4. CONVERSION

1. Definition: Conversion or suffixation is a word-formation process whereby a word of a certain word-class is shifted into a word of another word-class without the addition of an affix.

Verb deverbal noun

2. Suffixation invade invasion

Conversion attack attack

Other terms for conversion

• Functional shift

implies that the process is concerned with usage only

the word undergoes change in word-class, semantic change and phonological change (p.56)

• Derivation by zero suffix

It is more accurate, yet it is a long and cumbersome term and it clarifies only something minor, not crucial.

As a result of the loss of inflection

• The free interchange of a word from one word-class to another is a significant feature of Modern English

plan a table table a plan book a place place a book

3. Types of conversion

1. Noun to verb conversion

1. To put in/on N(can, bottle, floor,cage, corner)

2. To give N, to provide N (shelter, coat, wax, sugar, label)

3. To deprive of N; or to remove the object denoted by the noun from som

ething (weed, core, dust)

4. To …with N (brake, finger, screw, glue)

5. To be/act as N with respect to

1.Verbs from human nouns (mother, nurse, pilot)

2.Verbs from animal nouns (parrot, ape)

3.Verbs from inanimate nouns (shadow, balloon, flood)

6. To make/change into N(cash, cripple 消弱， feature 成为特色 )

7. To send/go by N(mail, bicycle ， boat)

8. TO spend the period of time denoted by N (summer, holiday)

2. Verb to noun conversion

1. State (generally ‘state of mind’ or ‘state of sensation’) (desire, doubt)

2. Event/activity (commute, cry ,look)

3. Object or result of V( answer, find)

4. Agent of V (bore, cheat, spy)

5. Instrument of V (cover, cure, polish)

6. Place of V( turn, rise, retreat)

3. Adjective to verb conversion1. Intransitive verbs meaning “to be,

become, the quality denoted by the adjective”(pale,slim)

2. Transitive verbs meaning “to cause someone or something to be, become, the quality denoted by the adjective”(bare, blunt, busy)

4. Adjective to noun conversion

1. Partial conversion

1.Adjective denoting a quality or a state common to a group of persons (the deaf, the blind)

2.Adjective ending in –sh, -se, and –ch denote peoples of a nation (the English, the Japanese)

3. Adjectives denoting a quality in the abstract may be used as nouns (the sentimental, the rough)

4. Adverbial superlatives are sometimes preceded by a definite article (the latest, be at his best)

5. Converted from participles(the accused, the deceased)

2. Complete conversion (native a native the native’s)

5. Other conversionsTom went home early. (n.-adv.)

I will take a through train. (prep.-adj.)

Converted words are often short, vivid and expressive (p.64)

CONCLUSION

• What are the relative criteria of a compound?

• What is the difference between prefixation and suffixation?

• What is the difference between conversion and suffixation?

• In a conversion pair, how can you determine which of the two is the base and which the derived word?

Thank you