CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN

NOUN PHRASE
Oleh : Suhud Eko Yuwono

INTRODUCTION
The goal of English Language Teaching in
English Study Program where the writer teaches is
to give the students the ability to read English texts.
It is hoped that later on the students can read
scientific books written in English when they
begin to write their theses.
Many students find it difficult to interpret
even

very simple English noun phrases

such as

stone

(NPs),

building and building stones.

In collecting the English NPs from books, the writer

find that in every page there are about thirty NPs
which will then be difficult for the students

between a given pair of languages(Zabrocki,

1980: 46). The contrastive analysis in this paper is
perhaps a bit different when compared with the
contrastive analysis that has usually been done by
some linguists because it is aimed at finding a
more useful way to interpret the English NPs.
Noun phrase is often also called Noun Cluster
or noun group in grammar books. It is defined as
follows; A noun cluster is a noun with other
words or groups of words clustering around it
and modifying it in various ways ( Roberts, 1956:
77). Examples of noun clusters are:
1.

a book,

2.

a new book,

3.

a new English book,

subsystems of languages) in order to determine

4.

a new English book on the table,

both the differences and similarities that

5.

a new English book on the table that you read

when they read English.

This

indicates

how

important the problem is.

Contrastive linguistics may be roughly
defined as a sub discipline of linguistics which is
concerned
with the comparison of two or more languages
(or

hold between them

last night.

(Fisiak et al. 1978; cf Jackson, 1976).

The purpose of
this paper is to help teachers and lecturers when

were defined as giving an

they teach English reading. Reading texts always

exhaustive account of the differences and similarities

contain of some linguistic constructions which

is

often difficult

to

be

understood

by

readers. The constructions, like NPs, among

languages are relatively different; thats why
contrastive analysis is needed to solve this problem.
The notion of specific-theoritical

contrastive

studies was introduced by Fisiak. These studies

The word book

is

The readers may then ask also what a

the head word and the other words are called

head word is. A noun cluster always consists of

modifiers. The word book in the examples

at least two parts: the noun itself and the

is very important. That word is called the

word or word accompanying it. The noun is

centre or head of the NP. So the word book

called the head word

is the head or the noun head. Every NP has a

of the cluster ( Roberts, 1956: 79).

noun head.
Suhud Eko Yuwono : adalah Dosen Jurusan Bahasa Inggris, Unwidha Klaten

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

THE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH NOUN

PHRASE

Construction: a good book.

We may substitute the word good with other type

English NPs can be divided into three

of modifiers like:

major types,

a writing book

and each can be divided again into smaller ones.

a selected book

Type one is the one which has modifiers only in

a grammar book

the left side of the noun head, and type II, the
modifiers are on the right side on the noun head.

M1 may consists of more than one word, examples:

Type III is the compound or mixed type, that is the

a new English book

modifiers come before and after the noun head.

a well selected book

Type 1a
Phrase structure
NP
D

N(s)

The

facts

NP

d + N (s)

N(s)

is the phrase form of

N(oun)

Type 2:
NP
D

N(s)

d
is the noun
determiner

N (s)

NP

(d) + N (s) + M2

M2

stands for any modifier that

comes after the noun head.

M2

Surface structure : the facts

Other examples :

the librarian

The symbol M2 stands for any modifier that can

a campus

be placed after the noun head. This type is divided

again

those
problems

into six types and tha latter into two types:

2.a. N (s) + phrases

magazines
cover

2.b.

N (s) + Clauses

two presidents
The former can be divided again into six types

Type 1.b

and the latter into two types.

Phrase structure
NP
d

N(s)

NP

(d) + M1 + N (s)

M1

stands

These various aspects

for

Type 2.a
NP

any

modifier that comes

before the noun
head,

N(s)

NP

(d) + N (s) + M2

M2

stands for any modifier that

comes after the noun head.

N (s)

M2

not including noun

determiner.

word good in the following:

When noun determiner in this type are put

between brackets, it means that

the d is

occasionally dropped. The symbol M1 stands for

any modifier that xcan be used to substitute for the

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M2 in this type is divided into six sub-types:

(4) to verb,

(1) prepositional phrase ,

(2) adjective phrase,
(3) adverbial phrase,

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

(5) -ing phrase,

Type 2.a.3

(6) -en phrase.

