Ditransitive verbs require two arguments other than the subject: (1) the theme, T, also known as the direct object of the ditransitive verb (DOditr), and (2) the recipient, R, also called the indirect object. T is not the same as the direct object of a monotransitive verb (DOmonotr), which is called a patient and fulfills the function P. [1] Using the prototypical ditransitive verb ‘give,’ this parameter examines the grammatical coding of the syntactic roles T (that which is given) and R (to whom it is given) with respect to P (the object of any monotransitive verb, such as ‘buy’).
For the purposes of this parameter, only active sentences should be considered in which the functions P and R are represented by a noun and T by a pronoun.[2] Grammatical coding of the functions may occur on the (pro)noun (case affixes or adpositions) and/or on the verb (person marking). The coding of (pro)nouns and verbs should be evaluated independently, with the values then listed alongside each other, separated by a plus sign (+). Word order alone, even if obligatory, does not constitute grammatical coding.
Types:
PTRNoSynt: P, T, and R are not marked for their syntactic roles.[3]
PTR: The objects of monotransitive and ditransitive verbs are marked the same way.[4]
PT–R: The objects of monotransitive and ditransitive verbs are marked the same way; the recipient is marked differently.
PR–T: The patient of a monotransitive verb and the recipient of a ditransitive verb are marked the same way; the theme of a ditransitive verb is marked differently.
TR–P: The theme and recipient of a ditransitive verb are marked the same way; the patient of a monotransitive verb is marked differently.[5]
NoVAgr: The verb does not display agreement with P, T, or R.
VAgr: The verb shows identical agreement (same affix) with P, T, and R.
VAgrPTR: The verb codes agreement with T, R, and P each differently.
VAgrPTnoR: The verb codes agreement with P and T the same way; agreement with R is not coded.
VAgrPT–R: The verb codes agreement with P and T the same way; agreement with R is coded differently.
VAgrPRnoT: The verb codes agreement with P and R the same way; agreement with T is not coded.
VAgrPR–T: The verb codes agreement with P and R the same way; agreement with T is coded differently.
VAgrSpec: The verb codes agreement based on other syntactic considerations.
Parameter values referring to verb agreement should be listed alongside any of the first five values, separated by a plus sign (+). When a language displays more than one type, two values can be listed. If one type is dominant, a slash (/) can separate the two values, with the dominant value appearing first; if neither is dominant, they are listed with an ampersand (&) separating the two. [6]
[1] Compare the sentence The boy received the money with The boy gave his father the money. In the former, the money is P; in the latter, the money is T, and the father is R.
[2] For example: The boy buys flowers. The boy gives them to the girl. (If verb agreement is possible, sentences should be chosen that display agreement with the maximum possible number of arguments.)
[3] For example, these components may be coded by class or by their position in the animacy hierarchy. The details should be specified in the commentary.
[4] This includes both grammatical marking and the lack of such marking. The value PTR therefore equally applies to a language in which neither P, T, and R is marked and to one in which all three are marked with the same case affix or adposition. Whether the language is of the former or latter type should be specified in the commentary.
[5] It is assumed that this combination does not occur in any of the world’s languages.
[6] For the purposes of this parameter, it is of no significance whether languages with multiple types feature optional or obligatory use of a given type, but this information may be noted in the commentary.