Transcript Categories of Conversion

4.3
Conversion
4.3.1. Definition
Conversion is the formation of
new words by converting words
of one class into another class,
i. e. by turning words of one
part of speech to those of
another part of speech in
traditional terms
e.g. clear
1> a clear photograph (easy to see or hear;
distinct)
2> The sky cleared after the storm. ( of the sky
or the weather become free of cloud or rain)
3> I can hear you loud and clear. ( clearly,
distinctly)
conversion can be also called
derivation by zero suffix
零位后缀派生法
with the short form zero-derivation.
零位派生法
4.3.2 Categories of Conversion
• 1 conversion
to
nouns
• 2 conversion
to
verbs
• 3 conversion
to
adjectives
4.3.2.1 Conversion to nouns
• 1) Deverbal:
verbs to nouns
• 2) De-adjective: adjectives to nouns
• 3) Miscellaneous: conjunctions/prepositions/…nouns
1)
Deverbal
•
import
the goods imported
•
doubt
the state of doubting
•
wrap
the things wrapped
They are usually related to the original words in various ways
A : state (of mind and sensation)
want
what is wanted
B: event or activity
search
the activity of searching
C: result of action
reply
a letter that has been
written back to the
receiver
D: doer of the action
cook
one who cooks
Many of this group are derogatory
cheat
one who cheats
f;
E: tool or instrument to do the action
with
catch
门扣
F: place of action
dump
dumping wastes
a place for
) nouns converted from simple verbs can be used with
have ,take ,make ,give” and so on
e.g.: have a drive ; take a peep
) Nouns converted from phrasal words
a : original order
hand out
hand-out
b : inverted
flow over
break down
break out
overflow
breakdown
outbreak
2) De-adjective
a communist
/
the rich
a communist /communists
共产主义者
富人
the rich
(1) words fully converted
They can take an indefinite article or (-es) to indicate singular or
plural number.
a native / natives
(2) words partially converted
they must be used together definite articles as nouns while
retaining some of the adjective features.
the poor / the rich
3) miscellaneous conversion
from conjunctions, modals, finite verbs ,
prepositions and so on .
ifs and buts
借口和托词
pros and cons
赞成者和反对者
also-run
竞争失败的人
4.3.2.2 Conversion to verbs
Advantages: economic and vivid
Please compare this two
To elbow one’s way through the crowd
To push one’s way through the crowd with
one’s elbow
1) Denominal : nouns to verbs
Verbs converted from nouns are semantically related to the
original nouns in various ways.
a : to put in or on N
list
to list = to enter a list (编制成列表)
b: to give or to provide with N
man
to man =to provide with men (配置人员)
c: to deprive of N
core
to core =to remove the core from (去果核)
d: to do with N
hand
to hand = to give with hand (递交)
e : to be or act as
dog
to dog = to follow or hunt like a dog (尾随，追踪)
f : to make or change into N
cripple
to cripple =to make sb/sth a cripple
g : to send or go by N
ship
to ship =to send by ship
Verbs of this type are all transitive except :
helicopter , bicycle, boat, motor
Some nonaffixal changes that take
place when some nouns are
converted to verbs
1) Voiceless to voiced consonant
noun
verb
house /s/
house /z/
advice /s/
advise /z/
2) Initial to end stress
noun
verb
‘record
re’cord
‘permit
per’mit
2) De –adjective : adjectives to
verbs
Most of this group can be used as
either transitively to mean ”to make sth … ”
or intransitively “to become”
narrow
to narrow = to make sth
narrow vt.
to become
narrow vi.
However, some words can only be used
as transitive words
humble (谦恭)
= to humble (压低
某人的身份)
When some words are used as
words ,they mean do sth in a certain way
rough
to rough =treat sth in
a rough way
) Miscellaneous conversion
ADV.
PREP.
V.
to further (促进)
V.
to round (环绕而行)
4.3.2.3. Conversion to adjective
* Much less productive
* Mostly occurs between
nouns and adjectives
*3.1 mass and material nouns
Examples:
A brick garage—The garage is brick.
An iron gate—The gate is iron.
More……
a chalk board
a gold ring
a silver coin
a log cabin
a white silk scarf
3.2 Nouns of other kinds
Examples:
A department decision
--a decision which is made by the department
Drug addict
--a person who is addicted to drug
A very Oxbridge accent—His accent is Oxbridge.
( Oxbridge: Oxford & Cambridge )
impulse buying
--buying on impulse
More examples:
Production manager
Television programme
A math problem
World population
Job opportunity
3.3 nouns that can simply replace the
derived adjectives
* Have no difference
* examples:
prestige university — prestigious university
gold cross --- golden cross
race hatred --- racial hatred
affluence society --- affluent society
spark plug --- sparking plug
lead car --- leading car
3.4 Noun modifier & adjective modifier
With great difference
Examples:
Stone house –a house made of stones
Stony heart –a heart as hard as stone
Bankruptcy lawyer– a lawyer who deals with bankruptcy cases
Bankrupt businessman – a businessman who is bankrupt
Riot police – police who stop riot
Riotous police – police who tend to make riots
Efficiency expert
– an expert who studies work efficiency
Efficient expert
– an expert who is efficient
Obesity specialist
– a specialist who deals with problem of obesity
Obese specialist
– a specialist who is obese
Other words to adjective:
My father was the then
president. (adv.- adj.)
I will take a through
train. (prep.- adj.)
4.Other categories of conversion
4.1Voiceless to voiced Consonant
Noun
Verb
house /-s/
house /-z/
advice /-s/
advise /-z/
mouth /-ө/
shelf /-f/
breath /-ө/
mouth /-ð/
shelve /-v/
breathe /-ð/
4.2Initial to end stress
Examples:
n.
contrast
V.
contrast
Sentences:
desert
desert
* His friends deserted him
in the desert.
increase
increase
produce
produce
perfect
perfect
record
record
present
present
* You must perfect yourself
if you want a perfect girlfriend.
4.3 Conversion from phrases to adjectives
Examples:
* a face-to-face interview
* lower-class morals
* It’s all to nothing that they will succeed.
4.4 some exceptions of conversion
In some rare cases,a substantial change of
pronunciation or spelling may happen.
*Examples:
food-- feed
blood-- bleed
breath/e/ -- breathe/i:/
bath /a:/ -- bathe/ei/
The end
Wish you have a good time
Class 2
The end