How To Say Parts Of Human Body In Abui Language: Cultural Linguistic Perspectives

EROM, Kletus (2012) How To Say Parts Of Human Body In Abui Language: Cultural Linguistic Perspectives. REFERENCE: Journal of Languange and Languange Teaching, 1 (5). pp. 199-212. ISSN 2085-949X

Text HOW TO SAY PARTS OF HUMAN BODY IN ABUI LANGUAGE CULTURAL LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVES.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (4MB)

Abstract

Abui Language (AL) is one of the main local languages in Alor Regency. In general, lexicogrammatically, there are two ways of saying parts of human body in AL. Such lexicogrammatical system is based in lhe cultural imagery of the speakers of AL. (l) There are only five words denoting parts of human body in Abui Language that can stand by themselv es: pikai 'head', bukomang'heart' , kalei 'lungs', uea'blood',and pikuibutu'hai/. They can also morphologically collocate with other words in relation of uootrleD - MoDIFlen and in the function of POSSESSOR - POSSESSEU. The examples are nepikai'my head', epikai'your.Sc head', hepikai 'his/her head'. tepikai 'each person's head', nipikai!our EXCL head', p i p i ka i' our I N C L hcad', e p i ko i'your PL hcad', h e p i ka i' thcir head', ri p i ka i' all each person's head', Mal.y hepikai'Mary's hcad, John hepikai 'John's head', and Mary ya lohn hepikai'Mary and John's head. (2) The words denoting other parts of human body cannot stand by themselves. They can be expressed by collocating them with their possessors: personal pronouns or nouns. Thus, we have the following cxpressions: nieng 'my cycs', ieng'your.SG eycs', hieng 'his/hcr eyes', Iieng'cach pcrson's eyes', rrierg 'our.EXCL cyes', piengE 'our.lNCL cyes', ieng 'your.PL cyes', hieng'their eyes', rieng'all each person's eyes', Maryt fiisn*'Mary's eyes, John hieng 'Joihn's eyes', and Mary ya John hieng'Mary and John's eyes'. The personal pronouns inAbuiLanguage include nedi'l',edo'youSG',hedi 'he/she', tedi'each pcrson, nidr'wc.EXCL',pidi 'we.lNCL', edo'you.PL',lrcloku 'they', and rirlo'cach of all persons'. Thc word ierrg might bc considcrcd as thc base or root mcaning 'eye'. This root and many other roots denoting parts of human body cannot stand alone, except collocated with the possessors. The questions arises in our mind as to why do the five words can stand alone while many others cannot? This linguistic plrenomena delineates that the five parts of human body: pikai 'head', pikaihata 'hair', hukonrung'hcarl', kalei'lungs', and, v,ea 'blood'arc vcry important in thc cultural imagcry of thc speakers ofAL. What makes thcrn imporlant can bc known by reading this paper.

Actions (login required)

View Item