Professional Documents
Culture Documents
5 Oktober 2013
Bandung, 8-9 Oktober 2013 ISSN: 1858-2559
Romel Noverino
Abstract
English and Indonesian have different set of rules in terms of grammar and one of the
differences, which is the focus of this research paper, is formations of plural noun in
English and Indonesian and its relation to how to translate English plural nouns into
Indonesian from points of view of morphology, syntax, and semantics. English has
formal feature to indicate plural noun while Indonesian does not. This paper is meant to
provide explanations of English plural noun and Indonesian plural noun formations and
to explain the ways on how to translate English plural nouns into Indonesian. Data were
taken from two novels: English version One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie
and Indonesian version Satu, Dua, Pasang Gesper Sepatunya (Language switching) by
Alex Tri Kentjono W. Results showed that there are two major ways in translating
English plural noun into Indonesian, namely1) Translation of English plural noun into
Indonesian in the form of reduplication; 2) Translation of English plural noun into
Indonesian not in the form of reduplication.
units which combine with fields of study; rules for the combination of words into
in addition, language is systemic, it is not sentences (Syntax) and the forms of
the only system but language consists of words (Morphology) (Hornby 1974). One
several sub-systems of phonology, of many aspects of grammar is noun
grammar and lexicon. which has special position in a language.
Sub-system of phonology covers This paper aimed at defining
the aspects of organization of speech formations of plural nouns in English and
sounds. Sub-system of grammar is in Indonesian. Also, to get ways of
divided into sub-system of morphology, translating English plural nouns from
dealing with the morphemes and how English into Indonesian.
they are combined to make words and
sub-system of syntax, covering wider METHOD
aspects from words namely rules for
building sentences. Sub-system of lexicon There are two approaches in
covers the collection of vocabulary of a conducting a research, namely quan-
language. titative and qualitative approach. Terms
The topic of this paper is related to that are commonly associated with
sub-system of grammar. Grammar pro- quantitative and qualitative approaches to
motes the development of all language research are as follows: (Nunan, 1992).
skill. Grammar is the study or science of
5. Close to the data: the ‘insider’ 5. Removed from the data: the
perspective ‘outsider perspective
6. Grounded, discovery-oriented, 6. Ungrounded, verification-
exploratory, expansionist, descriptive oriented, confirmatory,
and inductive reductionist, inferential, and
hypothetical-deductive
7. Process-oriented 7. Outcome-oriented
- Valid: ‘real’, ‘rich’, and ‘deep’ - Reliable: ‘hard’, and replicable
data data
- Ungeneralisable: single case - Generalisable: multiple case
studies studies
Assumes a dynamic reality Assumes a stable reality
the smallest meaningful units called plural es ending: axis axes. Singular on
morpheme (Kentjono 1997). Morphology ending becomes plural a ending: criterion
is concerned with the forms of words. criteria. Singular ex or ix ending becomes
(Malmkjaer 1991). plural ices ending:appendix appendices.
In English, morphologically, Singular eau ending becomes plural eaux
formation of plural nouns is symbolized ending: bureau bureaux. There is an
by plural morpheme {-s}. Even so, it does increasing tendency for regular s plurals
not mean that the formation of noun in to alternate with foreign plurals. The
English is simply by the addition of s to dictionary therefore also records such
the singular nouns, because there are plurals as memorandums, vortexes,
varieties of forms of plural nouns in criterions, bureaus; 10) No plural is used
English. Marcella Frank in his book for non-countable words such as
Modern English A Practical reference information, advice, clothing, and
Guide (1972) explains twelve forms of furniture; 11) Some words ending in s
plural nouns in English. (1972): 1) The are singular non-countable nouns,
general rule in the plural of English nouns especially names of diseases and fields of
is to add s to the singular form: hand study: news, billiards, mathematics,
hands; 2) Afte)r a sibilant sound spelled economics, measles. However, when
as s, z, ch, sh, x, es is added: bus buses. words that name fields of study are used
However , if final ch is pronounced [k], for practical matters, such words are often
only s is added: monarch monarchs; 3) considered plural: The acoustics in this
After y is preceded by a consonant, the y room are not good; 12) Some words
is changed to i and es is added: lady ending in s are used chiefly as plurals:
ladies; 4) In one-syllable words, final f or arms. In this group are words for items
fe becomes ves in the plural: wife that have two parts: scissors, spectacles,
wives. However, some such words trousers.
take the regular s ending: chief chiefs. A In Indonesian, morphologically, the
few words have either form for the plural: commonest form in indicating plural
scarf scarves or scarfs; 5) After final o, es within nouns is in the form of
is sometimes added, especially in some reduplication. There are two forms of
common words: hero heroes. If a vowel reduplication which indicate plural noun.
