The Unique Vowel Play for Negative Quantifier in Javanese Reduplication

Abstract

Native speakers of a given language, including Javanese, may not be aware of their detail language system. This is due to the fact that they are able to use their first language through natural process of language transmission from care givers and members of community. Furthermore, it seems that they are given a talent to produce "strange" expressions automatically, for instances, mloka-mlaku vs. mlaku-mlaku, ngguya-ngguyu vs. ngguyu-ngguyu. This paper is intended to reveal how the reduplication system for "negative" quantifier works in Javanese language when phonology is taken into account. Descriptive qualitative is applied with documentation and interview. The findings suggest that the occurrence of reduplication system for "negative" quantifier is predictable. Firstly, the words are reflected regressively from the source of the word. Secondly, the nucleus of the last syllable must be [a] vowel as the default. Thirdly, the nucleus of the first syllable is kept as it is, except [a] vowel. Whenever [a] is the nucleus of the first syllable, it is changed into [o] vowel. Thus, these predictable phonological mechanisms allow Javanese native speakers produce "negative" quantifiers correctly, yet unconsciously.