V. V. Babaytseva’s transitivity theory and its application in China

Abstract

This article explores V. V. Babaytseva’s theory of transitivity and the specific features of its reception, adaptation, and development in the Russian studies conducted in China. The research material includes scholarly articles, monographs, and dissertations published in China from the mid-20th century to the present selected from the National Scientific Database of China and the Dissertation Collection of Peking University. The paper traces the main stages in the development of the theory of transitivity, i. e., from early empirical observations of borderline grammatical phenomena to its systematic application within the framework of state scientific projects and academic research. It is shown that in the Russian studies in China, the theory of transitivity functions as a productive methodological tool for analysing word-formation, morphological, and syntactic structures with an intermediate categorical status. Particular attention is given to the use of the transitivity scale when describing syncretic units and phenomena that cannot be unambiguously classified within the framework of traditional binary models. Moreover, the article separately examines the applied and didactic potential of the theory of transitivity in teaching Russian as a foreign language. It is emphasised that employing the transition zones of the grammatical system contributes to the development of a more flexible and systematic understanding of Russian grammar in students. The practice of conducting Russian studies in China indicates the conceptual maturity of the transitivity theory and confirms its continuing relevance for modern linguistics.