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Table of Contents

I. Introduction 3

II. Definition 4

III. Discussion 5

IV. Examples 6-8

V. Application 9

VI. Activity 10

VII. Evaluation 11

VIII. References 12

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 I. INTRODUCTION

English is a very productive language. Due to its versatile nature, it can

undergo many different word formation processes to create new lexicon.
Some of them are much lexicalised—such as derivation or compounding.
However, new trends are pointing up in the productive field. This is the
case of the minor methods of word-formation—i.e. clipping, blending—
and conversion. As they are recent phenomena, they have not been much
studied yet. Even scholars differ in their opinions about the way they
should be treated. There is only one point they all agree with: these new
methods are becoming more frequently used. For example, conversion
will be more active in the future, and so, it will create a great part of the
new words appearing in the English language (Cannon, 1985: 415

In linguistics (particularly morphology and lexicology), word formation

refers to the ways in which new words are made on the basis of other
words or morphemes. Also called derivational morphology. But one part
of word formation processes there is so called, zero derivation or
conversion.

In linguistics, conversion, also called zero derivation, is a kind of word

formation involving the creation of a word from an existing word without
any change in form, which is to say, derivation using only zero. This
process is also known as a functional shift. The rhetorical term for
grammatical conversion is anthimeria. In English, verbification typically
involves simple conversion of a non-verb to a verb.

Nowadays, we experienced this kind of situation where we convert the

words into another word. But in Lingustics, it takes place on how to
convert it without using affixes. It is argued that even though there is no
visual representation of meaning-derivation, the so-called zero morpheme
is added to the base as a justification for the change.

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 II. DEFINITION

Morphology is the branch of linguistics (and one of the major

components of grammar) that studies word structures, especially in terms
of morphemes.

Lexicology is the branch of linguistics that studies the stock of words in a

given language.

Functional shift is a shift in the use of a word from one grammatical

function to another, such as when a noun becomes a verb. This process is
nothing new. In fact, Shakespeare used the functional shift quite often in
his plays, which is one of the many reasons why so many of his sayings
and phrases are still widely used.

Anthimeria is a rhetorical term for the creation of a new word or

expression by using one part of speech or word class in place of another.

In English grammar and morphology, an affix is a word element that can

be attached to a base or root to form a new word or new form of the word,
usually occurring as either a prefix or suffix. Put simply, an affix is a
group of letters that are generally added to the beginning or the end of a
root word that can change the word's meaning.

Verbification, or verbing, is the creation of a verb from a noun, adjective

or other word. Verbification is a type of functional shift. It is also form of
derivation, and may involve any of the various derivational processes.

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 III: DISCUSSION

Conversion is the word formation process in which a word of one

grammatical form becomes a word of another grammatical form without
any changes to spelling or pronunciation.

For example, the noun email appeared in English before the verb:
A decade ago I would have sent you an email (noun) whereas now I can
either send you an email (noun) or simply email (verb) you.

The original noun email experienced conversion, thus resulting in the new
verb email.

Conversion is also referred to as zero derivation or null derivation with the

assumption that the formal change between words results in the addition
of an invisible morpheme. However, many linguistics argue for a clear
distinction between the word formation processes of derivation and
conversion.

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 IV: EXAMPLES

Noun to Verb Conversion

The most productive form of conversion in English is noun to verb

conversion. The following list provides examples of verbs converted from
nouns:

Noun – Verb
access – to access
bottle – to bottle
can – to can
closet – to closet
email – to email
eye – to eye
fiddle – to fiddle
fool – to fool
Google – to google
host – to host
knife – to knife
microwave – to microwave
name – to name
pocket – to pocket
salt – to salt
shape – to shape
ship – to ship
spear – to spear
torch – to torch
verb – to verb

For example:
My grandmother bottled (verb) the juice and canned (verb) the pickles.
My grandmother put the juice in a bottle (noun) and the pickles in a can
(noun).
She microwaved (verb) her lunch.
She heated her lunch in the microwave (noun).
The doctor eyed (verb) my swollen eye (noun).

