LanGoPod Episode 6: Eat, kick, bite! T r a n s i t i v i t y for the language learner
LanGoPod is a podcast that helps you learn languages more effectively by understanding linguistic principles. 💬
In this episode of LanGoPod, we talk about how understanding transitivity is useful for the language learner.
What is transitivity? Well, it’s unrelated to the concept from math! Transitivity is a property of the clause and an important concept in regard to the structure of human language. It provides a framework for classifying verbs and clauses with reference to the relationship of the verb to other structural elements. A transitive construction is one in which the verb is followed by a direct object; an intransitive construction is one in which the verb cannot take a direct object.
After introducing the notion of the phrase, clause, and core argument, we discuss three types of basic sentences: intransitive, transitive, and ditransitive. We point out that transitivity is not always binary, and that semantic components of transitivity should also be considered. We also note that there are cross-linguistic differences, e.g., reflexive action is transitive in some languages (like English), but intransitive in others (like Roviana). Some verbs can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on how they are used.
For our “Comparatively Speaking” section, we examine how transitivity works in English, Roviana, Korean, and Japanese. We end with some folk etymology and wordplay from the 치맥 “chi-maek” section of our forthcoming book on Sino-Korean compounds.