conversationalist
UK[ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənəlɪst]US[ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənəlɪst]
n
A person who is good at or enjoys conversation, especially one who talks a lot in a lively and interesting way.
Morpheme Breakdown
conversation
al
ist
conversation
noun
al
adjective suffix
ist
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'conversationalist' is a modern English formation built upon the core noun 'conversation'. This noun originates from Latin 'conversari', meaning "to turn about, to live with, keep company with," which itself derives from 'convertere' (to turn around). The semantic shift from physical turning to social interaction reflects the idea of "turning" one's thoughts and speech with others. The suffix '-al' converts the noun into the adjective 'conversational', meaning "pertaining to conversation." Finally, the agent suffix '-ist' is added, a productive suffix in English for denoting a person who practices or is concerned with something. Thus, the literal morpheme logic progresses from the act of social discourse to a person characterized by skill in that act.
Analysis
Structure: conversation (noun) + al (adjective suffix) + ist (noun suffix)
- conversation: From Latin 'conversationem' (act of living with, frequenting, conversation), from 'conversari' (to live with, keep company with).
- al: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin '-alis'.
- ist: A suffix forming agent nouns, from Latin '-ista', from Greek '-istes'.
Examples
She was known as a brilliant conversationalist, able to engage anyone on a wide range of topics.
The talk show host is a natural conversationalist, making all his guests feel at ease.
While he is a knowledgeable scholar, he is not a particularly gifted conversationalist in social settings.