Noun Formation in French: Linguistic and Semantic Analysis

Abstract

This article analyzes the formation of nouns in French from a linguistic and semantic perspective. From a linguistic point of view, the methods of formation of nouns, including word formation (derivation), composition (addition), formation through metaphor and metonymy, are considered in detail. Morphological analysis covers the change of nouns in gender and number, and syntactic analysis covers their functions in the structure of a sentence. The semantic analysis section studies the acquisition of a mobile meaning of nouns, synonym and antonym relationships, as well as their participation in phraseological units. The results of the study show that the process of formation of nouns in French develops under the influence of various linguistic factors, and this process is closely related to the dynamic development of the language. This article may be useful for researchers, students and linguistics enthusiasts engaged in French linguistics.

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F.Yarmanov. (2025). Noun Formation in French: Linguistic and Semantic Analysis. European International Journal of Philological Sciences, 5(03), 24–26. Retrieved from https://inlibrary.uz/index.php/eijps/article/view/81839
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Abstract

This article analyzes the formation of nouns in French from a linguistic and semantic perspective. From a linguistic point of view, the methods of formation of nouns, including word formation (derivation), composition (addition), formation through metaphor and metonymy, are considered in detail. Morphological analysis covers the change of nouns in gender and number, and syntactic analysis covers their functions in the structure of a sentence. The semantic analysis section studies the acquisition of a mobile meaning of nouns, synonym and antonym relationships, as well as their participation in phraseological units. The results of the study show that the process of formation of nouns in French develops under the influence of various linguistic factors, and this process is closely related to the dynamic development of the language. This article may be useful for researchers, students and linguistics enthusiasts engaged in French linguistics.


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European International Journal of Philological Sciences

24

https://eipublication.com/index.php/eijps

TYPE

Original Research

PAGE NO.

24-26

DOI

10.55640/eijps-05-03-07



OPEN ACCESS

SUBMITED

21 January 2025

ACCEPTED

25 February 2025

PUBLISHED

23 March 2025

VOLUME

Vol.05 Issue 03 2025

COPYRIGHT

© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.

Noun Formation in French:
Linguistic and Semantic
Analysis

F.Yarmanov

Senior lecturer of the Department of French Language and Literature of
Karshi State University, Uzbekistan

Abstract

: This article analyzes the formation of nouns in

French from a linguistic and semantic perspective. From
a linguistic point of view, the methods of formation of
nouns,

including

word

formation

(derivation),

composition (addition), formation through metaphor
and metonymy, are considered in detail. Morphological
analysis covers the change of nouns in gender and
number, and syntactic analysis covers their functions in
the structure of a sentence. The semantic analysis
section studies the acquisition of a mobile meaning of
nouns, synonym and antonym relationships, as well as
their participation in phraseological units. The results of
the study show that the process of formation of nouns
in French develops under the influence of various
linguistic factors, and this process is closely related to
the dynamic development of the language. This article
may be useful for researchers, students and linguistics
enthusiasts engaged in French linguistics.

Keywords:

French

language,

noun

formation,

derivation, semantic analysis, morphological analysis,
linguistics.

Introduction:

This article is devoted to the study of the

methods of expression of action nouns in French. During
the research, the morphological and syntactic forms of
action nouns, their semantic properties and scope of
application are analyzed. The article considers in detail
the methods of formation using affixes, conversion
between verbs and nouns, as well as syntactic
restructuring. The results are also compared with similar
forms in other languages, and their significance in the
translation process is discussed. This article is of great
importance for practical and theoretical research in the
field of linguistics and translation.

The French language has a rich lexical and grammatical
system, and the study of its linguistic aspects is one of
the topical issues in scientific research. In particular,


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European International Journal of Philological Sciences

action nouns, that is, the process of nominalization, is
a

widespread

and

important

grammatical

phenomenon in French. Nominalization is the process
of forming verbs or other word groups as nouns. This
method provides simple and clear ways to express an
action or event, which allows for the effective use of
speech styles, especially in formal written texts.

Action nouns occupy a special place in the
morphological and syntactic system of the French
language. They are distinguished by their formation
with the help of affixes, the processes of
transformation between verbs and nouns, and their
use in complex syntactic structures. For example, the
verb "développer" (to develop) when transformed into
a

noun

takes

the

form

"développement"

(development). This process is widely used in the
creation of texts in formal and literary styles. Also, the
specific semantic and pragmatic features of action
nouns play an important role in the translation
process, since they can be consonant with similar
forms in other languages, or, conversely, have
different means of expression.

The aim of the study is to study the ways of expressing
action nouns in French. The study analyzes the
morphological, semantic, and syntactic features of
nominalization. This topic is of practical importance
not only for theoretical linguistics, but also for
translation studies and other areas of language study.
The article considers various methods of formation of
action nouns, their grammatical and semantic
functions, as well as a comparative analysis with other
languages. The aim of this article is to identify the
mechanisms of formation and use of action nouns in
French,

thereby

enriching

existing

scientific

approaches to the study of this area. This topic also
opens up new opportunities for a deeper
understanding of the complexities of French grammar
and the development of comparative linguistic studies
with other languages.

METHODOLOGY

This study aims to study and analyze the methods of
expression of action nouns in French and was
conducted based on the following methodological
approaches:

The study used various sources related to the French
language, including:

1. Scientific and literary texts: Samples were selected
from books, articles, and literary works in French.

2. Grammar manuals: Manuals that cover the
morphology and syntax of the French language were
studied.

3. Dictionaries: Modern and classical French

dictionaries that explain the process of nominalization
were analyzed.

In identifying examples, authoritative grammatical
sources such as "Le Bon Usage" were used.

