
In this paper special interest will focus on the notion of Transitivity. The observations are based on a study made by Paul J. Hopper and Sandra A. Thompson 2 published in 1980, which focuses on the importance of Transitivity in grammar and discourse 3 .
The first part of the paper presented here will explain the notion of Transitivity according to the results of the study by Hopper/Thompson. The second part will draw attention to the universality of Transitivity.
The question arises in how far Transitivity is essential to language. Why does the speaker of a language use Transitivity within a speech and how does he do so? Therefore, the main focus of the third part will lie on the pragmatic function of Transitivity, which means the importance of it as a discourse determiner. Especially the role of Transitivity in Foregrounding in discourse will be looked at.
The writer of this paper tries to find own examples, if possible, but when it comes to universality and the corpus investigation, only examples of the original study can guarantee the verification of the theory. [...]
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. Main Part
- 1. The study
- 1.1. Measuring Transitivity
- 1.2. Overview
- 1.3. T in practice
- 1.4. The Transitivity Hypothesis
- 2. Universality
- 2.1. The function of the object
- 2.2. Case as T-marker in the subject
- 2.3. T-markers in the verb
- 3. Function of T in discourse
- 3.1. T and text summarizing
- 3.2. Experiment
- 1. The study
- III. Conclusion
- IV. References
- V. Appendix
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper investigates the concept of transitivity in English grammar and discourse, building upon the work of Hopper and Thompson. It aims to explore the significance of transitivity beyond the simple distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs, examining its role in both grammar and discourse pragmatics. The paper will analyze the universality of transitivity across languages and investigate its function in text summarization and foregrounding.
- The definition and measurement of transitivity
- The universality of transitivity across languages
- The pragmatic function of transitivity in discourse
- The role of transitivity in text summarization and foregrounding
- Application of the Transitivity Hypothesis
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by establishing the common understanding of transitivity amongst language learners, contrasting it with the more nuanced linguistic perspective. It introduces the central focus on Hopper and Thompson's study on the importance of transitivity in grammar and discourse, outlining the paper's structure and its objectives: explaining transitivity according to Hopper/Thompson's findings, examining its universality, and exploring its pragmatic function in discourse, particularly its role in foregrounding. The author states an intention to use original examples where possible, relying on Hopper and Thompson's study for verifying the theory concerning universality and corpus investigation.
II. Main Part: This section delves into the core arguments of the paper. It begins by defining transitivity's complexities, drawing on both the traditional syntactic view (presence of a direct object) and the less-known semantic aspect explored by Hopper/Thompson. This semantic aspect considers transitivity as a process type involving an effective, intentional transfer of activity between at least two participants. The chapter further introduces Hopper and Thompson's concept of transitivity as a graduated notion determined by several factors – including direct object selection, semantic roles and features of the verb, verb mode, and affirmation versus negation. These factors contribute to the effectiveness of the action. The chapter concludes by discussing the evidence Hopper/Thompson present for these parameters across various languages.
Keywords
Transitivity, Transitivity Hypothesis, grammar, discourse, Hopper and Thompson, English grammar, verb, direct object, semantic roles, pragmatics, universality, foregrounding, text summarization.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this language preview?
This preview focuses on the concept of transitivity in English grammar and discourse, building upon the work of Hopper and Thompson. It explores transitivity's significance beyond the simple transitive/intransitive verb distinction, examining its role in grammar and discourse pragmatics.
What are the key themes explored in this preview?
Key themes include the definition and measurement of transitivity; the universality of transitivity across languages; the pragmatic function of transitivity in discourse; the role of transitivity in text summarization and foregrounding; and the application of the Transitivity Hypothesis.
What does the preview cover in terms of content?
The preview provides a comprehensive overview, including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It details the introduction, main arguments, and conclusion of a larger work focused on transitivity.
How is transitivity defined and measured in this preview?
Transitivity is defined both traditionally (presence of a direct object) and semantically (effective, intentional transfer of activity between participants). Measurement involves considering several factors: direct object selection, semantic roles and verb features, verb mode, and affirmation/negation – all contributing to the action's effectiveness.
What is the significance of Hopper and Thompson's work in this preview?
Hopper and Thompson's work on transitivity is central. The preview examines their concept of transitivity as a graduated notion and uses their study to verify the universality of transitivity and inform corpus investigation.
What is the role of transitivity in discourse, according to this preview?
The preview explores transitivity's pragmatic function in discourse, particularly its role in text summarization and foregrounding. An experiment is mentioned as part of this investigation.
What is the universality aspect of transitivity discussed in this preview?
The preview investigates the universality of transitivity across languages, examining how various grammatical features (like case marking and verb morphology) indicate transitivity in different languages. The evidence presented by Hopper and Thompson is discussed.
What are the chapter summaries included in this preview?
The preview includes summaries for the introduction (setting the stage and outlining objectives), the main part (delving into the core arguments, including the complexities of transitivity and evidence from Hopper and Thompson's study), and a concluding chapter.
What are the keywords associated with this language preview?
Keywords include: Transitivity, Transitivity Hypothesis, grammar, discourse, Hopper and Thompson, English grammar, verb, direct object, semantic roles, pragmatics, universality, foregrounding, and text summarization.
- Quote paper
- Conny Schibisch (Author), 2006, The Transitivity Hypothesis - Investigation on the importance of transitivity in grammar and discourse, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/66869