precedes the final o, or if the word is a (Suparni 1990): 1) Dwi Lingga, a full
term used in music, only s is added: radio reduplication of the base of words
radios. Sometimes the es alternates with a completely: negara-negara, burung-
less common s ending: cargo cargoes or burung, warung-warung; 2) Dwi Purwa,
cargos; 6) Irregular plurals based on older reduplication of words in the first syllable
English may take the form of: an internal of the base of words. The process of Dwi
change: man men. an en ending:child Purwa. tamu (base word) → tamu-tamu
children; 7) The plural has the same form (Dwi Lingga) → tetamu (Dwi Purwa).
as the singular: swine swine; 8) The The second aspect is syntax. Syntax
singular has the same form as the plural: is grammar which discusses the
species species; 9) Many foreign words relationship of words in narrative.
retain their foreign plurals in English. (Verhaar 1996). Basically, syntax deals
Singular us ending becomes plural i with the grammatical relationship of
ending: stimulus stimuli. words in sentences. Relationship of words
Singular a ending becomes plural can influence the pluralizing of nouns.
ae ending:alga algae. Singular um ending In English, there is nominal
becomes plural a ending: memorandum concord or agreement. Nominal concord
memoranda. Singular is ending becomes is an agreement of form between number
at a time, the noun that you use is in the English : Anyway, you wouldn’t
singular number. When you speak of think a man would shoot
more than one thing at a time, the noun himself in the
that you use is in the plural number. It middle of Business hours,
means that pluralizing within nouns so to speak. (OTBMS, 20)
means more than one. In addition, plural Indonesian : Bagaimanapun, Anda tidak
noun in English must always follow akan menyangka seseorang
governed rule namely by having yang akan bunuh diri
morphological feature of plural. ditengah jam-jam sibuk
e.g. : begini. (SDPGS, 34)
Singular : - There is one book in the bag
Plural : - There are some books in the Second, if the English plural noun
bag is preceded by plural demonstratives. In
English, demonstratives “these and those”
In Indonesian, from the aspect of are used to indicate plural within nouns.
syntax, it seems that in Indonesian there However, In Indonesian demonstratives
is no formal feature in terms of plural “ini and itu” are not inflected in terms of
form of nouns. The form of reduplication indicating plural, so it is why in
in indicating plural is unnecessary if the Indonesian reduplication is important to
nouns are preceded by numeral. indicate plural within nouns with
Harimurti Kridalaksana (1996) explained demonstratives.
that it is unwise to say that Indonesian English : “These girls,” he said ,“are
does not have the form of plural. It is only all the same ! (OTBMS, 2)
that Indonesian does not have formal Indonesian : “Gadis-gadis ini,”
feature in indicating semantic category of keluhnya,”semua sama
“number”. saja ! (SDPGS, 10)
e.g :
• Rumah-rumah ini akan digusur Meanwhile, there are six
secepatnya. characteristics for English plural noun
• Orang kaya itu mempunyai dua rumah translated into Indonesian not in the form
di kota ini. of reduplication. This happens to avoid
pleonasm so that the translation becomes
In general, the translation of clear and natural. First is when the plural
English plural noun into Indonesian is noun has sense or meaning of plural.
divided into two ways. First, translation English : A faint smile came to
of English plural nouns into Indonesian in Poirot’s lips. (OTBMS, 21)
the form of reduplication; second, Indonesian : Sebentuk senyuman
translation of English plural nouns not in tersungging di bibir Poirot.
the form of reduplication. (SDPGS, 36)
There are two characteristics for
English plural noun translated into However, if it feels necessary or
Indonesian in the form of reduplication. important to mention the quantity of the
First, it takes place within morhological nouns, these kinds of English plural
level, in which the English plural noun is nouns can be translated into Indonesian
not preceded by any plural determiners by using numeral. In this case, plural
hence to retain meaning of plural in noun in Indonesian is indicated by plural
Indonesian, the noun is translated in the determiner.
form of reduplication.