Analysis method. During the study, the morphological,
syntactic and semantic aspects of action nouns were
analyzed using the following approaches:

Morphological analysis. The process of formation of
action nouns using affixes was studied. For example, the
role of suffixes such as -tion, -ment in the process of
transformation from verb to noun was observed.
Example:

Création

(creation),

développement

(development).

Syntactic analysis. The role of action nouns in the
sentence structure and their connection with other
grammatical elements was analyzed. For example: Il

travaille bien (He works well) → Son travail est excellent

(His work is very good).

Semantic analysis. The semantic aspects of action
nouns, the events expressed by them, and their
similarities or differences with other languages were
analyzed.

Comparative approach. Action nouns in French were
compared with equivalent forms in other languages, in
particular, in Uzbek. Through this method, the specific
features of nominalization in French grammar were
identified and their similarities and differences with
other languages were analyzed.

Statistical data collection. The frequency and usage rate
of action names taken from the texts were determined,
and statistical data on their main formation methods
were compiled.

Practical application analysis. In order to determine the
role of action names in the translation process and the
difficulties associated with them, a practical analysis
was conducted from the perspective of translation
studies. Through this, the problems that arise when
translating action names from French into other
languages and ways to solve them were studied.

Based on this methodology, the study made it possible
to comprehensively study action names in French. The
results obtained are expected to be useful for scientific
and practical research in the field of linguistics and
translation studies.

RESULTS

During the study, the methods of expression of nouns of
action in French were studied morphologically,
syntactically and semantically, and the following main
results were identified:

1. Morphological formation methods. In French, nouns
of action are often formed on the basis of verbs and are


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formed using various affixes. These affixes play a key
role in the transformation of a verb into a noun:

1. Formation using affixes:

-tion:

création

(creation),

communication

(communication).

-ment: développement (development), changement
(change).

-age: voyage (journey), nettoyage (cleaning).

Nouns of action formed using these affixes are used
more in a formal style and their semantic load is clear.

2. Conversion between verbs and nouns

In some cases, the verb is used as a noun without any
changes:

For example: manger (to eat) → un manger (food);
courir (to run) → un courir (to run).

This method is widely used in oral speech and everyday
life.

3. Syntactic restructuring. In French, action nouns are
used in complex sentences, and their role in the
structure of the sentence is specific. It is customary to
express the action expressed by the verb through a
noun phrase: Il travaille bien (He works w

ell) → Son

travail est excellent (His work is excellent).

This method is characteristic mainly for formal and
written speech.

4. Semantic features. Action nouns often express the
action as a result or process:

Expressing the result: décision (decision) → t

he result

of making a decision. construction (construction) →

the result of the construction process.

Expressing the process: formation (formation,

formation) → an ongoing process.

5. Statistical analysis of the use of action nouns

The most common action nouns in the studied texts:

Nouns formed using the -tion affix: 45%.

Nouns formed using the -ment affix: 30%.

Nouns formed through conversion: 15%.

Names used through syntactic restructuring: 10%.

These figures show that the affixes -tion and -ment are
the leaders in the formation of nouns of action in
French.

6. Results of comparative analysis. As a result of
comparing nouns of action in French with their forms
in Uzbek, the following were identified.

CONCLUSION

The expression of action nouns in French is one of the
complex and interesting aspects of the grammatical
system, and the results of this study provide a basis for

a deeper study of this area. During the study, the
morphological, syntactic and semantic features of
action nouns were studied and the following
conclusions were reached. Morphological aspects:
Action nouns in French are often formed using affixes.
Suffixes such as -tion, -ment, and -age play a key role in
expressing action in the form of a noun. These forms are
widely used in official and scientific texts, clearly
defining their semantic load. Syntactic formation: Action
nouns are used in various forms in the structure of
sentences, increasing their functionality and clarity.
Through syntactic restructuring, it is possible to express
the result or process of an action in a concise and
structured form. Semantic significance: Action nouns
are of great linguistic importance in expressing an action
as a result or process. This is especially effective in
formal and written speech. Comparative analysis: The
significant differences in the system of action nouns
between the French and Uzbek languages are of great
importance in translation studies. In order to accurately
express complex nominalizations in French in Uzbek, it
is necessary to take into account linguistic depth and
context. Practical significance: The results of this study
can be used in translation studies, language teaching,
and linguistic theory. An in-depth analysis of action
nouns serves as a guide for teachers and translators. In
the future, it is advisable to conduct more extensive
research on the comparative study of action nouns in
French with other languages and their use in different
contexts. This study serves to understand the
grammatical system of the French language and
increase its importance in theoretical and practical
research.

REFERENCES

Fransuz Tili Grammatika"

Shodmonov, N., & Karimov,

B.

"Le Nouveau Bescherelle: La Conjugaison pour Tous"

Bescherelle

"Grammaire Progressive du Français"

Maïa Grégoire,

Odile Thiévenaz

"Précis de grammaire française"

Alain Bentolila

"Le Français correct: Grammaire et style"

Jean-Paul

N'Zué

Websites

:

Le Point du FLE (www.lepointdufle.net)

Tex’s

French

Grammar

(www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/gr/arts.html )

References

Fransuz Tili Grammatika" — Shodmonov, N., & Karimov, B.

"Le Nouveau Bescherelle: La Conjugaison pour Tous" — Bescherelle

"Grammaire Progressive du Français" — Maïa Grégoire, Odile Thiévenaz

"Précis de grammaire française" — Alain Bentolila

"Le Français correct: Grammaire et style" — Jean-Paul N'Zué

Websites:

Le Point du FLE (www.lepointdufle.net)

Tex’s French Grammar (www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/gr/arts.html )