Comparison between English and Indonesian Inflections

There are five signals of syntactic structures; word order, prosodic patterns, function words, inflections, and derivational contrast. In this case, the topic that is going to be presented is inflections particularly about comparison between English and Indonesian inflections. Inflection is a change of word by adding inflectional morphemes (atomic meaning units) to indicate grammatical function (i.e., case, number, person, grammatical gender, word class, mood, mode, and tense). The word inflection itself comes from traditional Latin grammar that is from the root “flect”. The meaning of “flect” is related with the meaning of “flex” in English that means “bend”. The meaning reflects the image of bending or changing a shape of a word so that it will fit in certain position within sentences.

There are some languages add inflectional morphemes to words. These languages is called inflectional languages. In addition, the inflectional morphemes can be added into words through several different ways, they are:

1. Affixing

First, inflectional morphemes can be added by affixing that is by simply adding the morphemes onto the words without any changes of the root.

Examples : dog → dogs

watch → watched

2. Reduplication

Second, inflection can be created by doubling all part of a word or a part of a word.

Examples : rumah → rumah-rumah

kuda → kuda-kuda

3. Alternation

Third, inflectional morphemes also can be added into words by alternation. It means that one sound in the root is exchanged for another sound.

Examples : sing → sang → sung

foot → feet

4. Stress, pitch, and tone

Fourth, in this case, there are no sounds or morphemes added or changed, but the stress, pitch, and tone is changed.

Examples : a record (noun, stressed on the first syllable) vs. to record (verb, stressed on the last)

This explanation below is an explanation of English inflections. The inflections presented here is just the common or regular form of inflections in English.

a. Inflection of Verbs

The inflection of English verbs are briefly presented in the table below.

Form	Affixes	Examples
Third person singular	-s	- She writes a letter - Andy talks to Jemmy
Past tense	-ed	- I walked to him and said “Good Morning”. - Suddenly, she approached her mother.
Past participle	-ed	- I had talked to him this morning. - She has walked for three hours.
Present participle	-ing	- She was sitting on the floor. - I am not smoking.

*the inflection of verbs presented here is just the common or regular form of inflection of English verbs.

b. Inflection of Plurals

The inflections of plural forms are usually ends in –s. For example, dog → dogs, cat → cats, lion → lions, and book → books. For some words, such as miss, mash, and match, they are ended with –es. Then for some words ending with consonant+y, the plural form ended with –ies because the –y changed into -i. In addition, there are some irregular forms of plurals, such as goose → geese, man → men, and mouse → mice.

c. Inflection of Possessive

The possessive is often indicated by attaching an apostrophe followed by an “s”. In American English, a singular noun that already ends in "s", just added by apostrophe. Possessive also can be expressed through possessive adjective (my, your, our, his, her, its, their) and possessive pronoun (mine, yours, ours, his, hers, its, theirs).

For example: This bag is Andy’s bag.

That book is Susie’s book.

d. Infection of Adjectives

The inflections of adjectives can be seen from comparative and superlative forms.

- Comparative form

a. Ending with –er.

For example: - Sita runs slower than Rini.

- Toni is taller than Budi.

b. Using more.

For example: - Komang is more beautiful than Atut.

- Going to Lovina is more interesting than going to City Park.

- Superlative form

a. Ending with –est.

For example: - Mount Himalaya is the highest mountain in the world.

- Doni is the tallest boy in class B.

b. Using most.

For example: - Ubud is the most attractive view in Bali.

- Sahayana is the most beautiful woman is that village.

All of the inflections presented above are the inflections of English. Now, the explanation below is about inflections of Indonesian.

a. Inflections of Verbs

In English, the inflections of verbs occur when the verbs follow the third person singular and to show tenses. In Indonesian, there is no inflections of verbs occur. In Indonesian, there is no rule to change the words by adding inflectional morphemes in order to indicate grammatical function. The comparison between English and Indonesian inflections of verbs are presented below.

- Third person singular, for example:

English : Budi writes a letter

Indonesian : Budi menulis surat (no inflection)

- Past tense, for example:

English : Budi wrote a letter yesterday

Indonesian : Budi menulis surat kemarin (There is no inflection. However, to indicate past tense, it is added by adverb of time).

- Past participles, for example:

English : Budi have walked for three hours

Indonesian : Budi telah berjalan selama tiga jam (There is no inflection in the verb “berjalan”. However, to indicate the tense, it uses “telah” and “selama”).

