Types of transitivity, intransitive objects, and untransitivity – and the logic of their structural designs

This discussion is on diathetic derivative relations between verbs and their distribution between the syntactic component and the lexicon. We investigate whether or not the lexicon of verbs can be based on derivative relations such that there is only one basic type of verb – let us assume, transitive verbs –, which lie at the base of all other verbs. The conclusion will be that, on the basis of a few cross-linguistic patterns, such a division of work can indeed be achieved. The main criterion to motivate essential differences is aspect (or Aktionsart as applied on German, which is not an aspect language in the Slavic sense) in terms of perfectivity vs. imperfectivity.

Published online: 17 November 2010
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.166.02abr