https://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/linguistika/

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24843/ling.2021.v28.i02.p10

LINGUISTIKA, SEPTEMBER 2021

p-ISSN: 0854-9613 e-ISSN: 2656-6419

Vol. 28 No.2


Derivational Adjectives Found in Forrest Gump Novel

Komang Ayu Rosmala Dewi*, I Nyoman Sedeng, Putu Lirishati Soethama

English Department, Faculty of Arts, Udayana University [[email protected]], [[email protected]], [[email protected]] Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia *Corresponding Authors

Abstract

This article discussed about morphosyntax that deals with the combination of morphology and syntax. The article was aimed to find out the derivational suffixes forming adjectives and the syntactic functions of the adjectives found in the data source. The data of this article were taken by library research method and note-taking technique from the novel Forrest Gump, which published in 157 pages and 26 chapters by Pocket Books in 1994. This novel is written by Winston Groom. The collected data were analyzed descriptive qualitatively based on the theory of Morphology and Syntax by Quirk, et al (1985). This article revealed that there were the attachment of suffix {-ful}, {-less}, {-ly}, {-y}, {-al}, {-ial}, {-ic} and {-ous} changed the base noun into adjective, it is called denominal adjectives. Then, deverbal adjectives which made the word class changed from verb into adjective, there were the attachment of suffix {-able} and {-ive}. Meanwhile, for the syntactic functions there were three types found, they are attributive, predicative and postpositive.

Keywords: derivational, adjectival suffixes, syntactic function

Abstract

Artikel ini membahas tentang morfosintaksis yaitu kombinasi dari morfologi dan sintaksis. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan akhiran derivatif yang membentuk kata sifat dan fungsi sintaksis dari kata sifat yang ditemukan di sumber data. Data dari artikel ini menggunakan metode penelitian kepustakaan dan teknik mencatat dari novel berjudul Forrest Gump, yang dipublikasikan dalam 157 halaman dan 26 bab oleh Pocket Books pada tahun 1994. Novel ini ditulis oleh Winston Groom. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif berdasarkan teori morfologi dan sintaksis oleh Quirk, et al (1985). Artikel ini menyatakan bahwa dengan ditambahkannya suffix {-ful}, {-less}, {-ly}, {-y}, {-al},   {-ial}, {-ic} dan {-ous} dapat merubah kata benda menjadi kata sifat yang disebut kata

sifat denominal. Lalu kata sifat deverbal yang mana dapat merubah kelas kata dari kata kerja menjadi kata sifat, yaitu ditambahkannya akhiran {-able} dan {-ive}. Sementara itu, untuk fungsi sintaksis ada tiga jenis yang ditemukan, yaitu atributif, predikatif dan pospositif.

Kata kunci: derivasional, akhiran kata sifat, fungsi sintaksis

  • 1.    Introduction

Language is an essential tool to communicate to each other. To be able to communicate well we should know a lot of vocabulary. We all might understand what words are. Lieber (2009:2), defined morphology as a study of word formation, including the ways new words are coined in the language of the world and the way forms of words are varied depending on how they are

used in sentences. In studying morphology, words are made up of morphemes. According to Yule (2010:67), morpheme is a minimal unit of meaning or grammatical function. A single word that is formed by a single morpheme can occur by itself, not attached to other morphemes called free morpheme. While a bound morpheme may not; it must always be attached to another morpheme. According to Brinton (2000:77),

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English has two kinds of affixes, prefixes, which attach to the beginnings of base and suffixes, which attach to the end of the base. But some language regularly, use infixes, which are inserted in the middle of the words. Then there are two types of affixes, derivational and inflectional. Derivational affixes have two functions: to convert one part of speech to another it is called class changing and to change the meaning of the root, in which case it is called class maintaining. The function of inflectional affixes is to indicate grammatical meaning such as tense or number.

There are some processes of word formation stated by Brinton (2000:85-100), they are derivation, reduplication, functional shift, compound, blend, back formation, shortening and root creation. From the all processes of word formation, derivation is very interesting to be analyzed since it can change the wordclass of the base lexeme that can form a new word. Derivation not only changes the structure and meaning of the word, it also may change the grammatical structure of a sentence. As the part of micro linguistics this article was focused not only with the morphology but also with syntax that deals with sentence structure. Therefore, the combination of two branches of that micro linguistics is called morphosyntax.