English : Blunt drew his brows English : He lost his job some weeks
together in an effort of ago and does not seem able
concentration. to get another. (OTBMS,
(OTBMS, 47) 27)
Indonesian : Kedua alis Blunt tampak Indonesian : Ia kehilangan pekerjaannya
menyatu dalam upaya beberapa minggu yang lalu
memusatkan pikirannya. ( dan tampaknya belum
SDPGS, 72 ) berhasil mendapatkan
gantinya (SDPGS, 45)
Second, if the English plural noun
is preceded by cardinal number then the English-Indonesia dictionary is a
translation must retain equivalence of the necessity in terms of translating English
cardinal number to indicate meaning of words of indefinite quantity into
plural in Indonesian. Indonesian indefinite numeral so that
English : It is that I have been to the right equivalent of meaning can be
dentist and I need not go accomplished.
again for six Fifth, if English plural noun
months. (OTBMS, 15) indicates persons in same position (class)
Indonesian : Saya baru saja ke dokter then the translation must use determiner
gigi dan ternyata saya tidak that provides condition of plural within
perlu kesana lagi sampai same sense or meaning. In this case,
enam bulan mendatang. Indonesian has such determiner namely
(SDPGS, 30) kaum and para.
English : All the same, we dentists
Third, if English plural noun is are not such devils noun as
preceded not only by cardinal number but we used to be! (OTBMS,
also by article the prior to cardinal 13)
number, then the translation must use Indonesian : Demikian pula kami, para
ordinal number in Indonesian dokter gigi, kini tidak lagi
English : Tall and grim, Georgina terlalu menakutkan seperti
Morley listened to what the dulu. (SDPGS, 27)
two men had to say and
answered their questions. Sixth, if English plural noun is
(OTBMS, 25) preceded by one of ... then the translation
Indonesian : Georgina Morley, yang simply use equivalence of one of in
tinggi dan tegar, Indonesian namely salah satu or salah
mendengarkan semua seorang depends on the context.
yangdikatakan oleh kedua English : One of Mr. Reilly’s patients,
orang penyidik itu dan I expect. (OTBMS, 30)
menjawab pertanyaan- Indonesian : Salah seorang pasien Mr.
pertanyaan mereka. Reilly, barangkali. (SDPGS,
(SDPGS, 30) 50)
English : “I always sits in the elevator,
Fourth, English plural noun Sir, waiting until the front
preceded by words of indefinite quantity door bell or one of the
(plural determiners) then the translation buzzer goes”. (OTBMS, 37)
must use equivalence of those Indonesian : “ Saya selalu duduk di
determiners in Indonesian. lift, tuan, menunggu sampai
bel pintu
depan atau salah satu bel acknowledged that there are ways to form
pemberitahuan dari plural nouns in English and in Indonesian
dokter berbunyi”. and there are ways how to translate
(SDPGS, 58) English plural nouns into Indonesian and
vice versa and it would be very wise and
CONCLUSION significant if the teachers explain this to
students. Also, for other researchers, this
Formation of plural noun, from the paper might be a strong step to have a
aspect of morphology, in English it is research in examining students ability in
marked by the addition of plural translating plurals nouns from English
morpheme {-s} with various forms and in into Indonesian and vice versa.
terms of translating it into Indonesian, it
can be translated by using reduplication. SUGGESTIONS
However, if the nouns are preceded by
determiner that indicates plural, there is Generally, understanding formation
no need to reduplicate the nouns because of plural noun in English and Indonesian
it will cause pleonasm. It shows that undoubtedly help learners in forming it
English has a formal feature in indicating correctly and cohesively. As learning
plural within noun while Indonesian does language requires thorough and careful
not. comprehension to avoid mistakes and
From the aspect of syntax, in errors, language learners should pay
English plural noun can be preceded by attention on many aspects of the language
determiners that indicate plural, they are learned. In addition, understanding
numbers, plural demonstratives, and formation of plural noun is one of many
words of indefinite quantity and the noun aspects of language learning that
is in the formal morphological feature of determines one’s competence of a certain
plural. In terms of translating it into language.
Indonesian, it can be done by using Specifically, from this article, it can
appropriate equivalence of the be acknowledged that there are methods
determiners that also indicate plural and to form plural nouns in English and in
the noun is not in the form of Indonesian and there are methods how to
reduplication. translate English plural nouns into
From the aspect of semantics, in Indonesian and vice versa and it would be
English if we speak of more than one very wise and significant if the teachers
thing at a time, the noun in plural number would explain to the students these
is used to indicate plural and it is marked methods.
by plural morpheme. In indonesian, it can Academically, this article might be
be indicated by reduplication; however, if a strong step to conduct a research in
the nouns are preceded by plural examining students’ ability in translating
determiner, there is no need to reduplicate plurals nouns from English into
the nouns. Indonesian and vice versa.
In short, the ways of translating
English plural nouns into Indonesian are REFERENCES
in the form of reduplication and not in the
form of reduplication. Boadi, L. A. et al. 1968. Grammatical
Despite many shortcomings, in a structure and its teaching, Lagos:
way, this paper is useful for English and African University Press, Ltd.
Indonesian Grammar and Translation
teachers as from this paper it can be