nominalisoiva

Nominalisoiva is a linguistic term used to describe nominalization processes that convert non-noun forms or whole clauses into noun phrases. The term is used in studies of languages that employ explicit nominalizers, affixes, or periphrastic constructions to derive nouns from verbs, adjectives, or clauses. A nominalisoiva element can be a suffix, prefix, clitic, or a functional head in the syntax; its exact realization varies across languages.

Function and usage: Nominalized forms typically serve as arguments in clauses (as subjects or objects) and can be modified by determiners, numerals, or adjectives. They often carry abstract or eventive readings, allowing discussion of actions as entities. For example, in English, running can function as a noun in the phrase “the running was exhausting,” and protest can occur as a noun in “the protest drew a crowd.” In Finnish, nominalization can be formed with the suffix -minen to produce nouns like lukeminen “reading” from lukea “to read.”

Cross-linguistic note: Some languages rely on inflectional morphology for nominalization, others use periphrastic constructions or lexical nominalizers that are separate words. The semantic and syntactic properties of nominalized phrases vary: some are countable, some mass, and some require different case marking or agreement.

See also: Nominalization; Nominalizer; Derivation; Clause-to-noun conversion.