Four reasons for a revision of the Transitivity Hypothesis

Abstract. Since the Transitivity Hypothesis was introduced thirty four years ago, it has become one of the most influential approaches to the functioning of transitivity in natural language. Despite the huge impact of the approach, at least within functional linguistics, some fundamental theoretical and methodological problems still remain unsolved; this seriously undermines the entire approach. The aim of this study is to analyze the four most crucial shortcomings of the approach and to propose solutions. Specifically, the study focuses on (1) the consequences of the absence of a sound theoretical foundation, (2) the ambiguity of the Hypothesis, (3) methodological deficiencies, and (4) the dubious validity of the Transitivity Hypothesis with regard to its universality. This study also takes into account later modifications of the Transitivity Hypothesis, particularly the frequency-based approach which has been advanced by the authors of the Transitivity Hypothesis