- Present participles, for example:

English : Budi was walking on the sidewalk

Indonesian : Budi sedang berjalan di trotoar (There is no inflection in the verb “berjalan”. However, to indicate the tense, it uses “sedang”).

b. Inflections of Plurals

Inflections of plural forms in Indonesian often occur through reduplication. For example:

- Rumah-rumah di Jalan Ahmad Yani itu terlihat begitu mewah dan tertata rapi.

- Kuda-kuda itu segera dilepaskan dari kandangnya.

The reduplication in ”rumah-rumah” and “kuda-kuda” indicate that the objects are more than one.

c. Inflections of Possessive

The inflections of possessive can be indicated by indicated by –ku, -mu, and –nya although sometime these form cannot be used.

Example:

- Tas di meja itu adalah tasku (aku → ku)

- Pencil yang tergeletak di lantai itu bukan pencilmu (kamu → mu)

- Bola itu adalah bolanya (dia→ nya)

- Bola itu adalah punya Tommy (In this case, -nya cannot be used because it mentions the name of the owner. However, in English, it is possible to say “The ball is Tommy’s).

d. Inflections of Adjectives

Indonesian has inflections of adjectives although it seems that it is rarely used in formal situation. For example:

English : smaller, bigger, taller, older.

Indonesian : kecilan, gedean, tinggian, tuaan.

e. Inflections to Show Gender

Like in English, Indonesian also has inflections that used to show gender. Commonly, the inflectional morphemes for male is –a, and for female is –i.

English : steward and stewardess

Indonesian : pramugara dan pramugari, pemuda dan pemudi

DEATH PENALTY

Does severe punishment for a lawbreaker determine the strength of the law? Everybody must have different opinion related to that question. It must not be disputed that the severe punishment for the lawbreaker may affect the strength of the law but it is not the only one factor. The law can be called “strength” if people under the law regulation feel safe and be protected. The feeling of safety is something that must be questioned. Law executors may conclude that the more severe the punishment, the safer the community. This assumption can be a reason of implementation of death penalty or capital punishment in some countries. However, should death penalty implemented for that excuse?

Death penalty or capital punishment is the act of killing or executing somebody, who was found guilty of a serious crime, by the government. The reason is whether or not it is really need if there is a prison. In this case, prison has three purposes. First, it separates criminals for the safety of the general community. Second, it is a form of punishment. Is it not enough to punish someone just by imprisoning him? Third, prison is expected to rehabilitate the prisoners. Thus, it will give chance to the prisoners to do remorse. No one in this world does not ever make mistakes, right?

Death penalty is a violation of the person’s right to live. Death penalty is a cruel painful punishment. One thing that must be consider is that no one may judge whether something is black or white, or whether someone is right or wrong because everyone has his own judgement. Human’s judgement may wrong. Thus, some people may have proven too late to be wrongly executed of some crimes that they did not commit. The one who may do the execution is the God. Just let the God punish ones who have done the crimes. The God do not sleep, He is not blind. Thus, just let Him to decide the death of human because death must be natural. However, to murder and judge someone is not a part of nature.

It must be remembered that criminals are real people too who have life and have capacity to feel pain, fear, the loss of their loved ones, and other emotions that the rest of us are able to feel. How will you feel knowing that you or your beloved ones are going to die tomorrow morning? It often causes serious trauma for years afterwards. The suffering of the victim’s family is valid, but the suffering of the murderer’s family is valid too.

Death penalty is such punishment that must be considered wisely. A punishment must not have a purpose to revenge although ones believed that it is right to kill somebody who kills. The implementation of death penalty itself must consider some factors like the purpose of imprisoning the murderer, the violation of human’s right, and the suffering of the criminals and his family. Thus, capital punishment is not a wise punishment for the criminals.

ACID RAIN AND ITS TERRIFYING EFFECTS

Rain is very important not only for human life, but also for other living things. It falls onto the earth and gives lives for all living things in this planet. It absorbs into soil and helps plants to grow. Moreover, it can come to the surface of ground in a form of spring and become a place in which animals, even human rely on. Rain has become the source of life for all living things in the earth directly or indirectly. It has become one of the most important parts of nature. However, how is if the rain poisonous? It must affect the environment and must be dangerous for all living things in the earth. Thus, its importance does not only make rain essential, but also gives serious effects for all kinds of lives in the earth. This phenomenon is called acid rain.

Acid rain is rain which falls from the sky onto the earth which contains unnatural acid. The unnatural acid is formed by pollution gases that are sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) which are released into the atmosphere through emissions from factories and vehicles that burn fuel as their energy. In the air, those gases react with other chemicals, dissolve easily in water vapour, and fall in a form of rain that contains sulphuric acid and nitric acid. Though those gases do not fall down onto the earth in the form of rain, but they can be carried long distances by the wind, then, may come in a form of fog and snow. The rain, the fog and snow which has been contaminated by acid has pH less than normal water that is less than 5.6. Thus, acid rain has bad influences for the environment and all living things.

