THE ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH WORDS BY HOKKIEN CHILDREN : A CASE STUDY AT PRIME ONE SCHOOL.

ABSTRACT

Sioaga, Juoila Elida. The Acquisition of English Words By HoWen Children: A Case
Study at Prime One School. Thesis, English Applied Lingusitics, Post Graduate Program,
State ofUniversity ofMedon, 2010.
This research deals with The Acquisition of English Words by Hoklden Children
at Prime One School. However, the acquisition in this study is not to be differentiated
with language learning as the focus of this study is to describe English words productions
by the subjects are to be observed in terms of the m.unber of grammatical words (closed
word class). and lexical words (open word class). This research will try to answer
whether Hokkien Children at the age of five can gain many vocabularies of English as
resean:bed by Jackson. In particular, this research will try to answer the following
problems: (1) What are lexical words of English acquired by Hokkien speaking children
at the age of five? (2) What are grammatical words of English acquired by Hokkien
speaking children at the age of five? (3) How do Hokkien speaking children at the age of
five produce the English lexical and grammatical words? And (4) What is the dominant
type of word that produced by Hookien speaking children at the age of five?
In order to answer the research problems, a qualitative research is conducted to
Hokkien speaking children who have not learned English before. They just get at the
school naturally. All English words production by the subjects are all videotaped and
some other written down in the diary. The findings indicate that the total number of

words is 402 grammatical words and 876 lexical words. In view of the research, the
following suggestion were made: (a) The length of time of the research should be longer
and there should be more research subjects (2) This research should be followed up to
Hokkien speaking children at other ages as 6,7,8 years in order to give more insights to as
how many words are to be expected from those ages and from certain period of English
learning and exposure (c) Further research study is to find out the accuracy percentage of
English production.

THE ACQUISITION OF EN(:;LISH WORDS BY HOKKIEN CHI LDREN:

A CASE STUDY AT PRIME ONE SCHOOL

By:

JUNITA ELIDA SINAGA
Registration Number: 082188330040
Submitted to the Jl:nglish Applied Linguistics Study Program
In Partial Fulfillment ofthe Ret}uinrnents for the Deg ee f
Magister Hmrmwiora


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m
PLIED LINGUISTIGS STUDY PROGRAM
POSTG RADUATE SCHOOL

2010

A THESIS
THE ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH WORDS BY HOKKIEN CHILDREN:
A CASE STUDY AT PRIME ONE SCHOOL

BY

JUNITA ELIDA SINAGA
Registration Number: 082188330040

This thesis was examined on September 2"d, 2010 by the Boa tl of Examiners


Approved by

Adviser Commissions

First Adviser

Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing, M.Pd.
NIP. 19610425 198601 2 001

Second Adviser

APPROVAL
This Thesis was examined on September 2nd, 2010 by Board of Examiners
Board of Examiners

Prof. Dr. Linee Sihombing, M.Pd.
NIP. 1961.0425 198601 2 001

Dr. Eddy Setia, M.Ed., TESP.
NIP. 195704121984031 001


Prof. D. P. Tampubolon, Ph. D.

Prof. Tina Mariany Arifin, M.A., Ph.D.
NIP. 19440302 196902 2 001

Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M.Pd.
NIP. 19590713 198601 1 001

Advisers' Statement

I certify that I have read this thesis and that, in my opinion it is fully adequate in
scope and quality as a Thesis for the Degree of Magister Humaniora.

Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing, M.Pd
First Adviser

I certify that I have read this thesis and that, in my opinion it is fully adequate in
scope and quality as a Thesis for the Degree of Magister Humaniora.


Second Adviser

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Praise to God Almighty, the Merciful and the Most Beneficial.
Now that this thesis is finally written in order to achieve the degree of Magister
Humaniora of the English Applied Linguistics Study Program at State University of
Medan. The researcher would like to extend her indebtedness to a number of people,
without whom the completion of this work has been impossible.
Firstly, Prof. Dr. Lince Sihombing, M. Pd., and Dr. Eddy Setia, M. Ed TESP., as
the first and second advisers, for their guidance, encouragement, kindness, and advise that
have greatly improved her rough draft.
.-_,._.
Secondly, Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M. Pd., as the Head of English Applied
Linguistics of the Postgraduate Program for his support, help, advice in finishing this
work. Her sincere thankfulness is given to all lecturers: Prof. D. P. Tampubolon, Ph. D.,
Prof. Dr. Busmin Gurning, M. Pd., and Prof. Tina Mariany Arifin, MA, Ph. D., as her
reviewers and examiners, tutors of English Applied Linguistics Department for
transferring their precious knowledge and experience. Her indebtedness is also given to
all staff of Postgraduate Program at the State University of Medan for their kind service

during her study.
Finally, her deepest appreciation goes out to those closest to her heart, beloved
parents: D. Sinaga and R. E. Lumban Gaol. BA., brothers: Denny Julianto Magelhanes
Sinaga and wife Santy lin Maria Br. Siagian; Eko Augustinus Sinaga, STand one tha is
considered as sister Ema Juliana Aruan, SS. Thanks for your love, encouragement and

Last but not least, her humble gratitude also goes to the Chief of Prime One
School Fowtdation: Mr. Amrin Susilo Halim and Mam Yanti; Centre Director of Prime
One School: Ms. Fauziah Chairani Halim Lubis, SS, M.Hum; the Principle and VicePrinciple of Pre-School Department of Prime One School: Ms. Rosmina Salim, BBA and
Ms. Susan Purba, SS. Moreover her appreciation is given to Principle of Elementary
Department of Prime One School: Ms. Meliana, SE; Vice-Principles of Elementary
Department of Prime One School: Ms. Rofina Robin and Ms. Wini, and all staff and
teacher of Prime One School for their time, good cooperation and kindness during
collecting the data. A sincere thankfulness also goes to her great and lovely St

ents

(Kindcigarten 2 - Whale and Elementary I - Mississippi) for their mental support and .
comfortable friendship.
The writer must admit that the content of this thesis is still far from being perfect.

but she warmly welcome any constructive ideas and critics that will improved the quality
of the thesis. She also hoped this thesis would be useful for those who read it, especially
majoring in English.

z

Medan, September 20011 , 2010

The Writer,

?

