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Akhmad Bukhori, H. (2019). Diminutive Forming Suffixes in Instructional German Books. KnE Social Sciences, 3(10), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i10.3883

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v3i10.3883

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  • H Akhmad Bukhori
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Published Date

  • Mar 17, 2019

Diminutive Forming Suffixes in Instructional German Books

KnE Social Sciences / International Seminar on Language, Education, and Culture (ISoLEC) / Pages 20–29

Abstract

Suffix plays an important role in German languge due to its ability to determine the article of a noun, such as der for masculine, die for feminine, and das for neutral. This study aimed to describe (1) suffixes that form diminutive, (2) semantic meaning of the suffixes, and (3) topics containing diminutives in four instructional German books, namely Euro Lingua, Em, DaF Kompakt, and Studio 21. The research data were collected from the four books used in German language teaching at Universitas Negeri Malang (UM). The data were classified based on the type of suffix and were analysed qualitatively. The results showed that (1) suffixes which are the form of bound morpheme that can be attached to a noun or substantive and that form diminutive were –chen, -lein, and –i. A German suffix –ling was not found in data. The suffixes originate not only from pure German language but also from borrowed suffixes of some dialects such as the Bavarian dialect, from regional languages in Austria and Switzerland i.e -erl, –i, and –li; (2) the semantic meanings of the diminutive suffixes are quite similar, e.g. “ little”, “tiny”, ‘smallness’, and “ endearment” due to close relationship between two persons/ a pair who love each other or that among families or relatives; (3) the topics or themes in four instructional books containing diminutive suffixes include Küsschen, Küsschen (kissing, kissing); Kosename (nick name or pet name); Herbst in München ‘autumn/fall in Munich’; Arbeit im Wandel ( jobs on progres), and Liebe und Partnerschaft (love and partnership). Suffix plays an important role in the German language due to its ability to determine the article of a noun, such as der for masculine, die for feminine, and das for neutral. The study aimed to describe (1) suffixes that form diminutive, (2) semantic meaning of the suffixes, and (3) topics containing diminutives in four German instructional books, namely Euro Lingua, Em, DaF Kompakt, and Studio 21. The research data were collected from the four booksused in German language teaching at Universitas Negeri Malang (UM). The data were classified based on the type of suffix and were analyzed qualitatively. The results showed that (1) the suffixes which are in the form of bound morphemes that can be attached to a noun or substantive and that form diminutive were - chen, - lein, and - i. A German suffix - ling was not found in data. The suffixesoriginate not only from pure German language but also from borrowed suffixes of some dialects such as the Bavarian dialect from the regional languages in Austria and Switzerland, i.e. -erl, - i, and – li each other or that among familiesor relatives; (3) the topicsand themesin the four instructional bookscontaining diminutive suffixes include Küsschen, Küsschen (kissing, kissing); Kosename (nickname or pet name); Herbst in München (autumn/fall in Munic h); Arbeit im Wandel (Work in change), and Liebe und Partnerschaft (love and partnership).


 


 


Keywords: suffixes, diminutive, German instructional books

References
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