0 INTRODUCTION

6. FINDINGS
that the latter do not show great differences in the frequencies of the structural patterns
used with these nominalizations. During the EModE period these trends were intensified,
with –ing nominals tending to specialize in the pattern showing only post-head dependents,
that is, the one showing verbal features, whereas Romance nominals were most frequently
used with only pre-head dependents or both pre- and post-head dependents, that is, the two
patterns showing a closer resemblance to nominal patterns.
6.1.5.5. Meaning
As pointed out at the beginning of Section 6.1.5, no important differences in meaning are
detected between the two members of doublets, since both of them are action nouns.
However, some –ing nominalizations (e.g. distilling in [199a] and mixing in [200a] below)
seem to show a stronger action meaning than the corresponding Romance counterparts
(e.g. distillation in [199b] and mixture in [200b]). This is probably so due to two main
reasons. On the one hand, while –ing nominals are closer to verbal structure, Romance
nominalizations behave like nouns, syntactically speaking. On the other, Romance
formations are more frequently used with a concrete sense than –ing forms, as shown in
(199c) and (200c).
(199) a. And therefore I doe not allow of the common maner of distilling
in stillitories of lead, by the which the watry parts onely are
drawne. (E2 1616 Bailey Preseruation of eie-sight Academic)
b. They whiche haue the Ague of cold, thei be vexed with greuous
distillations, for the colde doeth bind the sonnes excreme-ts
with in the skin, their flesh also is lesse hot, and the whole body
pretendeth greater humor, bicause the accustomed effluxe is
letted thorow cold, further ther is no shrinking or wrinkling in
the skyn of the face. (E1 1566 Jones Dial for all agves
Academic)
198