gerundeten

Gerundeten is a term used in linguistics to describe a class of nominalizations formed from verbs by attaching a suffix -eten, producing nouns that refer to the action or process of the verb. The concept is primarily used in discussions of typology and constructive languages, where researchers compare how natural languages encode actions as nouns and how suffixal derivation affects syntax. While not widely attested in natural languages, gerundeten serves as a useful theoretical tool for illustrating nominalization strategies.

Morphology and syntax: A gerundeten is formed by combining a verb stem with the suffix -eten. The resulting word behaves as a common noun: it can take determiners, adjectives, and relative clauses; it forms plurals with -en in some systems; and it can appear in subject, object, or oblique positions. The construction often preserves aspectual information of the verb, signaling ongoing or completed action, depending on the language design.

Examples: In a hypothetical language, the English verb walk becomes walk-eten, meaning "the act of walking." The sentence The walk-eten was long can refer to the activity itself rather than a specific instance of walking. Comparisons: Unlike English gerunds, gerundeten are derived through a suffix rather than a headword morphologically; unlike Dutch or German nominalizations, they may not require a separate noun class or article in every context.

History and usage: The term originated in linguistic experiments and typological surveys to illustrate how suffixal nominalizations can yield independent nouns. Despite limited natural-language attestation, gerundeten provides a concise framework for discussing morphology and syntax in nominalization.

See also: Gerund; Nominalization; Suffixal derivation; Conlang.