Phonetics And Word Formation Questions Medium
Conversion and zero derivation are both processes in word formation, but they differ in terms of the specific mechanisms involved.
Conversion, also known as functional shift or zero derivation, is a process where a word changes its grammatical category without any overt morphological changes. In other words, a word is used in a different syntactic context without any affixation or modification. For example, the noun "email" can be converted into a verb by simply using it in a sentence like "I will email you later." Here, "email" functions as a verb without any changes in its form.
On the other hand, zero derivation refers to the creation of a new word by using an existing word without any morphological changes, but with a change in meaning or function. This process involves a shift in the word's semantic or syntactic properties. For example, the word "book" can be used as a noun to refer to a physical object, but it can also be used as a verb to mean making a reservation or securing something. In this case, the word "book" is used in a different sense without any affixation or modification.
In summary, the main difference between conversion and zero derivation lies in the focus of the change. Conversion involves a change in grammatical category without any morphological changes, while zero derivation involves a change in meaning or function without any morphological changes.