First Language Interference Translation

19 Wardiman, Jahur, and Djusma 2008 note that the social function of descriptive text is to describe a particular person, place or thing p. 26. Thus, from those expert statements, it can be sorted out that descriptive text aims to describe a particular person, place, or thing using senses to create vivid images in the reader’s mind. Since the descriptive text deals with describing thing, place, or person, present tense is inevitable to use. Wardiman et al. 2008 say that the language features used in descriptive text is the simple present tense p. 26. Azar 1992 say, “The simple present expresses general statement of facts and timeless truths” p. 13. It means that the simple present is used when something was true in the present, past, and will be true in the future. Beside that, Azar 1992 states, “The simple present is used to express habitual or everyday activities” p. 13. According to Azar 1992, simple present tense basic patterns are “Subject + V1 or V1ses” and “Subject + amisare”. The examples of those are “My dog has four legs” and “My dog is a pet animal”. Meanwhile the negative forms of simple present tense are “Subject + don’tdoesn’t” and “Subject + amisare + not”. The examples of the negative forms of simple present tense are “My dog doesn’t eat chocolate” and “My dog is a wild animal”. Hammond 1992, and Wardiman et al. 2008 state the same theory related to generic structure of descriptive text. Both Hammond 1992 and Wardiman et al. 2008 claim that there are two main parts in descriptive text. Those are the identification and the description. In identification, the phenomenon 20 to be described is identified, while in description, the phenomenon is described by parts, qualities, and characteristics.

6. Curriculum 2006

Based on curriculum 2006, descriptive text belongs to one of the compulsory English materials for the tenth grade students of Senior High School. It is evidently noted in the twelfth Standar Kompetensi, and Kompetensi Dasar number 12.2. The more detailed depiction of the curriculum related to descriptive text is presented in table 2.1.1. Through the table 2.1.1, it is shown that Kompetensi Dasar number 12 is dealing with writing descriptive text, news item, and narrative text. However, in this study the researcher will solely deal with the students’ descriptive text writings. Table 2.1.1 Curriculum 2006 Containing Descriptive Text. Kompetensi Inti Kompetensi Dasar 12. Mengungkapkan makna dalam teks tulis fungsional pendek dan esei sederhana berbentuk narrative, descriptive dan news item dalam konteks kehidupan sehari hari . 12.2. Mengungkapkan makna dan langkah retorika dalam esei sederhana secara akurat, lancar, dan berterima dalam konteks kehidupan sehari-hari, dalam teks berbentuk narrative, descriptive, dan news item.