The Transitivity Hypothesis - Investigation on the importance of transitivity in grammar and discourse

Index

  I Introduction  

  II Main Part  

1.  The study  

1.1.  Measuring Transitivity  

1.1.1.  Participants  

1.1.2.  Kinesis  

1.1.3.  Aspect  

1.1.4.  Punctuality  

1.1.5.  Volitionality  

1.1.6.  Affirmation  

1.1.7.  Mode  

1.1.8.  Agency  

1.1.9.  Affectedness of O  

1.1.10.  Individuation of O  

1.2.  Overview  

1.3.  T in practice  

1.4.  The Transitivity Hypothesis  

2.  Universality  

2.1.  The function of the object  

2.1.1.  O-marking by prepositions and affixes  

2.1.2.  V-O correlation  

2.1.3.  Word order  

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  

  III Conclusion  

  IV References  

  V Appendix  

List of abbreviations

(in alphabetical order)

A agent

ABS absolutive

ERG ergative

INTR intransitive

NOM nominative

O direct object

P patient

T transitivity

TRANS transitive

TH Transitivity Hypothesis

V verb

They are used within the text because of stylistic reasons.

I. Introduction

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.

1 EFL: English as a Foreign Language.

2 In the following text: “Hopper/Thompson“.

Hopper is an expert in several areas of linguistics, including Indo-European languages and linguistic change over time. His research centres on the relationship between grammar and rhetoric. (comp.: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/030210_mellonprof.html) Sandra A. Thompson is Professor of Linguistics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. 3 Hopper, P. J. & Thompson, S. A.: “Transitivity in grammar and discourse”; in: Language (Volume 56; No. 2, Jun. 1980; p.251-299).

II. Main Part

1. The study

In the first place it is essential to define Transitivity in its entire complexity in order to comprehend the study about the Transitivity Hypothesis.

“Transitivität hat wie viele andere Begriffe der traditionellen Grammatik eine doppelte, syntaktische Bedeutung. Syntaktisch bedeutet Transitivität das Vorhandensein eines direkten Objekts im Satz.“ 4

The other and less well-known aspect of the Transitivity study made by Hopper/Thompson is that they looked at T from a different angle. They did not only concentrate on the direct object , but they also considered the items of the whole phrase.

„Semantisch bezeichnet Transitivität einen bestimmten Prozesstyp, bei dem zwischen mindestens zwei Beteiligten ein effektiver, intentionaler Übergang von Aktivität’ stattfindet.“ 5

According to Hopper/Thompson

„Transitivity is traditionally understood as a global property of an entire clause, such that an activity is ‘carried-over’ or ‘transferred’ from an agent to a patient. Transitivity in the traditional view thus necessarily involves at least two participants (…), and an action which is EFFECTIVE in some way.” 6

Within the scope of a universal grammar starting point the two linguists introduced several T factors. When these factors work together the notion of T becomes graduated. Next to the selection of a direct object the semantic roles and features of the verb, the mode of the verb, and affirmation vs. negation are of importance when speaking of the T of a phrase or clause. “These components are all concerned with the effectiveness with which an action takes place.” 7 In the course of their study Hopper/Thompson give evidence for their proposed parameters both in English and in other languages of the world and their grammars and thus show the

6 Hopper, P. J. & Thompson, S. A.: “Transitivity in grammar and discourse”; p. 251

7 Ibid.; p. 251.

universality of T. The second part of the study is occupied with T in discourses, again in English as well as in other languages.

1.1. Measuring Transitivity

In order to rank the effectiveness of a clause Hopper/Thompson chose the following parameters, which either refer to the verb (V), to the direct object or patient (O/P) or to the subject or agent (A) of the clause.

1.1.1. Participants (A)

A clause must have at least two participants for an action to be transferred.

(1) John is kissing Sarah.

(2) Mary is reading.

According to the theory, (1) is more effective and therefore more transitive than (2).

1.1.2. Kinesis (B)

Kinesis refers to the action of the verb. Transferable actions are in contrast with non- transferable states.

(1) John likes his big sister.

(2) John tickled his baby brother.

In (2) some kind of movement or action is visible. So, (2) is more effective than (1) because the verbum sentiendi like describes a state and not an action.

1.1.3. Aspect (C)

An action can be telic or perfective, which means wholly completed, or it can be atelic or imperfective, which means only partially completed. 8

8 Hopper/Thompson differentiate between telic/perfective and atelic/imperfective in more detail, but in order to

introduce the notion of aspect, in the beginning they use the terminologies interchangeably.

The terminology perfective/imperfective is broader. (comp. Hopper, P. J. & Thompson, S. A.: “Transitivity in

grammar and discourse”; p. 270-271).