First of all, acid rain has bad effects on man-made objects. It has capability to dissolve sandstone, limestone, and marble. It causes many stone monuments and carvings are damaged easily if they are exposed to the acid rain. It can also corrode ceramic, textiles, paints, and metals. Thus, acid rain can also corrode modern buildings, cars, railroad tracks, airplanes, steel bridge, and pipes both above and below ground. Thus, the maintenance cost for the monuments, infrastructure, or other buildings will increase or be more expensive.

Moreover, acid rain is dangerous for environment which will affect plants and animals life. If the polluted rain falls on the land, it will take away soil nutrients and kills microorganism in the soil. The soil in which the plants rely on will damage the plant’s roots and leaves, stunt their growth, and finally make them died. If the plants die or poisoned by acid rain, animals will also die. Birds and other wildlife will lose their habitat because the forest is damaged. Besides, acid rain also drains into lakes, rivers, and ponds, then, affects aquatic life and other living things depending on them. Plankton, insects, crustaceans, and fish will die if the water is too acidic. If it happens, animals up the food chain will also die because they depend on the aquatic life. Acid rain has affected environment, plants and animals because they depend on one another. What about human?

Acid rain is not only dangerous for environment, plants, and animals, but also for human. Acid rain has polluted the environment, plants, and animals in which human rely on. It has contaminated the air human breathe, the water human drinks, and the food human eats. Of course, these things will affect human life. The pollutants—sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides—existing in the air can be inhaled deep into people’s lungs, then, cause respiratory problems (such as, irritation of nose, eye, and throat, headache, asthma, and dry cough), decrease lung function, and even premature death. In addition, acid rain affects human life through poisoned water and food. Water that has been contaminated by pollutants will be not safe to be drunk. The plants and animals as sources of human food which has been poisoned by acid rain will be also poisonous for human and cause brain damage, kidney problems, and Alzheimer’s disease. Even worse, the source of human food will be exhausted because plants and animals will have died. In short, acid rain has deep impact on human life.

Acid rain influences all aspects of life in the earth. It gives bad effects for the environment, animals, and humankind. Those effects are totally the result of human’s mistake. Human is blinded by technologies and industries, thus he is careless to keep the nature that has provided him by many things he needs for living. Nature has given him the food to eat, water to drink, and also the air to breathe. All those things which has given chances for human to continue his life, now, can be an unpredictable “killer” for human himself. Therefore, human must look for the solution and do something immediately to solve the problem before it has been late.

Human as one to be blamed for this condition must do something to restore the damaged environment because the effects of acid rain was so terrifying for the earth and all living things in the earth. Some actions must be done immediately because there are so many changes and it takes many years for ecosystems to recover from acid deposition, even after emissions are reduced and the rain becomes normal again. Thus, individual action is really expected. It seems that there is not much that individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, it must be remembered that acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem. As individuals, some actions can be done, like: turn off energy appliances when not using them, use energy efficient appliances, avoid to use public transportation, it is better to walk or use bicycle, and buy vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintain all vehicles well.

My Narrative

Don’t Judge What God Gives

Darkness was still covering the clouds which were hiding the light of the sky, adorned by the moon which had been tired to stay up along the night. Its brightness had grown pale. Even the stars gradually had been going home without saying good bye. However, crow of the cocks were not heard yet. Might be, they were still sleepy waking up too early.
The dawn was still too cold. No ones were willing to uncover their blankets and coincidentally abandoned their dreams. On the other hand, light of a dim lamp pointed to a very small simple house in that was so noisy. It was heard that Mr. Wayan was saying curses and obscenities. Conversely, Mrs. Nengah was quiet and patiently mopping the pee spilled on the floor. Then, she changed his son’s short which was wet by his pee.
“Stop cursing!” said Mrs. Nengah who had restrained her emotion and tears.
“It’s not his mistake” she added. Then, she pulled her husband’s hand and took him into the dining room.
“Let him hear!” said Mr. Wayan.
“No, only us,” answered Mrs. Nengah.
“Please try to love him.” she added.
“He is already 20. You can see, he is the cause of a lot of bother! It’s better for him to get out from here.”
“But, he is ours!” she argued while Mr. Wayan was leaving the room and closed the door violently.
Lanang had heard their conversation. He was standing weakly in front of the door and looking at his mother who was sitting on the bench with bad feeling. She was thinking about her son, the only son. Lanang approached her, then, hold her in silence. She stroked her son’s hair gently as she tried to give him a motivation. She restrained her tears which almost rolled down her cheek. She did not want to be weak because she had to teach how to be strength, because she had to teach how to be patient, not to be weak and easily give up to the situation.

