Analyze Noun Phrase in Walak language
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Kepolisian MiliterAnalyze Noun Phrase in Walak language
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Kepolisian MiliterAnalyze NP ( Noun Phrase ) In Walak Language
( Walak Tribes, Papuan Mountain )
Gideon Netahnyahu Noriwari
Cenderawasih University
I. Introduction
This paper examined the structure and function of noun phrases in Walak, focusing on how they contributed
to sentence construction, especially in terms of verb tense usage. In Walak, noun phrases were central to
expressing key elements like the subject and object of a sentence. These phrases typically consisted of a
noun, and might include additional elements like adjectives or possessive markers. Walak followed a Subject
+ Object + Verb (SOV) structure, where noun phrases played an essential role in creating meaningful
sentences. For instance, in the sentence "An erom'eroma lagaluk", the noun phrase "erom'eroma"
(garden/field) combined with the verb "lagaluk" (go/walk), forming a complete thought. Additionally, verbs
in Walak were marked for tense using specific suffixes, such as "-lagaluk" for past actions and "-tagYinan"
for future actions, making verb forms a critical part of the sentence's meaning.
A unique feature of Walak was its flexible approach to subject omission, where the subject could be implied
through the verb, making the sentence structure more compact and adaptable. In sentences like "Engga
baligiluk", the subject "I" was understood from the context, thanks to the verb’s structure. This flexibility
was not only a linguistic characteristic but also reflected the cultural adaptability of Walak speakers. By
analyzing how noun phrases functioned in Walak, particularly in relation to verb tense markers, this study
highlighted the differences between Walak and languages like English and Indonesian. It also emphasized
the importance of understanding these structures for the preservation of Walak as a unique and culturally rich
language.
II. Problem Formulation
This study seeks to answer the following questions:
How are noun phrases and verb phrases formed in the Walak language?
How does Walak sentence structure differ from English?
How can these rules be explained to beginners using past tense examples?
III. Objectives
The study aims to:
Identify the patterns in noun phrases and verb phrases in the Walak language.
Demonstrate sentence construction in Walak using past tense examples.
Create simplified learning materials for beginners to understand and use Walak effectively.
Simplified Explanation of Grammar
1. Noun Phrases
Noun phrases in Walak describe people, places, or things. Common nouns and proper nouns are often used.
Examples:
Nogeyitagamende → Bed (Proper noun)
Erom → Sweet potatoes (Common noun)
Example Sentence (Past Tense):
An erom nan. → I ate sweet potatoes.
2. Verb Phrases
Verb phrases express actions or states. In Walak, verbs often combine to create specific meanings.
Examples:
Baligiluk → Cut (past)
Bali = Cut
Giluk = Wanted
Daritaga → Was cooking
Example Sentence (Past Tense):
An engga baligiluk. → I cut the vegetables.
3. Sentence Structure
Walak sentences often follow the order :
Subject + Object + Verb (SOV)
Sometimes, the subject is erased, leaving the verb to imply the subject.
Examples:
An nogeyitagamende pipak. → I cleaned the bed.
Engga baligiluk. → (I) cut the vegetables.
Anyway according the research, if the Sentence Structure Verb absolutely stay in behind of structure
sentence.
In the Walak language, the sentence structure usually follows the order: Subject + Object + Verb (SOV).
This is different from English, where the usual order was Subject + Verb + Object (SVO). This difference
affects how the language shows actions and the relationships between parts of a sentence.
Simple Explanation of SOV Structure
1. Subject (S) :
The subject is the person or thing that does the action. In Walak, the subject might not always be
said. If it is clear who is doing the action, the subject can be left out. For example:
o "Engga baligiluk" (I cut the vegetables) – Here, "Engga" means "I," and the subject
is understood even if it is not said again.
2. Object (O):
The object is the person or thing that the action affects. For example, in "An
nogeyitagamende pipak" (I cleaned the bed), "pipak" is the object (the bed), and the
subject cleaned it.
3. Verb (V):
The verb shows the action. In Walak, the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence. This makes
the verb the most important part of the sentence. In the sentence "An nogeyitagamende pipak" (I
cleaned the bed), the verb "nogeyitagamende" (cleaned) comes after the subject and object.
Sometimes, the Subject is Left Out
In some cases, especially in informal speech or when the subject is already understood, the subject can be
left out of the sentence. This is similar to languages like Spanish or Italian, where the subject is often not said
because the verb shows who is doing the action.
For example:
"Engga baligiluk" (I cut the vegetables) – The "I" can be left out because it is clear from the context who is
doing the action.
This is a feature of many languages, where context helps understand the meaning without repeating the
subject.
More Complex Sentences and Examples
When the sentence is more complex, it still usually follows the SOV order, but extra words like adverbs or
descriptions can be added to give more details.
Example 1:
"An nogeyitagamende pipak hilak"
Translation: "I cleaned the bed yesterday."
Here, "hilak" means "yesterday," which tells us when the action happened. But the sentence still follows the
SOV order, with "An" (subject), "pipak" (object), and "nogeyitagamende" (verb) in that order.
Example 2:
"An nogeyitagamende pipak hilak temam"
Translation: "I cleaned the bed yesterday quickly."
Here, "temam" means "quickly," which tells us how the cleaning was done. The sentence still
follows the SOV order.
Why the Verb Comes Last
In Walak, the verb comes last in the sentence. This is common in some languages, like Japanese or Korean.
Putting the verb at the end makes the action the most important part of the sentence. It builds up the sentence
to the final action. This is different from English, where the verb comes right after the subject.
By putting the verb last, it helps the speaker or listener focus on the action and understand what is happening
after knowing who is doing it and what is being affected.
Conclusion
In Walak, the SOV structure helps organize sentences clearly. The verb is the most important part and
usually comes at the end. The subject can be left out if it is understood from the context. This kind of
structure makes communication easier and avoids repeating things.
Telling a Simple Stories :
A Morning Routine
Every morning, I woke up from my bed. I cleaned my bed and went outside to the garden. I picked sweet
potatoes and cooked them for breakfast.
In Walak:
Ogialek, an niluk atuk o nogeyitagamende. An nogeyitagamende pipak o erom baligiluk, o erom nan wuki.
Translation:
In the morning, I woke up from my bed. I cleaned the bed, cut the sweet potatoes, and ate them.
Summary
By focusing on noun phrases, verb phrases, and past tense sentence structures, this paper introduces the
basics of the Walak language in a simple and practical way. With these foundational elements, learners can
begin to understand and use Walak in everyday contexts.
Reference :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_verbs
"Linguistic Structure and Syntax in Austronesian Languages" (Dixon, 2014)
"Syntax and Word Order in African and Asian Languages" (Aikhenvald, 2015)
"The Syntax of Noun Phrases in the Walak Language: A Case Study"
(Journal of Austronesian Languages, 2020)