NP

Examples: (1) a body of people

N(s)

(2) a command so confident

N (s)

Adv

(3) the speaker at the moment he

speaks
The

(4) the way to do it

speaker

at the moment he speaks

(5) the word fulfilling a smaller function

NP

(6) the space enclosed

Adv stands for adverb or adverbial phrase

(d)+N(s)+P(phr)

Type 2.a.4
If each subtype is transformed into phrases

NP

structures, we shall have the following string:

Type 2.a.1

N(s)

NP
d

The

N(s)
N (s)

A
NP

body

N (s)

to vb

way

to do it

NP (d)+N(s)+P(phr) to vb stands for to + verb,

P (phr)

or to + verb phrase

N (s)

of

people

Type 2.a.5
NP

(d)+N(s)+P(phr)

P stands for preposition or preposition

phrase

N(s)
N (s)

The

word

ing (phr)
fulfilling (a smaller function)

Type 2.a.2
NP

NP

(d)+N(s)+P(phr)

-ing (phr) stands for verb + ing phrase

d

N(s)

Type 2.a.6
NP

N (s)
A

Adj
so confident

N(s)

command
NP

(d)+N(s)+P(phr)

Adj stands for adjective or adjectival

phrase

N (s)
The

space

-en (phr)
enclosed

NP

(d)+N(s)+P(phr)

-en (phr) stands for past participial phrase

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

Type 2.b.1

Type 2.b.2
NP

Type 2.b.2.2 is nearly the same as type 2.b.1.b.

They are different only in one constituent. Instead

N(s)
N (s)

of th, it uses wh that represents words like: where,

th (clause

why,

Th (clause is divided again into two subtypes.

how, and the like.

NP

Th represents words like that, who, and which.

Each is followed by a verb.

N (s)

Th (cl)
Th

N(s)

Th (cl)

vb

th

wh
cl
vb (phr)

The strings of types 2.b.1.a and 2.b.1.b are as

follows:
Type 2.b.1.a

cl
NP

Cl represents clause
NP

wh (clause

The

place where he

vb (phr
put my hat

NP (d) + N (s) + wh + vb (phr)

Type 3
This category contains the compound or
mixed types. Combinations between type 1 and 2, or

NP
d

N(s)

type 2.a and 2.b, or 2.a.1 and 2.a.2, and so

on. Sometimes the combination is very long. The English

N (s)
The
me

girl

th (clause
Th

vb (phr)

that

addressed

NP is difficult for the Indonesian learners, moreever

when it is very long or when it is put in front
and functions as a subject. In the latter situation,
the NP is going to make many Indonesian learners of
English, particularly in reading, unable to find or

NP (d) + N (s) + th + vb (phr)

to identify the subject of the sentence and the

verb of the sentence. They cannot, therefore,

Type 2.b.1.b

understand the
NP

meaning of the whole sentence.

N(s)
th (clause

N (s)
Th

cl
NP

that we are
talking about
NP (d) + N (s) + th + vb (phr)
The

thing

CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH

NOUN PHRASE AND THEIR INDONESIAN
EQUIVALENTS
vb (phr)

All types of NPs discussed in the previous

pages will be compared with the Indonesian
equivalence. Type 1.a and 1.b and type 3 are chosen
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because those types represent the

English NPs whose modifier fall
before the noun head.
In the comparison

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

of of those two subtypes, it is found that there

similarities and differences in grammatical system,
particularly in word order between English and
Indonesian NPs.
Now let us see the following English NPs and
their Indonesian equivalence. The word
underlined are their noun heads.
1) One man = satu orang laki-laki
2) The facts = kenyataan-kenyataan itu

2)

Noun head

ENGLISH

The
Your
Such
those

INDONESIAN

Choices

pilihan

Itu
Mu
Semacam itu
itu

3) Your medicine = obatmu

4) Seven aspects = tujuh aspek
5) Such limits = pembatasanpembatasan semacam itu
6) All the events = semua peristiwa
7) No choice = tidak ada pilihan
8) Those questions = pernyataan-pernyataan itu
If we pay attention to the Indonesian
equivalents on the right side, we shall find out
that number 1, 4, 6, 7 behave differently from
those of number 2, 3, 5, and 8. To make it clear,

From those two boxes

temporary conclusion that modifier in English NPs

comes before the noun head, whereas in the
Indonesian language it comes after the noun head,
except when it denotes quantity, like: one, two,
some, any, a few, several, many, much, all, no,
and the like.
Now we can go to the next comparison. Look
at the following examples:
9) good speakers = pembicara-pembicara yang
baik.
10) These various aspects = aspek-aspek yang
bermacam-macam ini

consider the
following boxes.
1)

Noun head
One
Seven
ENGLISH
All the Choices
No
Satu
INDONESIAN Tujuh
pilihan
Semua
Tak ada

we can draw a

11) Its basic form = bentuk dasarnya

See the following boxes:
3.