Based on the phenomenon above, this article was focused on the types of derivational adjectives and the syntactic functions of derivational adjectives from novel entitled Forrest Gump by Groom (1994) based on Quirk, et al (1985).

  • 2.    Material And Method

This article was focused on identifying the derivational adjectives and syntactic functions of derivational adjectives which were used in Forrest Gump novel, which is written by Winston Groom and published by Pocket Books in 1994. The novel can be considered to be unique and interesting, since it tell us the life story of the main character that announces straightaway that he is an idiot.

There were several steps to collect the data. First, the data were collected by reading the novel repeatedly. Second, the data found were noted and highlighted.

Third, the data were being classified based on the types. The samples of the collected data then were taken and typed to make it easier in analyzed.

The collected data analyzed in descriptive qualitative method. Analyzing the data consists of several steps. First, the data from the novel were classified based on the types of adjectival suffixes by Quirk, et al (1985). Second, derivational adjectives were separated from their suffixes to know the internal structure and the morphological process were analyzed in the form of tree diagram. Third, the meaning of derivational adjectives and their bases before attached by suffixes were explained based on the definition from Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary in order to know their meaning after undergoing derivational process. And the last, the position of derivational adjectives were analyzed into syntactic functions of adjective by Quirk, et al (1985) using tree diagram. Lastly, the results of the data analysis were presented in informal method.

  • 3.    Theoretical Basis

Analyzing derivational adjectives is not a new topic of discussion. In the literature review, there are some articles which have similar topic with the current article. Those articles were reviewed to support the process of this article.

Antari (2018) found in her article that there were derivational suffixes that can change the word class from noun and verb into adjective. There are ten suffixes found, they are suffix –fil, -able, -ish, -ous, -al, -ic, -less, -y, -ive, -ly. Meanwhile, for the syntactic functions there are two types found, they are predicative and attributive.

Mahendra (2017) showed that there are four derivational suffixes, they are nominal suffixes, verbal suffixes, adjectival suffixes and adverbial suffixes. And the functions of the derivational suffixes can be divided into two, they are class maintaining suffix and class changing suffix.

Kusumawardhani (2018) in her article stated that there are some derivational morphology found in this research; derivation of a noun, adverb, gerund after a preposition, gerund after the verb, to-infinitive, present participle, passive participle, modals and adjectives

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Types of Derivational Adjectives Based on Adjectival Suffixes

Derivation often used by linguists to mean only formation by the addition of affixes. It may change the meaning of the base to which they attached and change the word class that a base belongs to. Word formation rules (especially in suffixation) apply only to items of specific derivation. It can be called denominal, deverbal, so that deverbal adjective mean adjective derived from verb, and denominal adjective, is an adjective derived from a noun. Adjective can be formed by word class or bases with some suffixes. It means the attachment of certain suffixes demonstrated the changing of word class (noun, verb, and adjective) into adjective. According to Quirk, et al (1985: 1552-1556), there are ten adjectival suffixes that can be attached to noun and verb to form an adjective, they are {-ful}, {-ish}, {-less}, {-ly}, {-y}, ({-al}, {-ial}, {-ical}), {-ic}, ({-ous},{-ious}), {-able}, and {-ive}.

Syntactic Functions of Adjective

According to Quirk, et al (1985: 416-418), the adjective has three functions; they are attributive, predicative and postpositive. Adjectives are attributive when they pre-modify the head of a noun phrase and always appear between after determiner and before head of noun phrase, including zero determiner. It describes noun or noun phrase and often creates the meaning as well. Attributive adjective also can be said as noun modifier. Predicative adjective is an adjective which occurs after a verb in sentence and modifies the subject. In this case the adjective is as modifier of noun and can be said as complement. Predicative adjective has function as subject or object complement. Adjectives can sometimes be postpositive, they can immediately follow by the noun or pronoun. In another words, adjective may have postpositive position, because sometimes it appears after noun or pronoun.

  • 4.    Results And Discussion

Derivational Adjectives Based on the Attachment of Adjectival Suffixes

In this article, the types of derivational adjectives are divided into two namely, denominal and deverbal adjectives which are formed by adding the types of adjectival suffixes to the base, based on the standard English grammar by Quirk, et al (1985). There are ten

adjectival suffixes that can be attached to noun and verb to form a new word, adjective. They are suffix {-ful}, {-ish}, {-less}, {-ly}, {-y}, ({-al}, {-ial},    {-ical}), {

ic}, ({-ous},{-ious}), {-able}, and {-ive}.

