Marking System of Information Structure in Indonesian Language

Abstract

This study aims at describing the ways in marking information structure in Indonesian language. Based on the collected data it was found that the ways include the use of (1) definite markers, (2) demonstrative pronouns, (3) emphasis markers, (4) focusing adjuncts, and (5) the modification of syntactic structure. Definite marker in Indonesian language can be classified into clitic nya and particle si and sang. Indonesian language has two kinds of demonstrative pronouns, itu and ini. Those demonstrative pronouns have two functions: (1) used to give emphasis to nouns they follow, and (2) used to be subject or object of a sentence. Indonesian language also has emphasis markers; they are particle lah, kah, and pun. Particle lah is commonly used to give stress to focused words it attaches but particle kah which is normally attached to question words is used to give stress to the question words it attaches. However, when particle kah is added to subject or object of declarative sentence it may change the declarative into interrogative. Focusing adjuncts found in Indonesian language due to marking system of information structure are categorized into limiter and additive. The limiter includes hanya, cuma, and saja which have different position in a clause. The form hanya and cuma usually precedes verbs but saja always follows intransitive verbs and object of transitive verbs. Additive words used in regarding information structure are juga and pula. Meanwhile, the syntactic construction related to the information structure in Indonesian language is the construction of inversion.