Conversion Conversion

In the Modern English languageIn the Modern English language

The aims:The aims:

to give the definition of the process of to give the definition of the process of conversionconversion

to see different approaches to itto see different approaches to it

to find out the reasons of its productivityto find out the reasons of its productivity

to investigate the models of conversionto investigate the models of conversion

Three main approaches to Three main approaches to conversion:conversion:

morphologicalmorphological

syntacticsyntactic

morphological-syntacticmorphological-syntactic

We stick to the point of view on conversion We stick to the point of view on conversion as as a morphological-syntactic word-building a morphological-syntactic word-building meansmeans, for it involves both a change of the , for it involves both a change of the paradigm (if any) and a change of the paradigm (if any) and a change of the syntactical function of the word, e.g. syntactical function of the word, e.g. to go to go - a go.- a go.

ConversionConversion is the process of coining a new is the process of coining a new word in a different part of speech and with word in a different part of speech and with a different distribution characteristic but a different distribution characteristic but without adding any derivative element, so without adding any derivative element, so that the basic form of the original and the that the basic form of the original and the basic form of the derived word are basic form of the derived word are homonymoushomonymous

The reasons of productivityThe reasons of productivity

1) the analytical structure of Modern English 1) the analytical structure of Modern English which greatly facilitates processes of making which greatly facilitates processes of making words of one category of parts of speech words of one category of parts of speech from words of anotherfrom words of another

2) a great number of one-syllable words. 2) a great number of one-syllable words. Such words are naturally more mobile and Such words are naturally more mobile and flexible than polysyllablesflexible than polysyllables

The analysis of conversional models has The analysis of conversional models has shown that only three models are shown that only three models are productive nowadays:productive nowadays:

N → V ; N → V ; V → N; V → N; N → Adj N → Adj

I. Verbs converted from nouns I. Verbs converted from nouns This is the largest group of words related through conversion. The This is the largest group of words related through conversion. The

semantic relations between the nouns and verbs vary greatly. If the semantic relations between the nouns and verbs vary greatly. If the noun refers to some object of reality (both animate and inanimate) the noun refers to some object of reality (both animate and inanimate) the converted verb may denote:converted verb may denote:

1)1) action characteristic of the object, e.g. action characteristic of the object, e.g. ape n — ape vape n — ape v — — ‘imitate in a foolish way’‘imitate in a foolish way’; butcher n — butcher v; butcher n — butcher v — ‘kill animals for — ‘kill animals for food, cut up a killed animal’;food, cut up a killed animal’;

2)2) instrumental use of the object, e.ginstrumental use of the object, e.g. screw n — screw v. screw n — screw v — — ‘fasten with a screw’‘fasten with a screw’; whip n — whip v; whip n — whip v — ’strike with a whip’; — ’strike with a whip’;

3)3) acquisition or addition of the object, e.gacquisition or addition of the object, e.g. fish n — fish v. fish n — fish v — — ‘catch or try to catch fish’; ‘catch or try to catch fish’; coat ncoat n — ‘covering of paint' — ‘covering of paint' — coat v— coat v — ‘put — ‘put a coat of paint on’;a coat of paint on’;

4)4) deprivation of the object, e.gdeprivation of the object, e.g. dust n — dust v. dust n — dust v — ‘remove dust — ‘remove dust from something’; from something’; skin n — skin vskin n — skin v — ’strip off the skin from’; etc. — ’strip off the skin from’; etc.

II. Nouns converted from verbs II. Nouns converted from verbs The verb generally referring to an action, the converted noun may The verb generally referring to an action, the converted noun may

denote:denote:

1)1) instance of the action, e.ginstance of the action, e.g. jump v — jump n. jump v — jump n — ’sudden — ’sudden spring from the ground’; spring from the ground’; move v — move nmove v — move n — ‘a change of position’; — ‘a change of position’;

2)2) agent of the action, e.gagent of the action, e.g. help v — help n. help v — help n — ‘a person who — ‘a person who helps’; it is of interest to mention that the deverbal personal nouns helps’; it is of interest to mention that the deverbal personal nouns denoting the doer are mostly derogatory, e.gdenoting the doer are mostly derogatory, e.g. bore v — bore n. bore v — bore n — ‘a — ‘a person that bores’; person that bores’; cheat v — cheat ncheat v — cheat n — ‘a person who cheats’; — ‘a person who cheats’;

3)3) place of the action, e.g. drive v — drive n — ‘a path or road place of the action, e.g. drive v — drive n — ‘a path or road along which one drives’; walk v — walk n — ‘a place for walking’;along which one drives’; walk v — walk n — ‘a place for walking’;

4)4) object or result of the action, e.g. peel v — peel n — ‘the object or result of the action, e.g. peel v — peel n — ‘the outer skin of fruit or potatoes taken off; find v — find и — ’something outer skin of fruit or potatoes taken off; find v — find и — ’something found,” esp. something valuable or pleasant’; etcfound,” esp. something valuable or pleasant’; etc

Verbs converted from nounsVerbs converted from nouns

1)1) Action characteristic of the objectAction characteristic of the object

airair – to be broadcast – to be broadcast cash-limit cash-limit —to impose a cash limit on.—to impose a cash limit on. cowboycowboy – Br. inf., to drive recklessly – Br. inf., to drive recklessly officeoffice – Am., - to work in an office. – Am., - to work in an office. outsourceoutsource – to subcontract work to – to subcontract work to

another companyanother company

2) Instrumental use of the object:2) Instrumental use of the object: wokwok – to cook using a wok – to cook using a wok pipepipe – sl., to smoke the drug crack – sl., to smoke the drug crack network network – to establish a set of contracts – to establish a set of contracts

with people in a similar business or with people in a similar business or situation as oneself, to provide for situation as oneself, to provide for interchange of information, furtherance of interchange of information, furtherance of one’s own prospects, etc.one’s own prospects, etc.

3) Acquisition or addition of the object:3) Acquisition or addition of the object: womanwoman – to supply with female operatives – to supply with female operatives

or crew.or crew.

siliconesilicone – to implant silicone into a – to implant silicone into a woman’s breasts as a cosmetic surgery woman’s breasts as a cosmetic surgery procedure, to alter their shapeprocedure, to alter their shape

4) Deprivation of the object:4) Deprivation of the object: de-accessionde-accession – euphemistic, to sell or – euphemistic, to sell or

otherwise to dispose (an article, that is in a otherwise to dispose (an article, that is in a museum, library).museum, library).

binbin – to throw away by putting into a – to throw away by putting into a wastepaper basketwastepaper basket

Analysis on the base of The Analysis on the base of The Longman Register of New WordsLongman Register of New Words

59% - Actioncharacteristic ofthe object

23%- Instrumentaluse of the object

12% - Аcquisitionor addition of theobject

6% - Deprivationof the object