Main morphological formal means (III): Approaches to conversion

Abstract

This chapter takes the conditions of formal identity and word-class change as a reference for the delineation of the main types of conversion that have been considered in Spanish, for alternative approaches and for some of the open questions regarding conversion in Spanish. In Spanish word formation, conversion is defined in line with this characterisation, except that the formal identity may hold between word-classes and also between word-subclasses. The concept of conversion thus relies on two conditions: formal identity and word-(sub)class change. As in other languages, the definition, types and approaches to conversion raise a number of questions that have been debated for decades and still are. The separate categorisation of such closely connected word-classes as noun and adjective leads to questions but which are outlined here for convenince. In denominal verbs and deverbal nouns, conversion is in competition with other pro-cesses for the expression of the same semantic category, especially with affixation.