Suffix {–ful}

It was a dreadful sight, people set on fire an all, an nothin we could do. (Groom,1994:32).

The word dreadful is denominal adjective, it is derived from a free morpheme dread as the base and a bound morpheme {–ful} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, according to Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, dread means great apprehension, fear or anxiety. After the attachment of suffix {–ful} at the end of the word dread the word class changes from a noun (dread) into an adjective (dreadful). Therefore, as an adjective, dreadful means causing or involving great suffering, fear, unhappiness; extremely bad or serious.

Suffix {–less}

I’m a goddamn legless freak. (Groom, 1994:97)

The word legless is derived from a free morpheme leg as the base and a bound morpheme {–less} as the adjectival suffix. It is called denominal adjective. As a noun, in accordance with Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, leg means each of the limbs on that connect the feet to the rest of the body which a person or animal walks and stand. Since the attachment of suffix {–less} at the end of the word leg causes the word class changes from a noun (leg) into an adjective (legless). It means the word legless has undergone a derivational process that also changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, legless means having no legs.

Suffix {–ly}

They axed me a lot of question an was real nice an friendly sounding (Groom, 1994: 133).

The word friendly is denominal adjective, it is derived from (friend) + {-ly}. Friendly comes from a free morpheme (friend) as the base and a bound morpheme {–ly}as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, in accordance with Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, friend means a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection,

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typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. Since the attachment of suffix      {–ly} at the end of

the word friend causes the word class changes from a noun (friend) into an adjective (friendly). It means the word friendly has undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, friendly means kind and pleasant.

Suffix {–y}

An long black curly hair such as you might see on a violin player. (Groom, 1994: 133).

The italic word above is denominal adjective. The word curly is derived from (curl) + {-ly}. Curly comes from a free morpheme curl as the base and a bound morpheme {–y} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, according to Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, curl means something in the shape of a spiral or coil, especially a lock of hair. After the attachment of suffix {–y} at the end of the word curl makes the word class changes from a noun (curl) into an adjective (curly). It means the word curly has undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, curly means made, growing, or arranged in curls or curves.

Suffix {–al}

She commences to start stroking me in a personal way. (Groom, 1994: 11)

The word personal is derived from (person) + {-al}. it is called denominal adjective. Personal comes from a free morpheme (person) as the base and a bound morpheme {–al} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, in accordance with Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, person means a human being regarded as an individual. Since the attachment of suffix {–al} at the end of the word person makes the word class changes from a noun (person) into an adjective (personal). It means the word personal has undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, personal means belonging to or affecting a particular person rather than anyone else.

Suffix {–ial}

The artificial legs they had give him at the VA hospital were the wrong size. (Groom, 1994: 96)

The word in italic above is denominal adjective is derived from (artifice) + {-ial}. Artificial comes from a free morpheme (artifice) as the base and a bound morpheme {-ial} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, according to Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, artifice means clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others. Since the attachment of suffix {–ial} at the end of the word artifice makes the word class changes from a noun (artifice) into an adjective (artificial). In this case, the word artificial ended by –e, after undergoing a morphological process, the vowel –e was omitted because there is no meaning for word ‘artificeial’. It means the word artificial had undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, artificial means made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural.

Suffix {–ic}

Why you have done such an idiotic thing. (Groom, 1994: 68)

The word idiotic is denominal adjective, it is derived from (Idiot) + {-ic}. Idiotic comes from a free morpheme (idiot) as the base and a bound morpheme {ic} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, in accordance with Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, idiot means a stupid person. After the attachment of suffix {–ic} at the end of the word idiot causes the word class changes from a noun (idiot) into an adjective (idiotic). Therefore, as an adjective, idiotic means very stupid.

Suffix {–ous}

So nervous I didn't know what to do. (Groom, 1994: 87)

The italic word above is denominal adjective, it is derived from (nerve) + {-ous}. Nervous comes from a free morpheme (nerve) as the base and a bound morpheme {-ous} as the adjectival suffix. As a noun, according to Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, nerve means any of the long thin threads that carry message between the brain and parts of the body, enabling you to move, feel pain, etc. After the attachment of suffix {–ous} at the end of the word nervous makes the word class changes from a

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noun (nerve) into an adjective (nervous). In this case, the word nerve ended by –e, after undergoing a morphological process, the vowel –e was omitted because there is no meaning for word ‘nerveous’. Therefore, as an adjective, nervous means easily agitated or alarmed.

