Comparative study of compound words in English and Indonesian Fransiska Napitupulu

Prefix pe-, pem-, pen-, peng-, penge-, peny-

All six of these prefixes have the same meaning and usage but have different spellings depending on the first letter of the root word to which they are attached. Adding one of these prefixes to a noun root usually forms a noun that indicates a person, agent or thing that has the character of the root word.

Examples: pekamus{pe+kamus} = a person who makes a dictionary

pembantu {pem+bantu} = a maid or assistant


pencopet {pen+copet} = a thief

5. 
   Prefix ter-
   

Attaching the "ter-" prefix has two possible results. "ter-" is added to an adjective root word, it usually results in an adjective that indicates an extreme condition or a superlative.

examples: terbesar{ter+besar} = biggest; most big

terbaru{ter+baru} = newest; most new

6. 
   Prefix se-
   

Adding the "se-" prefix has several possible results with varying word types. It can often be viewed as a substitute for the word "satu" (meaning "one").

Examples: sebuah{se+buah} (noun) = a piece; one piece; the piece sepenuh{se+penuh} (adverb) = fully; completely; entirely seragam{se+ragam} (adjective) = uniform; similar; alike

2.1.1 Suffixes

1. 
   Suffixes –an
   

-an : About one in every 34 words in Indonesian publications will have this very common suffix which creates nouns.

Examples: makanan{makan+an} = food

bantuan {bantu+an} = assistance


bilangan{bilang+an} = a number or sum

2. 
   Suffixes –i
   

Adding the "-i" suffix to a verb results in a verb which may indicate repetitiveness, the giving of something or causing something to be. It may also simply show where the action is directed or to whom the action is directed. The suffix "-i" is used mainly in writing and formal speech.

Examples: ampuni {ampun+i} = to give forgiveness

ulangi {ulang+i} = to repeat


temani {teman+i} = to befriend

3. 
   Suffixes –kan
   

Adding the "-kan" suffix to a verb results in a verb indicating causation; making or causing something to happen.Its main function is to carry or transfer the action of the verb to some other part of the sentence.

Examples: campurkan {campur+kan} = to mix or combine

matikan {mati+kan} = to deaden; to extinguish
belikan {beli+kan} = to buy or purchase something

The suffixes -kan and -i both change predicates from intransitive to transitive. For foreigners, the suffixes -kan & -i often cause great difficulty because there seem to be no consistent patterns of usage which distinguish the two.

4. 
   Suffixes -kah
   

Adding this suffix indicates that the expression is a question. The suffix -kah is added to the word in the sentence that is the main focus of the question.

Examples: siapakah {siapa+kah} = who?

bolehkah {boleh+kah} = may I?

5. 
   Suffixes –lah
   

This suffix has many different and confusing usages but for simplicity we can say it is often used to give emphasis, to soften a command or to add politeness to an expression.

Examples: pergilah {perg+lah} = go away! get out of here!

buanglah {buang+lah} = please discard; please throw away