Verbs Of Behaviour

Matthiessen (1995: 348):

Certain verbs of behaviour (including verbal behaviour) are "reciprocal" and can serve either in clauses with a participant realised by a plural nominal group or coordinated nominal groups or with a circumstance of Accompaniment. For instance, fight can serve in either Anne and Henry fought or in Anne fought with Henry.

Similarly: chat, discuss, speak, talk, dance, fight, kiss, play, waltz. Outside the behavioural domain …

Blogger Comments:

To be clear, fight patterns like a material Process, not a behavioural Process, since it allows a co-participant to be construed as Goal in an effective clause:

Henry fought Anne

whereas a behavioural Process does not:

*Henry sneezed Anne

*Henry laughed Anne