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DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW TO THE STUDY OF CONVERSION
Khaydarova Nigora
Andijan state institute of foreign
languages Scientific supervisor
.
Aripova Rayyona
Student of the group-303(FRGSL)
Annotation:
This article presents an overview of the different theoretical
approaches to the study of conversion, focusing on morphological, syntactic, semantic,
and cognitive perspectives. Special attention is given to the debates on the status of
conversion as a distinct type of word-formation, its classification, and the mechanisms
behind it
.
Keywords:
conversion, zero derivation, word-formation, morphology, syntax,
semantics, cognitive linguistics, category change, English grammar.
Introduction.
The English language exhibits a rich capacity for conversion, as
seen in examples such as to email
(from the noun email)
or a run
(from the verb to run).
Conversion has sparked significant scholarly interest because it challenges traditional
definitions of word-formation, which often emphasize overt morphological change.
This article seeks to explore and compare various linguistic approaches to conversion,
illustrating how the phenomenon is understood within different theoretical
frameworks.
Morphological Perspective
.From a morphological standpoint, conversion is
treated as a derivational process without affixation. Scholars like Marchand (1969)
consider it a type of zero-derivation, wherein a zero morpheme is added to change the
word class. Morphologists often distinguish between full and partial conversion,
depending on the extent of the grammatical change. This approach emphasizes
category change while maintaining a formalist view of word structure.
Morphological
Perspectives
takes words as the starting point for any questions about linguistic
structure: their form, their internal structure, their paradigmatic extensions, and their
role in expressing and manipulating syntactic configurations. With a team of authors
that run the typological gamut of languages, this book examines these questions from
multiple perspectives, both the canonical and the non-canonical.
Generative grammar views conversion not as a lexical process but as a syntactic
reanalysis. In this approach, a word’s category is determined by its syntactic context
rather than morphological form. For instance,
a walk
and
to walk
are considered
different instantiations of the same root, depending on the syntactic environment. This
perspective diminishes the importance of conversion as a separate process, interpreting
T A D Q I Q O T L A R
jahon ilmiy – metodik jurnali
https://scientific-jl.com
61-son_5-to’plam_May-2025
262
ISSN:3030-3613
it instead as a grammatical shift. Syntactic approaches aim to represent human
activities with the sting of symbols, in which each symbol is associated with an atomic
action and human activities are represented by a set of production rules (Turaga et al.,
2008). Therefore, human activity can be recognized when the activity conforms to the
rules of a given grammar. Context-free grammars (CFGs) and stochastic context-free
grammars (SCFGs) were widely used in human activity modeling.
The semantic approach focuses on meaning shifts accompanying conversion.
Converted words often exhibit metaphorical or metonymic extensions. For example,
the noun a
break
from the verb to
break
involves a shift in conceptual perspective, from
action to result. Semanticists argue that conversion cannot be understood without
considering cognitive models and conceptual mappings. This semantic perspective is
the essence of relationships and explains why the resources are related, relying on
information that is not directly available from perceiving the resources.
Recent developments in cognitive linguistics view conversion as a form of
category extension based on usage patterns and mental representations. These
approaches highlight the importance of context and frequency in shaping the
acceptability and productivity of conversion. Constructions such as
it
illustrate
how new verbs emerge from brand names based on pragmatic use. Usage-based
approaches focus on learning language through engaging in the interpersonal
communicative and cognitive processes. They consider language as the best
accomplishment of our social and cognitive competences which bridges society and
cognition. Based on usage-based approaches, language can be learned from language
use, by means of social skills and generalizations over usage events in interaction.
These approaches actually explore how language learning occurs through language
experience.
Each approach offers valuable insights into the nature of conversion, yet none is
exhaustive on its own. Morphological and syntactic theories explain structural aspects,
while semantic and cognitive models account for meaning and use. A comprehensive
theory of conversion must integrate these perspectives to fully explain its mechanisms
and implications.
Conclusion.
Conversion remains a complex and multifaceted phenomenon in
linguistic theory. By comparing different perspectives - morphological, syntactic,
semantic, and cognitive - this article demonstrates the richness and diversity of
scholarly approaches to its study. Future research may benefit from interdisciplinary
models that bridge structural and functional dimensions of language change.
References:
1.
Marchand, H. (1969). The Categories and Types of Present-Day English Word-
Formation.
T A D Q I Q O T L A R
jahon ilmiy – metodik jurnali
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61-son_5-to’plam_May-2025
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ISSN:3030-3613
2.
Lieber, R. (2005). Morphology and Lexical Semantics.
3.
Clark, E.V., & Clark, H.H. (1979). When nouns surface as verbs.
4.
Bauer, L. (1983). English Word-Formation.
5.
Plag, I. (2003). Word-Formation in English.
