nominalizationan

Nominalizationan is a coined term used to describe a specific nominalization pattern in theoretical linguistics. It refers to the formation of nouns from verbs by attaching a nominalizing suffix, typically -an, to the verb stem. The concept is used as a typological placeholder to compare how different languages derive deverbal nouns and how these nouns function within noun phrases.

Morphology and syntax

In nominalizationan systems, the deverbal nouns produced by the suffix -an generally act as head nouns within noun phrases. They can take determiners, numerals, adjectives, and relative clauses, and they may participate in subject or object positions depending on the language. The exact behavior of the derived nouns—such as whether they denote action, result, or agent—in many cases depends on language-specific rules. Some varieties may require additional phonological or morphophonemic adjustments when forming the nominalized word.

Semantics and readings

Nominalizationan can yield multiple readings from a single verb stem: an event or action reading (the act of V), a result or product reading (the thing produced by V), and sometimes an agentive reading (the doer associated with V). The intended reading is typically disambiguated by context, syntactic position, or additional particles and modifiers in the language.

Examples (illustrative)

To read becomes readan, meaning the act of reading; to build becomes buildan, meaning the act of building or a constructed object depending on context. The nominalized form may take modifiers: readan of the manuscript, a long readan, etc. These examples are schematic and serve to illustrate the pattern rather than cite observable usage in a particular language.

History and usage

Nominalizationan is a theoretical or constructed-term used to discuss nominalization strategies in cross-linguistic and conlang contexts. It is not universally attested as a cross-language category but provides a framework for comparing deverbal nouns derived by suffixation.

See also: Nominalization, Deverbal noun, Derivation (linguistics).