Noun head
ENGLISH

good Speakers
(1)

INDONESIAN

Pembicara-pembicara

Yang baik
(1)

Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

4.

5.
EN
IN

Noun head
ENGLISH

Its basic
(1)

Form

(2)

INDONESIAN

bentuk

dasarnya
(2)

(1)

See the figures put under each modifier in the boxes numbered 3, 4, and 5. We can notice easily the
shift position from English (symbolized by L2) to Indonesian (symbolized by L1). From those three boxes
we can see that all the modifiers in L1 come after the noun head. This evidence again supports the first
conclusion because none of the modifiers of the English NPs in number 9, 10 and 11 bears a noun
determiner denoting quantity.
Now we come to the more complex type of English NPs. Examples:
12) a literal translation from some languages
13) the form of the verb ending in ing
If they are translated into Indonesian, we shall have the following equivalents:
12.a. sebuah terjemahan harfiah dari beberapa bahasa
13.a. bentuk dari kata kerja yang berakhiran ing
See also the following two boxes and the figures under each modifier.
6.

Noun head
ENGLISH
INDONESIAN

7.

A literal
(1) (2)
sebuah
(1)

translation
terjemahan

From some languages

(3)
(4)
(5)
Harfiah dari beberapa bahasa
(2) (3)
(4)
(5)

Noun head
ENGLISH
INDONESIAN

The
(1)

form
bentuk
(2)

Of the verb ending in -ing

(3) (4)
(5)
Dari kata kerja yang berakhiran ing itu
(3)

(4) (5)

Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

In the box number 6 in L1

All the modifiers in L1 should come after

we have one modifier that comes before the noun

the noun head wanita, except the noun

head because the word a meaning sebuah denotes

determiner a meaning sebuah because it denotes

quantity and the other modifiers come after the

quantity.

noun head, whereas all the modifiers in the box 7

come after the noun head because this NP has
no modifier that denotes quantity. If we look at the

CONCLUSION
If we contrast the differences, we can draw the

last two examples (number 12 and

13) carefully, we shall see that the modifier in
each

following conclusions:

number consist of NP as well, examples some

1) English NPs have a different system of word

language in number 12, and verb ending in ing

order from that their Indonesian equivalents

in

number 13.

The word languages

and verb

2) The modifiers in the English NPs may occur

are the noun heads of each. In this paper we shall

before or/and after the noun head.

call this kind of noun head sub-noun head. When

3) The modifiers in the Indonesian NPS occur

we have a very long English NP, we may have

only after the noun head except when the modifier

more than one sub noun head. See the following

is

examples.

a kind of noun determiner that denotes quantity.

14) A young rich lady with a beautiful umbrella

in
her right hand.
The word lady is the noun head of the
whole NP; the word umbrella and hand are the
sub noun heads.
from the comparison above from number 1 to 13,
we shall then have the equivalent of the example
number 14 as follows:
3

Lado, 1966: 2). From this quotation we know that

to interpret English NPs is very difficult for
found in the previous discussion that the English

NPs have a different system of word order from

her right hand

that of the Indonesian equivalents. The different

system will make it difficult for the learners not

5
Seorang wanita muda yang kaya yang membawa
1

elements that are different will be difficult (Robert

Indonesian learners learning English because as

A young rich lady with a beautiful umbrella in

2

Those elements that are similar to his

native language will be simple for him, and those

According to the conclusion we obtain

ITS IMPACT FOR THE INDONESIAN

STUDENTS IN LEARNING TO INTERPRET
ENGLISH NOUN PHRASE

but also passive comprehension such as listening and

reading.

sebuah payung yang bagus di tangan kanannya

4

only in learning active mastery

In reading, the learners will, perhaps, not find

any difficulty when they meet some simple
English NPs like: a book, two men, many people, and the like
because these constructions are similar to their