Suffix {–able}

They is hardly recognizable as people-all mangled up like they has been stuffed thru a cotton baler or somethin. (Groom, 1994: 31)

The word recognizable is deverbal adjective, it is derived from (recognize) + {-able}. Recognizable comes from a free morpheme (recognize) as the base and a bound morpheme {-able} as the adjectival suffix. As a verb, in accordance with Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, recognize means identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before; know again. After the attachment of suffix {–able} at the end of the word recognize makes the word class changes from a verb (recognize) into an adjective (recognizable). In this case, the word recognize ended by –e, after undergoing a morphological process, the vowel –e was omitted because there is no meaning for word ‘recognizeable’. It means the word recognizable has undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, recognizable means able to be recognized or identified from previous encounters or knowledge.

Suffix {–ive}

"No player shall behave in a manner that is rude or offensive." (Groom, 1994: 135)

The word in italic above is deverbal adjective. The word offensive is derived from (offend) + {-ive}. Offensive comes from a free morpheme (offend) as the base and a bound morpheme {–ive} as the adjectival suffix. As a verb, according to Oxford Dictionary of English and Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, offend means cause to feel upset, annoyed or resentful. Since

the attachment of suffix {–ive} at the end of the word offend causes the word class changes from a verb (offend) into an adjective (offensive). In this case, the word offend ended by –d, after undergoing a morphological process, the consonant –d is changed into the consonant –s, then consonant -d was omitted because there is no meaning for word ‘offendive’. It means the word offensive has undergone a derivational process that also slightly changes its meaning. Therefore, as an adjective, offensive means causing someone to feel resentful, upset or annoyed.

Syntactic Functions of Adjective

There are three syntactic functions that proposed by Quirk, et al (1985:416-418) found in this article, they were attributive adjective, predicative and postpositive adjective.

Attributive

It was a lovely site. (Groom, 1994: 141)

S

VP


NP

V

Pro

It      was

(Diagram 1)

NP


Det NP


Adj N


a   lovely  site


Based on the tree diagram above, the word lovely has syntactic function as attributive adjective, since it followed by and pre-modify the head of noun ‘site’, also it appears after determiner (article) ‘a’. And as a noun modifier in that sentence, lovely explained that site was so attractive. Nevertheless, before undergoing with morphological process, the word lovely (Adj) is derived from love (N). The syntactic function of word love in a sentence will be different. For example, in the sentence, “They fell in love”. The word love had functioned as object of the verb.

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Predicative

That was disgraceful. (Groom, 1994: 108)

S

NP

V


VP


AdjP

Pro

Adj

That


was


disgraceful


(Diagram 2)

On the basis of the tree diagram above, the word disgraceful has functioned as a predicative adjective. Since it appears after a copular verb ‘was’. Therefore, it described that was something shockingly unacceptable. Even so, before having the morphological process, the word disgraceful (Adj) is derived from disgrace (N). The syntactic function of word disgrace in a sentence will be change. For example, in the sentence, “He left the army in disgrace”. The word disgrace had functioned as object of preposition.

Postpositive

Welcome Grandmaster’s Invitational Chess Tournament. (Groom, 1994:120)

And it described that welcoming the invitation of grandmaster in the chess tournament. Nevertheless, before having the morphological process, the word invitational (Adj) is derived from invitation (N). The syntactic function of word invitation in a sentence will be different. For example, in the sentence, “The invitation was addressed to all the three of them”. The word invitation had functioned as a subject of a verb.

  • 5.    Conclusion

Based on the foregoing analysis, it can be concluded that there were denominal and deverbal adjectives found in the data as types of derivational adjectives. The attachment of suffix {-ful}, {-less}, {-ly}, {-y}, {-al}, {-ial}, {-ic} and {-ous} changed the base noun into adjective, it is called denominal adjective.

The analysis also showed that the data contain of three syntactic functions of derivational adjectives, there were attributive adjective appears after determiner and followed by noun phrase, also has function as a noun modifier, predicative adjective appears after a verb modifies the subject, also called as subject complement and postpositive adjective it shows up after noun.

Ɵ Welcome grandmaster’s invitational chess tournament


(Diagram 3)

According to the tree diagram above, the word invitational has syntactic function as a postpositive adjective. Since, it shows up after a noun ‘grandmaster’.

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