2. Causative
The term ‘causative’ refers to one of word-formations which is a group of verbs including some of transitive verb, intransitive verb, and auxiliary verbs that
indicate the underlying structure of ‘cause’ towards something implicitly or explicitly Kastovsky, 1973 : 256. Causative verbs involve an agent who does such an action to
cause another agent to do an action as the agent intended Celce-Murcia, Marianne and Larsen Freeman, 1999: 653, or to cause another thing to produce a change from
its preceding position or situation. Therefore, the involvement of two or more people in causative construction is divided into two: the causer and the causee
Stefanowitsch, 2001: 35. The causer is the entity, animate or inanimate, that brings about the caused
event or generally known as a subject or an agent Gilquin, 2003: 127. The causee is the opposite which is the entity that is changed or influenced by the causer and carries
out the effect of the caused event which is usually has the function as the object Gilquin, 2003: 127. The causative construction or the “linguistic organization of
causation construal” will be referred to as causativity Stefanowitsch, 2001: 11. There are four types of complementation of causatives explained by
Stefanowitsch 2001: 5 : a
Causative verbs followed by bare infinitive after the causee, e.g. make, have
b
Causative verbs followed by to-infinitive after the causee, e.g. force, get,
drive, move.
c
Causative verbs followed by present participle after the causee, e.g. send,
leave. d
Causative verbs followed by to-present participle after the causee, e.g. set. a.
Meaning and Function
Each causative verb of make, have, get has different interpretation though their meanings are similar. The function of those causative verbs is to show the
process where X the causer causes Y the causee to do something Azar, 1999: 339.
I made my little sister cook the noodle. I had my little sister cook the noodle.
I got my little sister to cook the noodle. The sentences above carry different meaning in interpretation. In the
examples, the three verbs present a process where X causes Y to perform an action that X intended. Nonetheless, the three sentences have different interpretation of
meaning as what is described by Azar 1999: 339. The following table shows the different meanings and interpretations based on the examples above,
Table 2.1 The Meanings of Make, Have, and Get Causatives
Make Interpretation
X had ordered Y to cook the noodle that Y could not refuse the order.
Meaning
It uses force to ask the causee to do what the causer intends.
Have Interpretation
X requests Y to cook the noodle. X’s request probably occurs because Y habitually does the action.
Meaning
It suggests a routine hiring as between costumer and bussiness person.
Get Interpretation X managed to persuade Y to cook the noodle.
Meaning It indicates that persuasion by the causer is involved.