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

Indonesian equivalents, but difficulties

will soon arise when they come across some NPs
like: a stone

In this sentence the verb is has no equivalent

in the Indonesian language.

building, a garden flower, ten fifty-cent stamps,

and
so on. The difficulty first comes up when the modifier

6)

in the NP come before the noun head. The difficulty

He

Is sleeping

Dia

tidur

isHe
not only
all the modifiers in the
is that Anearly
teacher
Indonesian
NPs come
after
Dia
Seorang
guruthe noun head, but

The sentence may be translated into Dia adalah

partly because sometimes the modifier in the

is may or may not be translated and both are

Engish NP is in the form of one word or a

correct in

phrase, but in its

the Indonesian language.

seorang guru, or dia seorang guru. So the verb

Indonesian equivalent the modifier may or

should
appear as a clause.
1) A stone building = sebuah bangunan yang

7)

He terbuat
is dari batu.
At home

The verb is is usually translated into ada

DiayangAda
rumah
terbuat Di
dari
batu is a

particularly when this sentence stands alone, but

clause in Indonesian language. It is a passive

in some situation like an answer of a question:

construction.

Dimana dia? (Where is he?), this question may be

answered:

2) Ten fifty-cent stamps = sepuluh buah

perangko

Dia di rumah. The word ada is elliptic.

yang masing-masing berharga lima puluh sen.

yang masing-masing berharga lima puluh

8)

sen is also a clause in the Indonesian

language.

The word is here has no equivalent in

This kind of difficulty also appears when the

the

English NPs have modifiers that come after the

is and ing are mutually obligatory, it means

noun head. Examples:

that the occurrence of is requires the occurrence

3) The man in white = orang laki-laki yang

berbaju putih itu. yang berbaju putih is also a

Indonesian language because the morphemes

of -ing. They

cannot

be

separated.

is

sleeping in the

clause

Indonesian language is sometimes translated into

4) The girl sitting there = anak gadis yang duduk

sedang tidur, but the word sedang cannot be said

in the Indonesian language.

di sana itu. yang duduk di sana is also a clause in
the Indonesian language.

to be the equivalent of be+-ing.

Another problem will come up when the verb

The problem as shown above will give a lot of

difficulties to the learners both in learning active

be appears because this verb may or may not

mastery as well as in passive comprehension such

have its equivalent in the Indonesian language.

as listening and reading.

See the

Going back to the English NP, type 1.b, if we

following comparison:
5) He
Dia

is

Clever
Pandai

compare it with its Indonesian equivalent, we

shall also find some differences in grammar.
See the
following:

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Contrastive Analysis Of English and Indonesian ......

Indonesian: Orang muda yang baik.

English: (the) young good people
The Indonesian NP starts with the largest
class and then follow the smaller and smaller
limiters, whereas the English NP does do the
opposite. The largest class is last and the
smallest first. See the following diagram:
Indonesian NP type 1.b

English NP type 1.b

SUGGESTION
In teaching reading and understanding the
teacher needs first to make the learners able to
recognize what
an NP is. Then he can train the learners to interpret
very simple English NPs and later on proceed to
more difficult ones.
To obtain very simple English NPs, he
should be able to select very simple reading texts.
Simple here means not only in its content and
vocabulary, but also in its structures. Then ask
the learners to identify the NPs. Break up the text
into short sentences and underline the NPs. Before
the students begin to interpret the whole sentences,

The more we scrutinize the different

they should begin to interpret the NPs first and the

grammatical systems between the English and

sentences, and finally go back again to the whole

Indonesian NPs, the more difficulties we can

passage. The last part is meant to make the

predict that may be encountered by the Indonesian

learners able to recognize that a passage consists

learners learning English and we can also know that

of many smaller units. This is very important for

the more complicated the English NPs, the more

beginners.

difficulties
the learners will have.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jackson, Howard. 1976. Contrastive Linguistics
What Is It?. ITL 32. 1-32.
Roberts, Paul. 1956. Patterns of English.
New York: Harcourt, Brace & World.

Zabrocki,

Tadeusz.

1980.

Theoritical

Contrastive

Studies:

Some

Methodological

Remarks.

Amsterdam:

John Benjamin BV.

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