nominalisation made easier how to write in a more academic fashion
TRANSCRIPT
NOMINALISATION MADE EASIER
How to write in a more academic fashion.
NOMINALISATION IS:
Writing in a more academic manner.
Writing in a lexically dense manner.
The major difference between spoken and written language.
Getting better marks because you can do this.
NOMINALISATION
Is a process that turns a word or a number of words into nouns.
It is usually verbs and adjectives that are changed (but can also be conjunctions, prepositions and modal finites).
EXAMPLESVerb – Nouns Adjectives – Nouns
completed – completion consistent – consistency
irrigate – irrigation difficult – difficulty
impacting – impact impure – impurities
present – presentation available – availability
emerge – emergence
growing – growth
analyse – analyst
worry – concern
conduct - conductivity
ACTIVITY
Nominalise the following verbs/adjectives:
rely
destroy
expand
survive
paid
fulfil
simple
old
approach
ACTIVITY ANSWERS
Nominalise the following verbs/adjectives:
rely reliance
destroy destruction
expand expansion
survive survival
paid payment
fulfil fulfilment
simple simplicity
old older
approach approaches
NOMINALISATION
So, if you put the word ‘the’ in front of a word (i.e. an adjective or verb) it helps to make it a noun!
NOMINALISATION The nominalisation of whole parts of sentences, rather than just a word, is what has the major impact on formalizing academic writing.
Example:
Scientists have been developing new chemicals …
Becomes:
The development of new chemicals by scientists …
The subject of a sentence is a noun at the beginning of a sentence.
It helps sort out the syntax (i.e. structure or order) of the sentence.
ACTIVITY
How could the following sentences be made more formal by the use of nominalisation?
1. For example, if I was about to compete in a hundred metre race and I ate a bucket of chips it would effect my ability to run well.
2. It is a real problem that players have to worry too much about their sponsorship deals instead of just concentrating on playing the game.
ACTIVITY - SUGGESTED ANSWERS1. For example, if I was about to compete in a hundred metre race
and I ate a bucket of chips it would effect my ability to run well.
The effect on an athletes’ performance in a competition is significant if a bucket of chips is consumed prior to the race.
2. It is a real problem that players have to worry too much about their sponsorship deals instead of just concentrating on playing the game.
The concern regarding sponsorship deals has a significant effect on a player’s game.