Nimenomaisella

Nimenomaisella is a term used in some Finnish-language linguistic discussions to denote a nominal-centered construction in which a proper name functions as the central referential element of a clause. In this use, the name acts as the anchor of the sentence, while predicates or modifiers attach to it, rather than describing the entity with a typical noun phrase. The construction is primarily of interest to discourse-based syntax and information structure studies, and it is not part of standard Finnish grammar.

Etymology and status: The term combines nimi (name) with a coined suffix -omaisella, modeled on Finnish case forms, signaling a focus on the name as the principal unit of the clause. It is a theoretical label rather than a widely attested grammatical category, and its usage appears mainly in niche scholarly discussions rather than in everyday language reference works.

Usage and examples: In a nimenomaisella analysis, a sentence or headline foregrounds the name as the core referent. For example, headlines such as "Tesla unveils new model" or "Emma wins award" place the name at the center of information, with the rest of the structure providing action or attributes. In longer sentences, analysts examine how prosody, word order, and surrounding context reinforce the name as the primary carrier of meaning.

Relation to related concepts: Nimenomaisella is distinct from appositive naming, where a name comments on another noun, and from general nominalization, where verbs or adjectives are turned into nouns. It intersects with theories of information structure, focus, and topicalization, particularly in discussions of how names function as referential anchors in discourse.