A Transformational grammar analysis on the sentences used in the text of Indonesian folklore by using Diana’s Tree Diagram

ABSTRACT

Syntax is the study of the principles and processes by which sentences are constructed in particular language (Chomsky, 1957:1). Grammatical Transformation Grammar assumes that there are two levels for each sentences, a deep structure that represents the meaning, and surface structure that represents the sound (Bornstein, 1977:37 . While tree diagrams has become the widely used way of displaying the making of the sentence. The tree diagrams provide a precise means of defining syntactic relation.

Benjamin A. Botkin (1938), published by AFS News in 2008 states that folklore is a body of traditional belief, custom, and expression, handed down largely by word of mouth and circulating chiefly outside of commercial and academic means of communication and instruction (http://www.afsnet.org). Due to statement above, it is necessary to study Indonesian folklore by using transformation grammar, to know the structure form of Indonesian folklore.

This study is focused on the formulas and patterns of; (1) negative transformation, (2) interrogative transformation and (3) imperative transformation. In conducting this study, the researcher used qualitative method. The data are taken from the sentences that are used in Indonesian folklore. In obtaining the data the researcher used some instrument, those are: First, the writer reads all the texts of Indonesian folklores and gathers the stories that consist of negative, interrogative, and imperative sentence. Second, the writer identifies and underlines all sentences. Then choose some texts that at least consist of two kinds of sentences, and the writer found 5 stories to be analyzed.

The findings of this study show that at least the formulas of negative and interrogative sentences consist of NP + VP. It also may be followed by Adv.P and PP. And the differences are the deep structure of interrogative sentence starting by the Q symbol, while the Q-transformation starts by Aux, and the wh- transformation starting by adv.P. For nominal sentences consist of NP + Be. As the formula of negative and interrogative sentences, imperative sentences consists of NP, V+NP, Be+NP, it also may be followed by PP. the deep structure of imperative starting by Imp.

The patterns of noun phrase both the negative, interrogative and imperative sentences are started by N, Det, pron, and Adv.P and followed by N and NP. While the patterns of verb phrase are starting by Aux, for nominal sentences starting by Be that followed by NP, Vi, Vt, and Be.

Finally, after finishing this stud y, the researcher hopes that this study can give contribution to the researcher himself, and to the reader or the further researcher who conduct the same study. Hopefully further researcher who conducts a similar study could complete this research.