COMPARATIVE FORMOF ADJECTIVES BY PREFIX UM- IN TOBA BATAK By: Esron Ambarita Lecturer of Faculty of Letters Universitas Methodist Indonesia E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The objectives of this study are to investigate comparative form of adjectivesby prefix um- in Toba Batak. The results show that comparative form of adjectivesby prefix um- in Toba Batak result invarious morphological and phonological processesas follows: (1) if prefix [um-] is attached to adjectives preceded by vowels, the last phoneme of the prefix is doubled ([um- ]→[umm-]). (2) if the initial phoneme is a bilabial plosive voiced consonant [b], prefix [um-] is pronounced [ub-] as its allomorph. (3) if the initial phoneme is a velarplosive voiced consonant [g], prefix [um-] →[uŋ-]. (4)ifthe initial phoneme is a palato alveolar affricate voiced consonant [j]prefix [um-]→[un-] in spellingbut [uj-] in pronunciation. (5) ifthe initial phoneme is a bilabial nasal voiced consonant [m] prefix [um-] does not change. (6) ifthe initial phoneme is analveolar nasal voiced consonant [n]prefix [um-]→[un-] both in spelling and in pronunciation. (7)ifthe initial phoneme isa bilabial plosive voiceless consonant [p],prefix [um-]→[um-]in spelling but pronounced [up-]. (8) if the initial phoneme is an alveolar rolled voiced consonant [r], prefix[um-]→ [ur-] both in spelling and in pronunciation. (9) ifthe initial phoneme is an alveolar fricative voiceless consonant [s], prefix[um-]→ [un-] in spelling but [us-] in pronunciation. (10)if the initial phoneme is an alveolar plosive voiceless consonant [t], prefix [um-]→ [un-] in spellingbut it is pronounced [ut-]. Keywords: comparative forms, morphological and phonological processes, adjectives 1. INTRODUCTION the archipelago. Furthermore, regional Nowadays there are thousands of languages function as stimulus towards the languages in the world. According development of Indonesian language as a toEthnologue: Language of the World national language in Indonesia because (2005) there are around 6.912 languages there are a lot of borrowing words in in the world. From the huge number, there Indonesian language adopted from are around 742 regional languages spread vernaculars. Vice versa, Indonesian in Indonesian acrchipelago, which place language also has contributions to regional Indonesia as the second country that languages because there are abundant of possess the most languages after Papua words derive from Indonesian language New Guinean. All of the regional adopted by regional language. In other languages in Indonesia are protected by words the interrelationship between these constitutions because they are considered languages complete one and other. as the richness of Indonesian culture. One of the regional languages in The regional languages have Indonesia is Toba Batak. It belongs to functions not only as identities of regional Austronesian. The original homeland of cultures but also as communication tools the speakers of Toba Batak is located among the etchnic members. Besides, they around Lake Toba. In the heart of the have a role as introductory language in Batak territory lies Samosir island and on elementary schools in particular areas in the northwest bank of Lake Toba, stands Jurnal Littera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung Volume I, Nomor 2, Oktober 2019: 278–287 278 Mount Pusuk Buhit which the Toba Batak phonological and distributional data are believe marks the point of origin of all the relevant in establishing the limits of Batak people. The speakers of Toba Batak morphological unit. are mosltly settle in North Sumatraexactly Adjectives also provide the means in Tano Batak ‘Batak Land’, they are, for creating a mood or a lasting impression Samosir Regency, Toba Samosir Regency, of a person, a place, or a thing such as Humbang Hasundutan Regency, and North white, black, frigid, etc. Adjectives, Tapanuli Regency. Nowadays, Toba Batak however, can also refer to emotional states speakers have spread to various places in and abstract qualities. Innocent, angry, Indonesia even to other countries.According confusing are some examples of such to Summer Institute of Linguistics (2001) adjectives in English. Ambarita (2017: there are 5.150.000 Toba Batak speakers. 132) found that adjectives in Toba Batak Toba Batak as a regional language can be reduplicated in various forms, they becomes the topic under discussion in this are, full reduplication, partial reduplication study.The central issue in this study is using prefix, partial reduplication using comparative forms by prefix [um-]. In infix, partial reduplication using suffix, Toba Batak, comparative forms is formed and partial reduplication using affix by modifying adjectives. Adjective is combinations. According to Quirk et al distinguished from nouns and verbs by (1985: 402) there are four criteria for differeny types. Nouns have plural adjectives to be considered, they are: markers, verbs have tenses while 1. They can freely occur in attributive adjectives do not have such certain function, that is, they can premodify markers even if they function as attributive a noun, ecpecially