Abbreviation-based conversion

Doklady Bashkirskogo Universiteta. 2026. Volume 11. No. 1. pp. 42-51.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33184/dokbsu-2026.1.5

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The article explores the interaction of English abbreviations with other word-formation methods, specifically the creation of conversion units based on abbreviations, which we define as “abbreviation-based conversion.” Abbreviation-based conversion is a type of conversion that occurs primarily in the “noun” → “verb” direction. It results in a denominal verb and is based on such abbreviation categories as clippings, compound-clippings, abbreviations, and acronyms. The article presents examples of clipping-based conversion based on the shortenings, selected from dictionaries, and illustrative usage examples culled from contemporary English-language fiction. An analysis of 11 cases of conversion derivation revealed that clippings are actively used to form conversion units. In most cases, there is a semantic transition from “object” (“tool, instrument”) to “perform an action using a given object” (to lube, to mike, to perk, to nuke, etc.), i.e., instrumental relations.