Transcript nominalisation

Nominalisation: using words within
a sentence or clause to describe
Learning Intention: That students
understand the concept of how changing
the function of a word or a phrase can
make the meaning clearer within a
sentence or paragraph.
Purpose of Nominalisation
• Nominalisation helps achieve a higher
degree of abstraction and technicality.
• Nominalisation is significant in
constructing a distant and abstract world
that can be reflected on.
• Nominalisation allows a greater level of
precision in written texts.
Creating nominalisations
• Nominalisations are nouns often formed
from verbs (e.g. discover > discovery,
achieve > achievement, present >
presentation, permit > permission).
• adjectives (e.g. brave > bravery, wide >
width, tense > tension),
• conjunctions (e.g. because > cause,
whereas > difference, if > possibility)
• preposition (e.g. during > duration).
Creating nominalisations
From Verbs
• Many verbs can be changed into
nominalisations by changing the end of
the verb
• eg. divide > division, pay > payment,
sing > my singing
• Some do not need change
• eg. his diet, the struggle
Some common nominalisations in
Maths
Word
deep
Verb/adjective Nominalisation
adjective
verb
addition
adjective
distance
multiply
estimation
Some common nominalisations in
Maths
Word
Verb/adjective Nominalisation
deep
adjective
depth
add
verb
addition
distant
adjective
distance
multiply
verb
multiplication
estimate
verb
estimation
Some common nominalisations in
the Arts
Word
perform
Verb/adjective Nominalisation
verb
verb
movement
adjective
originality
exhibition
surrealism
Some common nominalisations in
the Arts
Word
Verb/adjective Nominalisation
perform
verb
performance
move
verb
movement
original
adjective
originality
exhibit
verb
exhibition
surreal
adjective
surrealism
Understanding Nominalisation
Original Version
They were
impressed by how
brave she was.
It may not be
appropriate to
nominalise every
possibility
Nominalised
Versions
She made an
impression because
she was brave.
They were
impressed by her
bravery.
She made an
impression by her
bravery.
Understanding Nominalisation
Original Version
Jill placed the flowers
perfectly on the table.
The coach was
amazed by Nina’s
brilliant effort.
Nominalised Versions
Understanding Nominalisation
Original Version
Jill placed the flowers
perfectly on the table.
Nominalised Versions
Her placement of the
flowers on the table was
perfect.
The table looked perfect
due to Jill’s placement of
the flowers.
The coach was amazed by Nina’s brilliance amazed
the coach.
Nina’s brilliant effort.
The coach’s amazement
was caused by Nina’s
brilliance.
Rewriting an example
Step 1 Identify the verbs
• Students who complete what the school
requires can graduate. When they
receive their certificate, they can apply
for work.
Rewriting an example
Step 1 Identify the verbs
• Students who complete what the school
requires can graduate. When they
receive their certificate, they can apply
for work.
Rewriting an example
Step 2 Nominalise these verbs
• Complete >
• Require >
• Graduate >
• Receive >
• Apply >
Rewriting an example
Step 2 Nominalise these verbs
• Complete > Completion
• Require > Requirement
• Graduate > Graduation
• Receive > Receipt
• Apply > Application
Rewriting an example
Step 3
• Try to rewrite the text using all
nominalisations
Rewritten example
• Completion of the school’s requirements can
lead to graduation. Upon receipt of their
certificate, students can make an application
for work.
• What other steps were required to rewrite the
text?
Other changes
• Change of verb > can lead to
• Change of foregrounding > Completion
of the school’s requirements
• Longer noun groups > receipt of their
certificate
Some considerations
• The syntax of the sentence need to change to
accommodate the nominalisations (eg. new
verb) and as a result the meaning of the
sentence may change
• Not all verbs/adjectives need to be
nominalised
• Apply the appropriate level of nominalisation
for the job
Building vocabulary prior to
nominalisation
•
•
•
•
She did well in the play.
She performed well in the play.
Her performance in the play was excellent.
Her excellence was shown in her
performance.
• Her excellence was evident in her
performance.
• Evidence of her excellence was seen in her
performance.
(At what point does nominalisation become
cumbersome and inappropriate?)
Building vocabulary prior to
nominalisation
• He took away the rubbish, because it
had to be done.
• He took away the rubbish, because it
needed to be done.
• He removed the rubbish, because it was
necessary.
• The removal of the rubbish was a
necessity.
Understanding Nominalisation
•
Text A (Spoken comments at a
committee meeting)
Hazel: I reckon we can replant the trees
along the side of the oval nearest to
the main road. It is very noisy on that
side and the trees will make it better.
I’ll ask the council to see if we can
borrow some of their gear to use on
the day.
Vy: My husband said we can use his
truck if we want to. I can see if my
uncle can also lend us some tools.
•
Text B (Written minutes of the
meeting including some of the
possible nominalisations)
A proposal was made by Hazel that the
revegetation occur along the side of
the school’s oval nearest to the main
road so that there is a reduction in
noise.
Hazel will make a request to borrow
equipment from the council.
Vy made the offer to use her
husband’s truck and will investigate
the possibility of borrowing equipment
from her uncle.
Nominalisation changes
“packaging’ of information
Texts with lots of nominalisation appear
dense and difficult to read because:
• Abstractions are named
• Noun groups are complex
• Relating verbs are used (e.g. contains,
are, involves)
• “Actors” are removed
Unpacking nominalisations
• It is important to be able to “unpack” noun
groups containing nominalisations
• How could you explain the information below
without using nominalisation?
• How many sentences does it take?
• The dramatic increase of illegal logging in
rainforests is of international significance. The
reduction of suitable habitat is causing the
extinction of some species and a general
reduction of biodiversity.
Nominalisation and genres
• Nominalisation is an important resource
for successful development of effective
and efficient description in narrative and
factual genres
Using nominalisation in
descriptive writing
Example:
The water looked very deep (adj).
Becomes:
The depth of the water was such that
Lenore felt her chest tighten and her
breathing quicken.
(it may be longer, but it gives greater
detail. Also, drop very, many, lots as they
are “empty intensifiers)
Using nominalisation in
descriptive writing
Example:
She reacted badly (verb).
Becomes:
Her reaction was clearly written across her
face; her mouth was a hard-lined grimace
and her eyes spat fire.