Word-formation from the cognitive perspective: Evidence from Czech

Božena Bednaříková — Yuliia Mostova (Palacký University in Olomouc)

FULL TEXT

ABSTRACT (en)

This paper examines the role of conversion as a word-formation process in Czech, building upon previous research on derivational networks. While prior studies focused on derivation through affixation, this research expands the scope to include conversion, recognizing its significant role in Slavic languages. The study utilizes a modified Swadesh list, specifically ten common verbs, to analyze the word-formation potential of both derivation and conversion. The findings reveal that conversion surpasses derivation in the number of newly coined words for verbs. Semantic categories like agent, instrument, and purpose are prevalent in derivatives, whereas action and quality dominate in converted words. The study underscores the significance of conversion in shaping the Czech language’s dynamic and expressive capabilities.

KEYWORDS (en)

conversion, derivation, inflection, semantic category, word-formation network

DOI

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059635.2025.1.4

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