* * * * *

Lanang, a man with a lot of unluckiness and imperfectness, was sitting on the bench at the bus stop, he was thinking about his parents’ conversation tonight. His brain never stopped thinking of how he could help his family and made his father proud of him. He imagined if he had had two strong and perfect legs instead of those lame weak legs. He imagined if he had had two strong and perfect hands for holding, he would have a bit proud. He wanted to protest the God, but how? It would not change his fate; it would not conjure his legs and his hands to be the perfect ones.
“He is already 20. You can see, he is the cause of a lot of bother!”
He went over his father’s words while trying to stand up slowly. He saw a young boy as a beggar with his mannered expression try to obtain money from the buyer on the supermarket near the bus stop. “No” he said to himself refusing his own willingness to do the same thing with the boy. Unintentionally, he glanced at a man sitting near to him who was concentrating to read the newspaper.

* * * * *

In the cloudy morning, Lanang went along the bus station. By a great difficulty, he tried to hold a few sheets of newspapers and lamely peddled them to the people there. Suddenly, the clouds dropped the rain and quickly wetted his clothes. As quickly as possible, he runs lamely to a place for taking shelter. But, it was too late. His slow movement made everything not easier. Though he had run as quickly as he could, fortune still did not side to him. He realized that the newspapers were already wet and no ones were willing to buy them. He was so sad and went home with disappointment.
His father was sitting on the bamboo couch when he arrived home. When he started to open the door,
“Where are you from?” asked his father.
“I tried to sell newspaper at the bus station” said Lanang.
“So, where is the money?”
“I.........” He began to continue his explanation while his father glared at him. Then, he continued:
“I got caught in rain, so the newspapers were wet and damaged. I have to pay for the indemnity. I am sorry....”
There was a change in his father’s expression.
“Stupid! Don’t you feel that you have given me a lot of troubles along my life? All you have are useless; your legs, your hands, and everything! You can’t do anything for me. And now, I should pay for your mistakes! Go out from here! You won’t be expected again here!” his father said angrily and it was not a joke.

* * * * *

The road was still quiet. There were just few vehicles pass through enlivened the road. Lanang found himself was lying on the sidewalk. His wet clothes were already dry because of the wind. But, he was still feeling the coldness and snuggled in such way. That day was the first time he was far from his family, especially his mother. He felt very sad. He would be far away from his mother who had taught him about patience. There was nothing else that he really needed in his life, except his mother. There was nothing that could encourage him from his burden, except his mother, the woman who had given him honest love.
He was doing nothing when an old man with plain appearance passed in front of him. Firstly, he did not want to pay attention on him, but there was something that interested him. The old man sat beside him. Lanang stared at the old man which unwillingly at the same time glanced at him. He was surprised when he realised how the old man’s eyes could calm him down. He found that the old man’s eyes sight revealed a bitter life which is sunk by a deep resignation.
“Hi, what’s your name?” asked the old man, shattered Lanang’s thinking.
“Hmm...?”
“What’s your name???” the old man repeated his question, in this time with louder voice.
“Oh, Lanang” he answered.
“Where is your home?”
“I.....”
“Let’s stay with me in my house” said the old man. Without asking for Lanang’s agreement, the old man stood up and walked leaving him. Then, Lanang walked slowly follow the old man.
“What should I call you?” asked Lanang.
“Just call me grandpa”

