Abstract
This paper is concerned with classifying Pre-Qin verbs ir- iermsof transitivity. We first clarify a fallacy of analysis by whichtransitivity is linked with verbs that take two participants. Numberof participants is irrelevant to the distinction of high transitivityverbs and low transitivity verbs. Transitivity seems not formallyencoded in Pre-Qin Chinese. The concept about transitivity,however, is significant to verb classification. It is a distinct propertyof low transitivity verbs that they are liable to go through aproductive grammatical process of causativization and convert intocausative verbs. High transitivity verbs are unfit for the process.Transitivity in the language at issue is conceptually associated withtransferring of dynamic actions from potent and volitional agents toaimed entities. Owing to the concept of transferring, high transitivityverbs normally require two participants, one expressing the agent,and the other, the target. Low transitivity verbs in their non-derivedforms are never involved in any transferring of dynamic actions.Causative verbs, the derived forms of low transitivity verbs, surfacein a formation similar to high transitivity verbs. The differencebetween high transitivity verbs and causative verbs also lies on theforce of. transferring. Causative verbs never indicate strong senses oftransferring. The concept of causativity is related to resultative statesthat the objects of causative verbs ultimately change into.