Beware of nominalizations (AKA zombie nouns) - Helen Sword

Summary

This script discusses the overuse of 'nominalizations', or nouns formed from verbs and adjectives, which can obscure meaning and hinder clear communication. Dubbed 'zombie nouns', they are prevalent in academic, legal, and business writing. The speaker illustrates their negative impact by transforming a complex sentence into a simpler, more engaging one. The script also references George Orwell's essay, highlighting the importance of concrete language over abstract nominalizations for effective writing.

Takeaways

• 🧐 Nominalizations are nouns created from verbs, adjectives, or other nouns by adding suffixes like '-ity', '-tion', or '-ism'.
• 📚 They are favored by academics, lawyers, bureaucrats, and business writers but are criticized for making language less clear.
• 🧟‍♂️ The speaker dubs them 'zombie nouns' because they 'consume the living' by replacing active verbs and concrete language with abstract terms.
• 🔍 Overuse of nominalizations can lead to pomposity and abstraction, making it hard to understand who is doing what.
• 🔄 Replacing nominalizations with active verbs and concrete terms can revitalize a sentence and make it more engaging.
• 📈 Nominalizations can be useful for expressing complex ideas like 'perception', 'intelligence', and 'epistemology' when used appropriately.
• 📉 At their worst, nominalizations impede clear communication and should be used sparingly.
• 📝 George Orwell criticized the overuse of nominalizations and abstractions in his essay 'Politics and the English Language'.
• 🌐 Nominalizations can create jargon, turning simple words like 'globe' into complex terms like 'globalization'.
• 💤 A paragraph filled with nominalizations can bore readers, whereas active, concrete sentences can keep them engaged.
• ✏️ To write effectively, use vigorous verb-driven sentences that are concrete, clear, and structured to avoid the 'zombie apocalypse' of nominalizations.

Q & A

What is a nominalization?

A nominalization is a noun created by adding a suffix such as '-ity', '-tion', or '-ism' to an adjective, verb, or another noun.

Why are nominalizations referred to as 'zombie nouns' in the script?

Nominalizations are called 'zombie nouns' because they are seen as consuming the vitality of language by replacing active verbs and concrete language with abstract entities.

Who are the groups of people that tend to use nominalizations according to the script?

The groups that tend to use nominalizations include academics, lawyers, bureaucrats, and business writers.

What is the effect of nominalizations on sentence clarity?

Nominalizations can impede clear communication by making sentences sound pompous and abstract, often obscuring who is doing what.

How does the script suggest improving a sentence filled with nominalizations?

The script suggests eliminating or reanimating most of the nominalizations, adding human subjects, and using active verbs to make the sentence more lively and clear.

What is the role of nominalizations in expressing complex ideas?

At their best, nominalizations can help express complex ideas such as 'perception', 'intelligence', and 'epistemology'.

How does the script use George Orwell's essay 'Politics and the English Language' to illustrate the point about nominalizations?

The script uses Orwell's essay to show the difference between concrete language and the overuse of nominalizations, which can lead to vague and less engaging prose.

What is the effect of nominalizations when they gather in jargon-generating packs?

When nominalizations gather in jargon-generating packs, they can create dense and difficult-to-understand language that can put readers to sleep.

What is the example given in the script of a complex nominalization?

The example given is 'antidisestablishmentarianism', which contains multiple verbs, adjectives, and nouns within it.

What is the recommended way to write sentences to avoid the pitfalls of nominalizations?

The recommended way is to use vigorous, verb-driven sentences that are concrete and clearly structured to keep the sentences lively and engaging.

How does the script suggest one can test the impact of nominalizations on a sentence?

One can test the impact by releasing a few nominalizations into a lively sentence and observing how they sap the energy and clarity from it.