Re: (In)transitive verbs

Merhaba!

Padraic wrote:

"If there's a consistent pattern of formation, then I'd say they form a "regular" group.

I agree.

Tristan wrote:

"three-way distinction strong/weak/irregular with a few subdivisions in strong and
irregular over regular/irregular with the strong subdivisions in irregular,
bearing in mind that technically, most* irregular verbs are weak (ones like
think/thought, set/set, do/did (at least, I think it's weak.

Could someone please explain what these terms mean?

Padraic:

"It fits the data best. I think that the strong/weak
distinction works best, as it totally ignores what might be seen as currently irregular.

Hmm. Interesting idea.

Tristan:

"Also, ask your average (naïve)

I've only seen naive with a trema over the <i> once or twice. Which is correct? (Or
is it like 'mosquitos vs. mosquitoes'?)

"English speaker to classify a bunch of random verbs. All the ablauting verbs they'll
put with to think and to be in the irregular pile...

Padraic:

"Well, of course! That's what they're taught! - and they could as well be taught that
these verbs are "green" and those verbs are "blue" for the sense that makes!
That's what I was taught.

Yep :((( . That's what I'm being taught, too :((( .

"I wasn't taught the strong/weak distinction until I got into college and began
looking at Germanic grammars! The Germanic grammars immediately made sense.

"Likewise with verbs and all those crazy Latin tenses that English doesn't really have.
I looked at Sihler's description of the English verb and immediately said "That
makes SENSE!!" - and that was just a couple years ago.

This is why when I take over the world, I will ensure textbooks of language are
written properly, and special teachers are trained to teach linguistics to the
masses! Any volunteers? :))

What are English's tenses, moods, aspects etc.? (I read once that someone tho't
that 'plural' was a tense!!)

Tristan:

"And given the connotations of 'strong', I really think it's inappropriate to call
English irregular verbs formed by ablaut 'strong'."

Padraic:

"I don't disagree, regarding the terminology. Ablaut/dental might be better, and
is certainly more descriptive.

I totally agree!

--Trebor