Conversion in Morphology : Theory and Typology

This book provides a detailed account of morphological conversion, a process whereby a word is turned into a distinct but semantically and/or grammatically related word without any change of form. The chapters explore key questions relating to conversion and offer accounts of the process in a range of language families.

This book provides a detailed account of morphological conversion-also known by various other names, including zero-derivation- a process whereby a word is turned into a distinct but semantically and/or grammatically related word without any change of form. Following an introductory chapter that offers an overview of morphological conversion and the main questions of interest, the volume is divided into two parts. In the first, contributors consider a range of issues relating to conversion, such as word classes, inflection, figurative language, and directionality. The chapters in the second part explore specific typological aspects of the process of conversion in a wide range of language families, including Austronesian, Dravidian, Indo-European, and Tupian. The volume offers new perspectives on conversion, moving beyond traditional Anglocentric approaches that have dominated the field to date.