adjectivale

Adjectivale is a term used in linguistic discussion to denote a class of adjectives that exhibit nominalizing or noun-like behavior in certain languages. It is not a standard category in most reference grammars, but appears in theoretical work that explores how adjectives can function as the head of a noun phrase or take noun-like morphology.

Etymology and scope: The name adjectivale blends the word adjective with a suffix-like element intended to signal a value or valence function, rather than a fixed part of speech. The concept is descriptive rather than prescriptive and is used to compare how languages treat adjectives that move beyond attributive modification into substantive or nominal territory.

Key features: Adjectivale items typically show one or more of the following: (1) nominalization potential, where the form can be used as a noun or head of a noun phrase; (2) noun-like morphology, including plural markers, determiners, or case endings in languages with rich morphology; and (3) a distributive or referential reading that targets classes of entities rather than properties alone. Semantically, adjectivale often denotes a set or category defined by a property rather than a single instance.

Cross-linguistic patterns: English illustrates a basic nominalized use with adjectives in phrases like “the rich” or “the poor.” Some languages, such as those with strong case systems or definite-article noun phrases, employ adjectives that behave as nouns in more systematic ways, sometimes requiring article or agreement on the nominal form. Adjectivale serves as a convenient umbrella for describing these behaviors across typologically diverse languages.

See also: Adjective, Noun phrase, Nominalization, Substantival adjective.