Junita Elida Sinaga
Registration Number: 082188330040

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................
ABSTRACT •. . ••• .. .... ............... ...... •. . ... . ............ .... . •. ... ..•. •• ..... .

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..........................................................

iv

LIST OFTABLES ..................................................................
LIST OF APPENDICES ... .. ................. ........ ...... ............ ...... ......

vii

CHAYfER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................... .

1.1 Tbe Background ofthe Study .............................. .
1.2 The Focus of the Study ..................................... ..
1.3 Tbe Research Problems .................................... ..
1.4 The Objective ofthe Study ................................ ..

1.5 Tbe Scope of the Study ......................................... .
1.6 The Significance of the Study ................................ .

CHAYfER ll: REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................

6

2.1 Language Acquisition ..........................................
2.2 Hokkieo as Regional Language............................. .
2.3 Tbe Acquisition of Early English Words by the Subjects
2.4 Types of Words ................................................ .
2.4.1 Lexical Words ..........................................
2.4.2 Grammatical Words ................................ .

CHAPTER ill: RESEARCH METHOD ... .................. ...................

0

3.1 Research Design .............................................
3.2 The Subject of the Study ...................................

3.3 Tbe Data of the Study ........................ ........ .....
.4 The Instrument for Collecting the Data ................
3.5 The Technique of Data Collecting.........................
3:-6 The echnique of Data Aoa~si.

16
17
17
18
18
28

iv

CHAPTERIV:DATAANALYSISANDFINDINGS •...•.....•....•.......
4.1 The Data ..••..... ....••.... ..•..... ...........................
4.2 Tbe Data Analysis •••..• ...•.. ... ...•• ••..•.••.•••• ..• ••. .•.
4.2.1 Lexical Words of English Acquired by
Hokkien Speaking Children.........................
4.2.2Grammatical Words of English Acquired by

Hokkien Speaking Childrea ••••.•••.•.•••••••••••. ·4.2.3The way do Hokkien Speaking Children
Acquired Lexical and Grammatical Words ••.
4.4.4Tbe Dominaat Type of Words.....................
4.3 The Findings •.••••••.••••••••••••••••••••.••••..•..•.••••••-...
4.4 Discussions •• •• •••••..•.•••••.••...•. ••••• .• ••. ••••••••..••. .. •
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusion ••••••••••••••••••••••.•••.•.•.••.•.•..•.•••••••••.•
5.2 Suggestion ••••.••..••.•.•••••..•..•• ~ ••••••.••.•..•••..•••.••••
REFERENCES

.........•.•.•..•.•....•..•..•...•......•.•........•..•.•...•...•...•

APPENDIX

v

26
29
30
30

56
76
76
79
81

LIST OFT ABLES

Table

Page

Table I All Lexical Words

53

Table 2 All Grammatical Words Uttered by Subjects

75

Table 3 Numbers ofLexical Words of English
Uttered by All Subjects in each place ............................•.. . .. . ...
Table 4 Number of Grammatical Words of English
Uttered by All Subjects in each place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77
Table 5 Acquired Lexical and Grammatical Words of English
Uttered by Children at the age offive at Prime One School . . . . . . . . .. 78

>

vi

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix
I

Page

Subjects .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . .. ••. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ... . 88

vii

CHAPTERV
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

To conclUde the observation that has been conducted on the study, the researcher
has come to the following conclusions:
There are 432 English lexical words that produced by all subjects. Adrian Arif
ljuarsa has produced 120 English grammatical words (32.14%) rathef than the
other subjects. He was followed by Vanness Wartono with 114 English
grammatical words (28.40"/o). Than, Angellyn Khosashi with 109
grammatical words (20.71%) and last is Nathania Yossel
English grammatical words (1929%).
2.

There are 69 English grammatical words that produced by all subjects. Adrian
Arif Tjuarsa has produced 21 English lexical words (26.87%) rather than the
other subjects. -He was followed by Angellyn Khosashi with 18
grammatical words (25.83%). Than, Vanness Wartono with 16
grammatical words (23.83%) and last is Nathania Yossel who acquired I
English grammatical words (23.45%).
lbe total number of both grammatical and lexical words which have been
acquired by the subjects is 501. These words contained most based o

what

Jackson (2008) have said in previous chapter. The words included the repetition
words. It could be produced by other subjects in different occasion.
4

To sum up the dominant type of English words that have been produced by all

84

5.2 SUGGESTIONS

In view of the research conducted on the English acquisition by Hokkien native
children at the age of five years, the following suggestions are put forward.
I. This research should be followed up in the same way to Indonesian speaking

children at the other age such as 6,7,8 or other aged so that from the studies we
can fiiid out more insights such as how many words an Hokkien speaking
children can aequire at certain age and cenain period of English learning or

exposures.
2. This study is just a small research, and the results might be different if

~§! 3.

conducted to other subjects in other area. Therefore, a more profound esearch
can be undertaken to enrich the fuels about language acquisition among

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Hokkien children.
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influence children ability to produce words and speech. This is anticipation for
some parents who worried about their children.

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