Abstract

This paper discusses the evolution of a subset of Italian action nouns, specifically the zero-derived or converted ones like abbandono, sosta, verifica, from 1800 to the present. The study uses a large dataset from Google books and examines selected suffixed counterparts as potential rivals to the zero-derived nouns. The study finds that only zero-derived nouns ending with -o along with -mento formations, and to a lesser extent, zero-derived nouns ending with -a along with -zione counterparts, may be considered rivals, although formations with -tura seem also to play an important role. The study uses the Theil-Sen estimator to analyse the relative frequencies and trends of the purported rivalry diachronically. The results demonstrate that there are no clear homogeneous diachronic trends, as individual formations or rival pairs exhibit a high degree of variability. Therefore, the study suggests that the specific meaning of zero-derived formations is the main factor that needs further investigation.