Many Questions and Few Answers: On Conversión in English

Conversión is a well-known word-formation process which, a priori, seems relatively easy to identify. However, a cióse look at its basics brings to light some critical questions which still remain unanswered to this day. The very nature of this operation, and the concepts of full and partial conversión are therefore here examined in the light of a need for explicit criteria for recognition of actual cases of conversión. Evidence supporting this need is supplied by a review of a variety of processes which have the same results as conversión when they opérate on English adjectives and adverbs.