diff --git a/symex-transformations-lisp.el b/symex-transformations-lisp.el
index 199def15..17cd6d48 100644
--- a/symex-transformations-lisp.el
+++ b/symex-transformations-lisp.el
@@ -262,5 +262,79 @@ selected expression. Otherwise, paste in place."
           (end (symex--get-end-point count)))
       (copy-region-as-kill start end))))
 
+(defun symex-lisp--emit-backward ()
+  "Emit backward."
+  (when (and (symex-left-p)
+             (not (symex-empty-list-p)))
+    (save-excursion
+      (symex--go-up)  ; need to be inside the symex to emit and capture
+      (paredit-backward-barf-sexp 1))
+    (symex--go-forward)
+    (when (symex-empty-list-p)
+      (fixup-whitespace)
+      (re-search-forward symex--re-left)
+      (symex--go-down))))
+
+(defun symex-lisp-emit-backward (count)
+  "Emit backward COUNT times."
+  (dotimes (_ count)
+    (symex-lisp--emit-backward)))
+
+(defun symex-lisp--emit-forward ()
+  "Emit forward."
+  (when (and (symex-left-p)
+             (not (symex-empty-list-p)))
+    (save-excursion
+      (symex--go-up)  ; need to be inside the symex to emit and capture
+      (paredit-forward-barf-sexp 1))
+    (when (symex-empty-list-p)
+      (symex--go-forward)
+      (fixup-whitespace)
+      (re-search-backward symex--re-left))))
+
+(defun symex-lisp-emit-forward (count)
+  "Emit forward COUNT times."
+  (dotimes (_ count)
+    (symex-lisp--emit-forward)))
+
+(defun symex-lisp--capture-backward ()
+  "Capture from behind."
+  (when (and (symex-left-p)
+             ;; paredit captures 1 ((|2 3)) -> (1 (2 3)) but we don't
+             ;; want to in this case since point indicates the inner
+             ;; symex, which cannot capture, rather than the outer
+             ;; one. We avoid this by employing a guard condition here.
+             (not (symex--point-at-first-symex-p)))
+    (if (symex-empty-list-p)
+        (forward-char)
+      (symex--go-up))  ; need to be inside the symex to emit and capture
+    (paredit-backward-slurp-sexp 1)
+    (fixup-whitespace)
+    (symex--go-down)))
+
+(defun symex-lisp-capture-backward (count)
+  "Capture from behind, COUNT times."
+  (dotimes (_ count)
+    (symex-lisp--capture-backward)))
+
+(defun symex-lisp--capture-forward ()
+  "Capture from the front."
+  (when (and (symex-left-p)
+             (not (save-excursion
+                    (symex-other)
+                    (forward-char)
+                    (symex-lisp--point-at-end-p))))
+    (save-excursion
+      (if (symex-empty-list-p)
+          (forward-char)
+        (symex--go-up))  ; need to be inside the symex to emit and capture
+      (paredit-forward-slurp-sexp 1))))
+
+(defun symex-lisp-capture-forward (count)
+  "Capture from the front, COUNT times."
+  (dotimes (_ count)
+    (symex-lisp--capture-forward)))
+
+
 (provide 'symex-transformations-lisp)
 ;;; symex-transformations-lisp.el ends here
diff --git a/symex-transformations-ts.el b/symex-transformations-ts.el
index e19b172b..56c2c7f7 100644
--- a/symex-transformations-ts.el
+++ b/symex-transformations-ts.el
@@ -243,6 +243,22 @@ DIRECTION should be either the symbol `before' or `after'."
   ;; Update current node from point and reindent if necessary
   (indent-according-to-mode))
 
+(defun symex-ts-emit-backward (count)
+  "Emit backward."
+  nil)
+
+(defun symex-ts-emit-forward (count)
+  "Emit forward."
+  nil)
+
+(defun symex-ts-capture-backward (count)
+  "Capture from behind, COUNT times."
+  nil)
+
+(defun symex-ts-capture-forward (count)
+  "Capture forward."
+  nil)
+
 
 ;; TODO: TS: capture node
 ;; TODO: TS: delete remaining nodes
diff --git a/symex-transformations.el b/symex-transformations.el
index 4ad0c55f..23c1037d 100644
--- a/symex-transformations.el
+++ b/symex-transformations.el
@@ -165,45 +165,33 @@
       (symex-ts-clear)
     (symex-lisp-clear)))
 
-(defun symex--emit-backward (count)
-  "Emit backward."
-  (dotimes (_ count)
-    (symex-execute-traversal symex--traversal-emit-backward)))
-
 (symex-define-command symex-emit-backward (count)
   "Emit backward, COUNT times."
   (interactive "p")
-  (symex--emit-backward count))
-
-(defun symex--emit-forward (count)
-  "Emit forward."
-  (dotimes (_ count)
-    (symex-execute-traversal symex--traversal-emit-forward)))
+  (if tree-sitter-mode
+      (symex-ts-emit-backward count)
+    (symex-lisp-emit-backward count)))
 
 (symex-define-command symex-emit-forward (count)
   "Emit forward, COUNT times."
   (interactive "p")
-  (symex--emit-forward count))
-
-(defun symex--capture-backward (count)
-  "Capture from behind."
-  (dotimes (_ count)
-    (symex-execute-traversal symex--traversal-capture-backward)))
+  (if tree-sitter-mode
+      (symex-ts-emit-forward count)
+    (symex-lisp-emit-forward count)))
 
 (symex-define-command symex-capture-backward (count)
-  "Capture from behind, COUNT times."
+  "Capture backward, COUNT times."
   (interactive "p")
-  (symex--capture-backward count))
-
-(defun symex--capture-forward (count)
-  "Capture from the front."
-  (dotimes (_ count)
-    (symex-execute-traversal symex--traversal-capture-forward)))
+  (if tree-sitter-mode
+      (symex-ts-capture-backward count)
+    (symex-lisp-capture-backward count)))
 
 (symex-define-command symex-capture-forward (count)
-  "Capture from the front, COUNT times."
+  "Capture forward, COUNT times."
   (interactive "p")
-  (symex--capture-forward count))
+  (if tree-sitter-mode
+      (symex-ts-capture-forward count)
+    (symex-lisp-capture-forward count)))
 
 (symex-define-command symex-split ()
   "Split symex into two."
diff --git a/symex-traversals.el b/symex-traversals.el
index 86e9b364..cab70173 100644
--- a/symex-traversals.el
+++ b/symex-traversals.el
@@ -202,36 +202,6 @@ when the way is blocked.")
                      (precaution symex--traversal-goto-first
                                  (beforehand (not (at root)))))))
 
-(symex-deftraversal symex--traversal-emit-backward
-  (maneuver (move up)
-            (delete)
-            (move down)
-            (paste before))
-  "Emit backward.")
-
-(symex-deftraversal symex--traversal-emit-forward
-  (maneuver (move up)
-            (circuit (move forward))
-            (delete)
-            (move down)
-            (paste after))
-  "Emit forward.")
-
-(symex-deftraversal symex--traversal-capture-backward
-  (maneuver (delete previous)
-            (move up)
-            (paste before)
-            (move down))
-  "Capture backward.")
-
-(symex-deftraversal symex--traversal-capture-forward
-  (maneuver (delete next)
-            (move up)
-            (circuit (move forward))
-            (paste after)
-            (move down))
-  "Capture forward.")
-
 (symex-define-motion symex-traverse-forward (count)
   "Traverse symex as a tree, using pre-order traversal.