The Concept of Conversion in Cross-linguistic and Contrastive Studies
The Concept of Conversion in Cross-linguistic and Contrastive Studies

Summary/Abstract: In this paper the question is addressed whether conversion (referring to word-class change without addition of derivational affixes) is suitable as a comparative concept in cross-linguistic and contrastive research on word-formation. Controversies concerning the scope of conversion in English and in languages with rich inflection are highlighted. Subtypes of conversion, such as partial conversion and syntactic conversion, are identified. Other terms which are used with reference to affixless word-formation operations are mentioned, such as zero-derivation, paradigmatic derivation or transflexion. A brief overview is given of selected recent contrastive (comparative) studies of conversion/derivation in English and in selected Slavonic or Romance languages, focusing on meaning-based and corpus-based research.

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