nounuitzending

Nounuitzending is a term used in media studies and linguistics to describe a broadcast practice in which nouns act as the primary carriers of information, while verbs and descriptive language are comparatively de-emphasized. The term combines the English word noun with the Dutch word uitzending, meaning broadcast, and is typically discussed as a phenomenon in contemporary news, advertising, and social media.

Origin and usage: The phrase has appeared in Dutch-language commentary and informal academic writing since the early 2000s, without a formal, widely accepted definition. It is used to analyze segments where headlines, captions, and on-screen text foreground names of people, places, organizations, and brands, sometimes at the expense of explicit action or context.

Characteristics: In nounuitzending, the audience encounters information through nominal anchors rather than full predicates. This can speed recognition of key entities but may reduce narrative coherence and traceability of causal relations. The practice often relies on visual layout, typography, and repetition across media platforms.

Impact and critique: Proponents argue that foregrounding nouns increases clarity and recall, especially in fast-paced media environments. Critics warn that it can contribute to shallow interpretation, promote bias toward prominent referents, and hamper critical engagement with events.

See also: framing, media linguistics, discourse analysis, information design.