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    Nominalisation: Nominalising The Verbs

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    The document discusses nominalization, which is the process of converting verbs and adjectives into nouns. It provides examples of common nominalizations like "assumption" from "assume" and "inference" from "infer". While lawyers are instructed not to overuse nominalizations for precision, nominalizations have value in academic writing by providing variety. Nominalizations should be used judiciously based on whether precision or variety is more important for the context. The document explores when nominalizations are appropriate versus avoiding unnecessary words.

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    Nominalisation: Nominalising The Verbs

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    The document discusses nominalization, which is the process of converting verbs and adjectives into nouns. It provides examples of common nominalizations like "assumption" from "assume" and "inference" from "infer". While lawyers are instructed not to overuse nominalizations for precision, nominalizations have value in academic writing by providing variety. Nominalizations should be used judiciously based on whether precision or variety is more important for the context. The document explores when nominalizations are appropriate versus avoiding unnecessary words.

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    15-NOMINALISATION.pdf

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    The document discusses nominalization, which is the process of converting verbs and adjectives into nouns. It provides examples of common nominalizations like "assumption" from "assume" and "inference" from "infer". While lawyers are instructed not to overuse nominalizations for precision, nominalizations have value in academic writing by providing variety. Nominalizations should be used judiciously based on whether precision or variety is more important for the context. The document explores when nominalizations are appropriate versus avoiding unnecessary words.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    453 views3 pages

    Nominalisation: Nominalising The Verbs

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    The document discusses nominalization, which is the process of converting verbs and adjectives into nouns. It provides examples of common nominalizations like "assumption" from "assume" and "inference" from "infer". While lawyers are instructed not to overuse nominalizations for precision, nominalizations have value in academic writing by providing variety. Nominalizations should be used judiciously based on whether precision or variety is more important for the context. The document explores when nominalizations are appropriate versus avoiding unnecessary words.

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    Nominalisation

    Lawyers are instructed – NOT TO USE NOMINALISATIONS when they actually are in a habit
    of nominalizing every base verb. However, nominalisation is an integral part of academic writing
    as it provides variety and colour to it; one should refrain from nominalizing the words where
    precision and conciseness is required. The question now arises is whether nominalization should
    be used or not. If not then why has this been included in the unit aimed for making the
    communication and write-ups crisp and concise? Well the answer lies in the question itself. To
    avoid it or to include it we must first understand what nominalization is.

    Nominalisation literally means Noun Formation. Often the base verbs are converted into nouns.
    Some examples are

    Nominalising the verbs

    Verbs Noun

    Assume assumption

    Complain complaint

    Conclude conclusion

    Act action
    Decide decision
    State statement

    Invest investment

    Nominalising the adjectives


    Ending Noun Base Verb

    Nominalization
    -al Dismissal Adjective Form
    Dismiss
    -ence Inference
    Carelessness Infer
    Careless

    Difficulty Difficult
    -ancy Dormant dormancy
    Compiled by Dr Sonali Lakhera
    -ity Produce Productivity
    -ment Statement State
    -ion discussion Discuss
    Intensity Intense

    Bravery Brave
    Honesty honest

    Identifying the Nominalisations.

    Ending Noun Base Verb

    -al Dismissal Dismiss


    -ence Inference Infer

    -ancy Dormant Dormancy

    -ity Produce Productivity

    -ment Statement State


    -ion discussion Discuss
    -ity Scarcity Scarce
    -ency Decency Decent
    -ant Complaint Complain

    -ance Acceptance Accept

    EXERCISE: Let us identify some nominalisations

    1. The steering committee raised an objection to the proposed parking garage north of
    the stadium.
    2. When the faculty senate has made a determination about the desirability of a lecture
    series, a proposal will be presented to the chancellor Negligence on the part of
    hospital workers was the reason for the failure of the kidney machine.
    3. Mercy Hospital made a decision to expand its geriatric facilities.
    4. It was the intention of the screening committee to interview all candidates face to
    face.

    Compiled by Dr Sonali Lakhera


    Why should we avoid nominalization? - Simply because it adds surplus words to our writing.

    Eg:
    1 She drew a conclusion of the story- Nominalised
    .She concluded the story,

    1. I made an assumption that you would be at the gate.- Nominalised


    I assumed you would be at the gate.

    Nominalisations are not always bad. They hold a very special plave in academic writing as
    they
     add variety to writing.
     prevent repetition of same verb.
    Sometimes nominalisations make the sentence more comprehensible as shown in the examples
    given below. Based on the situation it must be decided whether we should use nominatisation or
    avoid it, keeping the objective of precision and conciseness in mind.
    1. The temperature of the planet is rising as a result of global warming

    The rise of planet’s temperature is a result of the global warming.- Nominalised

    2. Intercultural theory is relevant to the business world. It’s relevance is illustrated in


    Chapter
    The relevance of intercultural theory to the business world is illustrated in chapter
    3. A re-examination of the evidence led prosecutors to a reconsideration of the
    defendant's guilt.

    Prosecutors reexamined the evidence, which led them to re consider whether the
    defendant was guilty or not.

    Compiled by Dr Sonali Lakhera

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