between the or predicative (Nababan, 1981: 35). In other determiner and the heas of a noun words, adjective is a word that modifies a phrase. For instance, a pretty lady,a pronoun or noun following it (Houghton, round table, etc. 1984: 18). To modify means to change; an 2. They can freely occur in predicative adjective modifies a pronoun or noun by function, that is, they can function as describing or limiting or making it more a subject complement and object spesific. complement. In Toba Batak, adjectives can be For example, The painting is very preceded by the words mansai [massaI] expensive. ‘very’ tung [tuŋ] ‘very’, and lam [lɅm] ‘get 3. They can be premodified by the like as indicated by the adjectives’ intensifier adverbs like extremely, (Sitorus, 1986: 94).According to Ambarita very, and so. For example, The fruit (2018: 81) there are seven affixes that can is very sour. be attached to adjectives in Toba Batak, 4. They can take comparative and i.e. prefix [um-], infix [-um-], suffix [-an], superlative forms.The comparison four affix combinations, they are, [marsi- can be formulated by means of the i], [ha-assa], [ma-hu], and [sa-full inflections (-er and –est) or by the adjective reduplication-na]. The results of addition of the premodifier more and attaching affixes to adjectives in Toba most. Batak are inflectional because the For axample: (a) The children are presence of the affixes do not change happier now. the word class of the base (Ambarita, (b) It is the most expensive car I 2016: 18). The attachments of affixes to know. adjectives in Toba Batak result in Houghton (1984: 134) states to morphological and phonological make comparison in English correctly, processes. According to Nida (1949: there some rules to be considered as in the 102) the analysis of any language, followings: 279 COMPARATIVE FORMOF ADJECTIVES BY PREFIX UM- IN TOBA BATAK Esron Ambarita 1. Add the suffix –er to form the (Winny can write a thesis; She cannot comparative and the suffix –est to write Vunky). form the superlative of modifiers Logical: Winny is writinga thesis that is as with one or two syllables. In some difficult as Vunky’s. cases, to form the comparative form (Winny’s thesis is as difficult as Vunky’s correctly, you must change a final y thesis). to i. Example: -big bigger 2.FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS biggest -funny funnier funniest Comparative formsby prefix [um-]in 2. Use more to show the comparative Toba Batak can be formulated by attaching forms and most to show the prefix [um-] to the base forms of superlative forms with three-syllable adjectives. Prefix [um-]undergoes words. morphologicaland phonological processes Example: -beautiful more if it is attached to the base forms of beautiful most beautiful -atractive adjectives as explained below. more atractive most atractive 3. Use less and least to form the 1. The initial phoneme of the base forms comparative and superlative forms of of the adjectives are vowels, such as, comparison showing less. [a], [e], [i], [o], and vowel [u] Example: -humorous less Some adjectives in Toba Batak are humorous least humorous - preceded by vowels like vowels [a], [e], hopeful less hopeful least [i], [o], and [u]. Such adjectives can be hopeful combined with prefix [um-] to form 4. Avoid double comparisons. Use comparative forms on condition that either the word more and most or morphological process occurs in the else the appropriate suffix. Do not combination. combine the two. The word arga [arga] `expensive', Incorrect comparison: Sarah is for example, if combined with prefix [um- moreclevererthan Alice. ]will be [um-] + arga [arga] Correct comparison :Sarah `expensive'ummarga [ummarga] `more iscleverer than Alice. expensive'. Other example is [um-] + oto 5. Avoid incomplete comparisons by [oto] `stupid'ummoto [ummoto] 'more clearly indicating the things being stupid'.Some other adjectives, of which the compared. initial phonemes are vowels, can be seen in Example: Incomplete : Joice is the followings together with their dilligent than Alice. comparative forms, pronunciations, and Complete : Joice is more dilligent meanings. than Alice. 6. Use the word as...as to complete a compund comparison. Example: (a). Gorge is as old as Willy. (b). Chatrine is as tall as Caroline. 7. Avoid making comparisons that are illogical because of missing or faulty elements or because no comparison can be made. Illogical: Winny is writing a thesis that is as difficult as Vunky. Jurnal Littera: Fakultas Sastra Darma Agung Volume I, Nomor 2, Oktober 2019: 278–287 280 Table 1: comparative formof adjectives with initial phenemes are vowels Positive Comparative No Gloss Pronunciation Gloss Forms Forms 1 asi pity ummasi [ummasi] pitier 2 asom sour ummasom [ummasom] sourer 3 uli beautiful ummuli [ummuli] more beautiful Speaking of morpheme, the word valuable' and in arga do hamoraon [arga ummuli [ummuli] `morebeautiful' do hamoraon] `health is valuable', one may consists of two morphemes, namely, [um-] not relate the value of hahipason and as a bound morpheme and uli [uli] hamoraon with money.Speaking of `beautiful' as a free morpheme.