Nominalisation

Verbs are action words: they describe motion, like to explore, to examine, or to observe. Verbs can be turned into nouns, which changes the word from an action to a thing. For example, the verb to analyze can be changed into its noun form analysis. A noun that is formed from a verb like this is called a nominalization. Nominalizations are nouns that contain a hidden action.

“Nouns formed from other parts of speech are called nominalizations. Academics love them; so do lawyers, bureaucrats and business writers. I call them “zombie nouns” because they cannibalize active verbs, suck the lifeblood from adjectives and substitute abstract entities for human beings: The proliferation of nominalizations in a discursive formation may be an indication of a tendency toward pomposity and abstraction. The sentence above contains no fewer than seven nominalizations, each formed from a verb or an adjective. Yet it fails to tell us who is doing what. When we eliminate or reanimate most of the zombie nouns (tendency becomes tend, abstraction becomes abstract) and add a human subject and some active verbs, the sentence springs back to life: Writers who overload their sentences with nominalizations tend to sound pompous and abstract.” (Sword 2012, Zombie Nouns)

The advantages of the process

The disadvantages of the process

It reduces the number of clauses (making writing more concise). It can remove personal subjects where they are not important. It can also make the text more concise by packing a great deal of information into a few words. It helps you to create variety in your writing, by preventing you from repeating the same verb over and over again.  It conveys an objective, impersonal tone, which is one of the features of academic writing.  It helps to prevent plagiarism. When you paraphrase other people's words one of the ways to avoid plagiarism is to change the word class of the original words. If the writer uses a nominalized sentence, you can change it into a non-nominalized one and vice versa. It helps to summarize the action of the previous sentence and form a backwards link to something already familiar to the reader. For example: We analyzed the data. This analysis demonstrated the need for additional experiments. It can be useful when the nominalization is familiar to your reader as a character (happiness), it can be treated as a character. Example: Happiness has many causes and effects. It can be useful when you are making a general statement that focuses more on the idea than the actual actors in the sentence. Example: The distribution of the pizzas was fair.

Too much nominalization makes your text heavy and difficult to read. Its habitual use reduces the effectiveness of writing because it requires the construction of passive sentences, the use of meaningless general-purpose verbs, the use of many more prepositions, helping verbs, all of which tend to slow down your sentences and confuse your readers. Thus, writing that is heavily nominalized seems to lack dynamism.

Revising Nominalizations

1. When the nominalization follows a verb with little specific meaning (empty/weak verb), change the nominalization to a strong verb.

• The police conducted an investigation of the matter. – The police investigated the matter.

2. When the nominalization follows There is or There are, change the nominalization to a verb and find a new subject.

• There was a committee agreement. - The committee agreed.

3. When the nominalization is the subject of an ’empty’ verb, change the nominalization to a verb and find a new subject.

• Our discussion concerned a bonus. - We discussed a bonus.

• Our intention is to audit the records of the programme. – We intend to audit the records the programme.

4. When you find two nominalizations in a row, make at least the first into a verb. Then either leave the second as it is or turn it into a verb in a clause.

• There was first a review of the evolution of the dorsal fin. – First, she reviewed the evolution of the dorsal fin. / First, she reviewed how the dorsal fin evolved.

TASK 1. Tick the nominalizations.

intention

disagreed

exploration

explore

applicability

feared

exciting

reaction

loyal

suggestion

belief

occurrence

itching

pain

renovate

TASK 2. Change these nominalizations back into their noun or adjective form.

risk

suggestion

proof

happiness

failure

expanding

bonding

difficulty

collection

performance

redness

swelling

contribution

alleviation

stimulation

TASK 3. Read the texts and underline all nominalizations.

A. The taking of evasive measures resulting in the avoidance of predatory actions by the offending party was a result of the meeting of the previously mentioned little pigs and their awareness of the premeditation of the wolf in terms of harmful deceptions and his cleverness in the execution of his criminal intentions.

B. An evaluation was undertaken as an investigation of the process by which sentences are formed. C. The impression left by the judge was stern in his call for strengthening the regulation and arbitration of workplace disputes.

D. The popularity of Facebook is obvious. However, the increase in usage over the last five years has led to a reduction in personal relationships and the need for systematization of maintenance. As with other major technological developments, such as radio and television, there is considerable interest from the tertiary education sector about how websites like Facebook can be used in learning and teaching. The development of social networking websites as online spaces which allow the presentation and articulation of social relationships has enabled the establishment of multiple connections and communities.

TASK 4. Read the everyday sentences and complete the academic sentences with nominalizations of the bold words or phrases.

1. I analyzed the data and found that the cost of vegetables has increased.

An __________________ of the data revealed an ____________________ in the cost of vegetables.

2. It took two years to build the bridge.

The _______________________ of the bridge took two years. (hint: use a noun form of “construct”)

3. The material is flexible, so it can resist high pressure.

The __________________ of the material gives it ________________ to high pressure.

4. People enjoy movies if they recognize themselves in the characters.

_______________ of movies depends on viewers’ _____________ of themselves in the character.

5. The sea level is rising, and this is causing low-lying areas to flood.

Sea-level __________________ is causing ________________ in low-lying areas.

6. I recorded how many calories I consumed during the weekend.

I recorded my calorie ______________ during the weekend.

7. People who are creative need to be exposed to many different ideas.

_______________ requires ________________ to many different ideas.

8. We analysed the data from the experiment, and it revealed that children react when they have too much sugar.

The __________ of the data revealed children's ___________ to excessive sugar intake.

9. The number of unemployed increased by 5% last month. The reason for this __________ is still unclear.

TASK 5. Rewrite the sentences to get rid of nominalizations.

1. The rise of the planet's temperature is a result of global warming.

2. The indication of the business report that sales figures are down 10% on last month is worrying.

3. The analysis of data by a team of scientists in the lab was undertaken before writing a report.

4. The production of a mathematical formula by mathematics and physics experts has explained the modern phenomena of network science.

5. The failure of local economies to sustain and stimulate economic growth resulted in foreign intervention.

6. The hope of the student is to earn good grades.

7. There was flooding in the building by heavy rains.

8. The budget cuts for the Writing Center were the topic of our debate.

9. The intention of the jury is to reach a decision.

10. There is a need for reinforcement of this law.

11. We did a study of the progression of breast cancer.

TASK 6. Reword the paragraph to make it easier for the reader.

The development of social networking websites as online spaces which allow the presentation and articulation of social relationships has enabled the establishment of multiple connections and communities.

20