Agency in formal nominalizations
Nominalization (nominalisasi) converts verbs or adjectives into nouns using affixes like pe-...-an, per-...-an, and ke-...-an. In advanced Malay, this is used to focus on the 'event' rather than the 'doer' (hidden agency).
How It Works
In Bahasa Melayu Tinggi (High Malay), nominalization is a sophisticated tool for managing agency. While basic nominalization expands vocabulary, Level 6 analysis focuses on how it strategically backgrounds or hides the 'doer' of an action.
1. Morphological Tools:
- peN-...-an: Derived from transitive meN- verbs. The 'N' represents a nasalization process (e.g., tulis → penulisan) where the root-initial consonant often changes. It focuses on the process or act.
- per-...-an: Usually derived from intransitive ber- verbs (e.g., berkembang → perkembangan). It focuses on the occurrence or event. In formal registers, it also denotes places or collections (e.g., perhentian, perkayuan).
- ke-...-an: Derived from adjectives or verbs to denote abstract states (e.g., adil → keadilan). Crucially, it also derives nouns for institutions or domains from noun roots (e.g., raja → kerajaan, menteri → kementerian).
2. Hidden Agency:
Nominalization allows a writer to present a process as an established fact. For example, using kelewatan projek (project delay) instead of 'we delayed the project' shields the responsible party. The agency is not always deleted; it can be backgrounded using -nya or a following noun phrase (e.g., penulisan beliau), but the focus remains on the noun rather than the active performance of the verb.
3. Register and Impact:
This pattern is the hallmark of formal reports and editorials. Over-use can lead to 'heavy' or 'clunky' prose (bahasa birokratik), but precise use is essential for professional and academic writing.
Examples (4)
- Penulisan laporan itu telah mencetuskan kontroversi di parlimen.
The writing of that report has sparked controversy in parliament.
Word by Word: Writing report that already spark controversy in parliament.
Here, 'penulisan' (the writing) is the subject. The actual writer is hidden to focus on the document's impact.
- Peningkatan kadar faedah tidak dapat dielakkan dalam keadaan ekonomi sekarang.
The increase in interest rates cannot be avoided in the current economic climate.
Word by Word: Increase rate interest not can avoided in situation economy now.
By using 'peningkatan' (the increase), the agency of the Central Bank is backgrounded, making the change seem like an inevitable economic fact.
- Keberkesanan dasar baharu itu masih dalam kajian pihak berkuasa.
The effectiveness of the new policy is still under study by the authorities.
Word by Word: Effectiveness policy new that still in study side authority.
The abstract noun 'keberkesanan' (effectiveness) turns a quality into a measurable entity for formal analysis.
- Perjalanan projek ini terganggu akibat masalah teknikal.
The progress of this project was disrupted due to technical problems.
Word by Word: Journey/process project this disrupted result problem technical.
'Perjalanan' nominalizes the process of the project moving forward, removing focus from the people managing it.
Common Mistakes
Using the agent noun (peN-) when you mean the process noun (peN-...-an).
Different MeaningPenulis laporan itu mengambil masa dua bulan.Penulisan laporan itu mengambil masa dua bulan.'Penulis laporan itu mengambil masa dua bulan' is a fine sentence, but it says the writer took two months. 'Penulisan laporan itu' means the writing of the report, the process itself.
Confusing the act of developing (pengembangan) with the resulting growth or event (perkembangan).
Perkembangan ekonomi oleh kerajaan telah berjaya.Pengembangan ekonomi oleh kerajaan telah berjaya.Use 'pengembangan' when referring to the active effort or act of developing something by an agent. 'Perkembangan' refers to the spontaneous growth or the event of development itself.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To analyze agency in formal nominalizations, a learner must first understand the morphological processes that create complex process nouns (peN-...-an). They also need to understand the stylistic choice between verbal and nominal constructions and how the omission of an actor (previously seen in agentless passives) functions to create an objective or evasive tone in formal Malay prose.
- Dense process nominalization
Understanding how verbs are transformed into dense process nouns using peN-...-an is essential for identifying the underlying actions in formal nominalized text.
Level 5 - Passive with omitted actor
The concept of backgrounding or omitting the actor in a sentence is first introduced in the passive voice, which serves as a conceptual foundation for hidden agency in nominalizations.
Level 3 - Choosing nominal or verbal clauses
Learners must be able to distinguish between verbal and nominal styles to recognize when a writer is choosing to use abstract nouns to obscure agency rather than active verbs.
Level 5
Related Patterns
- peN-...-anProcess Nouns with PeN-...-an
This is the primary morphological tool used to create process-based nominalizations from transitive verbs.
Level 3 - per-...-an (peristiwa)Events and Processes with Per-...-an
Used to nominalize intransitive verbs, focusing on the event or occurrence rather than the process.
Level 4 - ke-...-an (keadaan)Abstract States with Ke-...-an
Used to create abstract nouns from adjectives, often used alongside process nouns in formal texts.
Level 3
Practice Agency in formal nominalizations in Bubblegum
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