The grammar of experiential meaning: TRANSITIVITY

English Grammar II 1

It refers to how the world is represented by the participants of a conversation through language

The processes are realized by the verbal group of the clause

Every clause includes at least one participant

English Grammar II 2

The transitivity system deal with the description of the whole caluse, but mainly focuses in the VERBAL GROUP.

There are six kinds of processes within which the verbs can e classified:

English Grammar II 3

MATERIAL PROCESS: Concrete tangible actionsHas an Actor, a Goal/ Range, a

Beneficiary

MENTAL PROCESS:Is part of the internal world of the mindVerbs with the meaning of thinking,

imagining, wanting, etcHas a Senser, a Phenomenon

English Grammar II 4

VERBAL PROCESS:All verbs connected with “saying”Between mental and material processesHas a Sayer, a Receiver, a Verbiage

BEHAVIORAL PROCESS:Halfway between mental and material

processes.Typically, only one participant (Behaver)In some clauses, another participant

(Bahavior); adds specification to the process

English Grammar II 5

RELATIONAL PROCESS:We need the verb ‘to be’; or others with

equative meaningHas a Carrier, an Attribute

(Attributive); or a Token and a Value (Identifying)

EXISTENTIAL PROCESS:Recognizable because the subject is

‘There’Only one participant: the Existent

English Grammar II 6

Circumstances:Realized by circumstantial adjunctsCategories of circumstance: time place

and manner.

Transitivity in text:Tells us how texts work.Reflects a switch from ‘done to’ and

‘doer’.Is a useful way into exploring the

meaning.English Grammar II 7