wordverb

Wordverb is a term used in some linguistic discussions to describe verbs formed directly from existing words, typically nouns, through conversion or productive derivation. The label is not universally standardized; more common terms include denominal verbs or zero-derivation. In this usage, a wordverb preserves the base word as its underlying form while acquiring verbal properties such as tense and aspect in syntax.

Formation: Denominal verbs arise by conversion, where a noun is used as a verb without an overt derivational affix, as in water the plants, chair a committee, or bottle the wine. They can also be formed with affixes or clipping in some languages, or with proper nouns becoming verbs, such as google becoming to google. The semantics of wordverbs typically relate to the function or action associated with the base noun.

Distribution and behavior: Wordverbs can be transitive or intransitive, can take direct objects or oblique complements, and often show light-verb phenomena or prefixing patterns in some languages. The exact behavior depends on the language’s morphology and syntax. They frequently reflect concrete actions or instrumental processes tied to the noun’s meaning.

Computational considerations: In natural language processing, identifying wordverbs requires reliable part-of-speech tagging and morphological analysis, since denominal verbs may blur the line between noun and verb senses. Ambiguity with homographs and polysemy is common, particularly with neologisms and language contact.

See also: denominal verb, zero-derivation, conversion, derivational morphology.