What's the difference between form 3 and form 4 verbs in Arabic?

It seems they're both transitive, and need an object to act on.

Form 3 verb (sa-la-ma):

Salama = peace

Saalama = make peace with someone (transitive)

Form 4 verb (ka-ta-ba):

Kataba = to write

Aktaba = to dictate (to dictate [a book])

If both form 3 and form 4 verbs are to make a word transitive, what's the distinction between the two forms? Is form 3 verb limited to human beings, and form 4 to non-humans (objects)?

Bonus question: why is 'to dictate' the form 4 verb of 'to write'? It seems 'to write' can be both transitive and transitive without the help of transforming to Aktaba.

submitted by /u/hearsdemons
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