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Chapter 11. Nominalizations

  • Ruth A. Berman
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Usage-Based Studies in Modern Hebrew
This chapter is in the book Usage-Based Studies in Modern Hebrew

Abstract

The chapter details structural and usage-based properties of three types of verb shifts to nouns in MH: Action Nominals. Gerunds, and Infinitives. It starts by specifying morphological and syntactic criteria for these three constructions as nominalizations: They are fully productive grammatical systems; directly associated with verb binyan patterns; and alternate syntactically with their verbal source-forms, so often paraphrasable by tensed subordinate clauses. These criteria mean that several other classes of verb-related nouns are excluded from discussion, including: adjective-based stative nominals, nouns derived by syntactic conversion from benoni ‘intermediate’ participial cum present–tense verbs, and other classes of verb-derived nouns denoting Disease, Collective, Location, etc. The chapter characterizes (i) abstract Action Nominals, i.e., šmot^ peula ‘names:cs action’ = nouns/names of an action, activity, act’ (e.g., from the b1verb haras ‘destroy’, harisa ‘destruction, destroying’ ~ héres ‘destruction’) and two constructions both termed šem^ póal ‘name:cs verb = the noun/name of a verb’ in the form of (ii) Gerunds (e.g., be-hors-o ‘in-destroying-his = on his destroying [something]’) and (iii) Infinitives (e.g., la-haros ‘to-destroy’).1 The relatively recent Action Nominals are highly productive, although largely confined to more formal registers of usage, classical Gerunds are restricted to syntactically bound constructions and are relatively rare in current usage, while Infinitives are pervasive at all levels of usage, displaying a broad range of functions in the absence of other, less widely occurrent, non-finite verbs. The chapter concludes by comparing the three constructions analyzed in relation to more general features of MH structure and use.

Abstract

The chapter details structural and usage-based properties of three types of verb shifts to nouns in MH: Action Nominals. Gerunds, and Infinitives. It starts by specifying morphological and syntactic criteria for these three constructions as nominalizations: They are fully productive grammatical systems; directly associated with verb binyan patterns; and alternate syntactically with their verbal source-forms, so often paraphrasable by tensed subordinate clauses. These criteria mean that several other classes of verb-related nouns are excluded from discussion, including: adjective-based stative nominals, nouns derived by syntactic conversion from benoni ‘intermediate’ participial cum present–tense verbs, and other classes of verb-derived nouns denoting Disease, Collective, Location, etc. The chapter characterizes (i) abstract Action Nominals, i.e., šmot^ peula ‘names:cs action’ = nouns/names of an action, activity, act’ (e.g., from the b1verb haras ‘destroy’, harisa ‘destruction, destroying’ ~ héres ‘destruction’) and two constructions both termed šem^ póal ‘name:cs verb = the noun/name of a verb’ in the form of (ii) Gerunds (e.g., be-hors-o ‘in-destroying-his = on his destroying [something]’) and (iii) Infinitives (e.g., la-haros ‘to-destroy’).1 The relatively recent Action Nominals are highly productive, although largely confined to more formal registers of usage, classical Gerunds are restricted to syntactically bound constructions and are relatively rare in current usage, while Infinitives are pervasive at all levels of usage, displaying a broad range of functions in the absence of other, less widely occurrent, non-finite verbs. The chapter concludes by comparing the three constructions analyzed in relation to more general features of MH structure and use.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of authors vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. Transcription and Coding. Transcription, transliteration, Hebrew-specific coding xi
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I. General background
  8. Chapter 1. Setting Modern Hebrew in space, time, and culture 19
  9. Chapter 2. Historical overview of Modern Hebrew 27
  10. Chapter 3. Genetic affiliation 41
  11. Chapter 4. Sociolinguistics of Modern Hebrew 51
  12. Chapter 5. Prescriptive activity in Modern Hebrew 97
  13. Chapter 6. Notes on Modern Hebrew phonology and orthography 131
  14. Part II. Morpho-lexicon
  15. Chapter 7. Inflection 147
  16. Chapter 8. Derivation 203
  17. Chapter 9. Parts of speech categories in the lexicon of Modern Hebrew 265
  18. Chapter 10. Voice distinctions 331
  19. Chapter 11. Nominalizations 375
  20. Part III. Syntax
  21. Chapter 12. Agreement alternations in Modern Hebrew 421
  22. Chapter 13. Transitivity and valence 465
  23. Chapter 14. Genitive ( smixut ) constructions in Modern Hebrew 507
  24. Chapter 15. Impersonal and pseudo-impersonal constructions 539
  25. Chapter 16. Negation in Modern Hebrew 583
  26. Chapter 17. List constructions 623
  27. Chapter 18. A usage-based typology of Modern Hebrew syntax 659
  28. Index 677
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.210.12ber

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. List of authors vii
  4. Acknowledgements ix
  5. Transcription and Coding. Transcription, transliteration, Hebrew-specific coding xi
  6. Introduction 1
  7. Part I. General background
  8. Chapter 1. Setting Modern Hebrew in space, time, and culture 19
  9. Chapter 2. Historical overview of Modern Hebrew 27
  10. Chapter 3. Genetic affiliation 41
  11. Chapter 4. Sociolinguistics of Modern Hebrew 51
  12. Chapter 5. Prescriptive activity in Modern Hebrew 97
  13. Chapter 6. Notes on Modern Hebrew phonology and orthography 131
  14. Part II. Morpho-lexicon
  15. Chapter 7. Inflection 147
  16. Chapter 8. Derivation 203
  17. Chapter 9. Parts of speech categories in the lexicon of Modern Hebrew 265
  18. Chapter 10. Voice distinctions 331
  19. Chapter 11. Nominalizations 375
  20. Part III. Syntax
  21. Chapter 12. Agreement alternations in Modern Hebrew 421
  22. Chapter 13. Transitivity and valence 465
  23. Chapter 14. Genitive ( smixut ) constructions in Modern Hebrew 507
  24. Chapter 15. Impersonal and pseudo-impersonal constructions 539
  25. Chapter 16. Negation in Modern Hebrew 583
  26. Chapter 17. List constructions 623
  27. Chapter 18. A usage-based typology of Modern Hebrew syntax 659
  28. Index 677
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