Nominalization of Non-Finite Verb Forms: Evidence from Azerbaijani and Arabic

Abstract

This study investigates the process of substantivization (nominalization) of non-finite verb forms in Azerbaijani and Arabic, highlighting similarities and differences in their morphosyntactic and semantic mechanisms. In Azerbaijani, non-finite forms—masdar, participial adjectives, and verbal adverbs—acquire nominal functions primarily through contextual and syntactic conditions, enabling verbs to denote objects, persons, or abstract concepts. Examples such as yazı (“writing”), düşüncə (“thought”), Bilən danışsın, and Gələn gəlsin illustrate the dynamic and context-dependent nature of nominalization in Azerbaijani. In contrast, Arabic nominalization relies on stable morphological patterns, including masdar, ism al-fāʿil, and ism al-mafʿūl, which function as independent lexical units expressing the agent, object, or the action itself. The study demonstrates that while both languages expand the nominative potential of verb-derived forms, Azerbaijani emphasizes functional flexibility, whereas Arabic emphasizes morphological stability. The findings contribute to cross-linguistic studies of nominalization and the understanding of typological and functional differences between Turkic and Semitic languages.