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 Noun to verb conversion is also referred to as verbification or verbing, as
humorously discussed by Calvin and Hobbes.

Verb to Noun Conversion

Another productive form of conversion in English is verb to noun

conversion. The following list provides examples of nouns converted from
verbs:

Verb – Noun
to alert – alert
to attack – attack
to call – call
to clone – clone
to command – command
to cover – cover
to cry – cry
to experience – experience
to fear – fear
to feel – feel
to hope – hope
to increase – increase
to judge – judge
to laugh – laugh
to rise – rise
to run – run
to sleep – sleep
to start – start
to turn – turn
to visit – visit

For example:
The guard alerted (verb) the general to the attack (noun).
The enemy attacked (verb) before an alert (noun) could be sounded.
Sometimes one just needs a good cry (noun).
The baby cried (verb) all night.

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 We need to increase (verb) our productivity to see an increase (noun) in
profits.

Verb to noun conversion is also referred to as nominalization.

Other Conversions

Conversion also occurs, although less frequently, to and from other

grammatical forms.
For example:
adjective to verb: green → to green (to make environmentally friendly)
preposition to noun: up, down → the ups and downs of life
conjunction to noun: if, and, but → no ifs, ands, or buts
interjection to noun: ho ho ho → I love the ho ho hos of Christmastime.

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 V: APPLICATION

The aim of conversion varies with the user. Adults convey it to use fewer
words, whereas children perform it in order to be understood, although
they frequently produce ungrammatical utterances. Anyway, it always
helps to make communication easier.

Most new words are not as new as we tend to think. They are just
readjustments within the same language, like additions to existing items or
recombination of elements. This is where the field of action of conversion
may be placed, and that is why this type of morphological studies reveals
interesting aspects in the diachronic evolution of the English language.

There are evident cases of conversion from one part of speech to another,
unclear cases in which the grammatical category is not definitely shifted,
secondary changes within the same word and marginal cases where the
change has produced slight modifications.

The real examples provided indicate the high frequency of this process. It
is quite a common phenomenon is everyday English. In addition, it is not a
great source of problems for nonnative speakers and translators because
the meaning of converted items is easily recognisable. However,
nonnatives and translators are strongly advised to be taught conversion so
that their passive knowledge of it can be turned into an active skill, with
the subsequent lexical enlargement for their everyday communication.

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 VI: ACTIVITY

TRUE OR FALSE
1. Conversion is forming a new word from an existing identical
one.
2. Verbification, or verbing, is the creation of a verb from a noun,
adjective or other word.
3. In linguistics, conversion, also called zero derivation.
4. Verbification typically involves simple conversion of a non-
verb to a verb.
5. Anthimeria is a greek word of Conversion.

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 VII: EVALUATION

Name:
Year and Course:

Direction: Read each question and choose the best answer.

1. is an existing word forming into a new word.

a. Conversion
b. Morphology
c. Lexicology

2. Conversion is also called as

a. Anthimeria
b. Zero derivation
c. Verbification

3. It is verbing the noun.

a. Noun to verb
b. Adjective to verb
c. Verbification

4. The rhetorical term for conversion is

a. Anthimeria
b. Functional shift
c. Zero derivation

5. refers to the ways in which new words are made on the basis of other
words or morphemes.
a. Word Formation
b. Processing word
c. Morphemes

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 VIII. REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_(word_formation)
https://www.thoughtco.com/conversion-functional-shift-in-grammar-
1689925
https://www.thoughtco.com/morphology-words-term-1691407
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-lexicology-1691230
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-anthimeria-rhetoric-1689100
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-affix-grammar-1689071
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/esl-lesson-plans/59339-teaching-
word-formation-conversion/
https://translationjournal.net/journal/31conversion.htm

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