From the data above, if the word ‘enjoy and ‘accept’ are attached by suffix – able, they become ‘enjoyable’ and ‘acceptable’ that indicate the meaning of ‘it can
be done’ from what is mentioned in the base form. It is shown that ‘enjoyable indicates the meaning of ‘can be done’, while ‘acceptable indicates the meaning of
‘can be accepted’.
5.1.11 Suffix –al
a. Form • It is found that suffix –al can be attached to the base which is ended by vowel
phoneme. e.g: refuse
+ -al Æ refusal • It is found that suffix –al can be attached to the base which is ended with
consonant phoneme. e.g.:
person +
-al Æ personal
optic +
-al Æ optical
• It is found that suffix –al can not be attached to the base which is ended with semivowel phoneme.
• It is found that suffix –al can not be attached to the base which is ended with diphthong phoneme.
• It is found that suffix –al can not be attached to the base which is ended with cluster phoneme.
From the data above, it can be seen that suffix –al can be attached to the base which is ended by vowel and consonant phoneme.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
b. Distribution Suffix –al may be attached to the base as follows:
• Noun e.g.:
person n +
-al Æ personal
adj optic n
+ -al
Æ optical adj
From the data above, it can be seen that suffix –al can be attached to the base of noun. The word ‘person’ and ‘optic’ are included in noun. If suffix –al is
attached to them, they become ‘personal’ and ‘optical’.
c. Function The function of suffix –al may be described as follows:
• To form adjective from noun e.g.:
option n +
-al Æ optional
adj person n
+ -al
Æ personal adj
• Does not change the word class when it is attached to adjective. e.g.:
optic adj +
-al Æ optical
adj • To form noun from verb
e.g.: refuse v +
-al Æ refusal n
From the data above, there are two functions of suffix –al. The word ‘option’ and ‘person’ are included in noun; if suffix –al is attached to them, they
become ‘optional’ and ‘personal’ that are included in adjective. While, the word ‘refuse’ is included in verb; if suffix –al is attached to it, it becomes ‘refusal’ that
is included in noun. But, it is different if suffix –al is attached to the base of adjective. It will not change the name of word class. It can be seen from the word
Universitas Sumatera Utara
‘optic’. If suffix –al is attached to it, it becomes ‘optical’ that is included in adjective.
d. Meaning Suffix -al may indicate the meaning of ‘affixation of its object’ of what is
mentioned in the base form e.g.
option +
-al Æ
optional ‘that maybe chosen or not’ person
+ -al
Æ personal ‘belonging to a particular
person’ From the data above, it can be seen that if suffix –al is attached to the word
‘option’, it becomes ‘optional’ that indicates the meaning of ‘maybe chosen or not’. While, if suffix –al is attached to the word ‘person’, it becomes ‘personal’
that indicates the meaning of ‘belonging to a particular person’.
5.1.12 Suffix –age