* * * * *

They arrived at a house which did not seem good, on the contrary, almost very poor. The wall was from a plaited bamboo which was already old because of its age, might be the age was as old as the man. Some sheets of newspapers were adhered on it as if they decorated the wall which was not fully beautiful. Indeed, they just remained its shabby and sleazy impression. The house only has one room which has a partition at the centre. There was no table, no chair, no bed, and no other furniture in the room. It revealed that the house was not more than a building with walls, floor, ceiling, and that was all. There was nothing interesting except a few paintings without frames hung on the wall. Those paintings were the only ones which seemed to be well taken care of.
“Whose paintings are those?” Lanang asked while pointing at those nice paintings.
“Those are mine” grandpa answered while trying to have a sit on the floor with a great difficulty.”
“Did you make them by yourself?”
“Yeah, of course. Wanna try?”
“But, how? You can see my legs and my hands......”
“Your legs may be lame, your hands may be imperfect, but not your imagination, your creativity and your dream.”
Grandpa took a paint brush and a canvas, then, threw them on the floor. Meanwhile, Lanang hardly tried to take them his hands when grandpa said:
“No! Take them by your mouth!”
Lanang was so angry and wanted to protest grandpa. But, he still tried to take the paint and the canvas again by his hands when suddenly grandpa trod his hands while repeat the previous instruction.
“You treated me like a servant! What do you want?”
“Just trust me” grandpa said seriously.
Lanang tried again. But now, he tried to take the brush and the canvas by his mouth. He tried to spread the paint on the canvas though it was so difficult for him. Although mouth and hands are similar in terms of they are parts of the body, but the functions cannot easily substitutes one another. That is what Lanang felt. Mouth is just a mouth. It cannot become hands. But, one thing that had to be remembered is that everything would be possible if someone tried. God would never create something with imperfectness. Imperfectness is just what someone thought and felt as a reason to excuse for giving up.
Lanang lived with grandpa now. Every day, he did all what grandpa told. He learned how to be grateful for all he had and never felt disappointed to what the God gave to him.

* * * * *

Lanang was looking at the canvas lying on the table, then, thinking for a moment and then, friskily took the paint brush by his mouth, and spread the paint on the canvas which gradually was fully covered by the paint. It was a painting that he would sell to his customer. A painting was about his life. He went over the man’s words in his mind.
“Your legs may be lame, your hands may be imperfect, but not your imagination, your creativity and your dream.”
He said to himself,
“If I don’t have any legs, I can use my hands as legs. If I don’t have hands, I can use my mouth. There’s nothing impossible in my life if I try and never give up. Thank God for the lame legs, for the imperfect hands, and for the most prefect mouth You give for me.”

My Descriptive Writing

Welcome to my blog. Please give comments on my writing.

UMEJERO, A SIMPLE AND PEACEFUL VILLAGE

Life in city is really different with life in village in which both of them serve different kinds of situation. In the city, the situation is so crowded, not like the situation in the village that is so peaceful and cool. However, that peaceful situation almost cannot be seen in the villages today. It is because almost all of the villages nowadays have been “conjured” to be more crowded because of some modernisation. So, the peaceful situation has gone though it still exists rarely in some villages. However, there is a village which still maintains its peaceful situation that is Umejero—a small village that is free from modernisation.

Umejero is a distant small village which belongs to Busungbiu subdistrict, Buleleng Regency. It is about 20 kilometres from Seririt as the nearest town. To reach the village from Seririt, you can take a public transportation or by riding your own vehicle. It needs about an hour by public transportation or 30 minutes by motorcycle. Within the journey, there are several villages that you will pass through like: Bubunan, Ringdikit, Rangdu, Mayong, Busungbiu, Kekeran, Pelapuan, and Bengkel. In addition, the roads passed through are surrounded by wide areas of plantations. Besides, the roads are rather complicated and steep.

When firstly stepping on the village, the view will guide you to simple thinking of a simple rural area which has not much changed by any modernisation. The slippery road is surrounded by many weeds and bushes. Moreover, the ground is damp and mossy like every day is watered by the rain and dew. The road might be just enlivened by one or two vehicles pass through within 30 minutes. Besides, the residences are far from one to another. They are usually separated by rice fields or plantation. Might be, it can be said that the area of rice fields and plantations are more than the area of residences. The plantations mostly produce cloves, avocados, and others which ordinarily grow in mountainous climate. Those rice fields and plantation are taken traditionally by the owners.

If it is seen from outside, Umejero is a “quiet” village. Just say, in the morning, though the day has begun, the village is still quiet. It is only heard the farmers shout to chase away the birds which want to eat the crops or some jokes from those who pick the cloves. On account of its quiet, you can hear sounds of the wind that blows the plants which leaves sounds like a man whispering. Besides, you can hear sounds of the leaves rustling as if it is whispering to you or sounds of river flowing in a small stream as if it invites you to feel the beautiful nature. On the other hand, in the night when the village darken, it must be quieter. Sometimes, it can just be heard dogs barking, a nongcret (a kind of insect), or a cricket breaks the quiet of the night. Nothing will jazz up the night except them. In short, both of those morning and night life are quiet and far from the city life which is so busy and crowded along the day.

Umejero is a peaceful village. It is one of the village in which you can still feel the wind blows gently and lightly. Moreover, it is a village where you can feel fresh air and situation which surrounded by many plantation. It is also a place where you can feel the quiet of the day. Moreover, it is far away from the city situation, from the crowd, from the noisy, and pollution. It could give us a peaceful feeling which could not be found in the city.