Language focus 2

Classifiers
Word order
Superlative language

Classifiers

Classifiers are used in Indonesian in front of nouns to indicate how many of that noun there are. Students can find them initially confusing, as there is no similar structure in English.

Give students the Gunung api focus sheet (in Word or PDF), and ask students to look closely at the Pintu Indonesia texts on volcanoes. As a class discuss students' work on classifiers, as well as reflecting on 'gunung api' as an Indonesian cultural icon. NB: Suggested questions for reflection and further discussion are available in the Reflection section.

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Word order

Remind students of the Indonesian language structure for describing:

• the noun (object) comes first, then any adjectives
• yang is optional, but sounds better if there is more than one adjective
• use of -nya as a suffix to mean ‘its’, followed by an adjective. For example bulunya = its hair; lengannya = its’ arms.

Challenge students to find examples of these language structures in the Pintu Indonesia entry for the orangutan, as well as other entries.

Task ideas

Have students write their own description , or complete a whole 'data-data' sheet of an endangered animal from Australia or Indonesia, like that shown for the orangutan in Pintu Indonesia. Some research would be involved to find out necessary information.

Students could also play some games around describing and identifying animals. For example:

• write and read out loud an animal description for class mates. Others guess the creature.
• Play a version of 'celebrity heads' where three students sit in front of the class, each wearing a 'hat' with a picture / name of an animal on it. They must ask questions of the audience to identify the animal. For example: Binatang ini berwarna apa? Berapa kaki binatang ini? Apakah binatang ini besar atau kecil? Ekor binatang ini panjang atau pendek?
   

See the Reflection section for discussion of the orangutan as an Indonesian cultural icon.

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Superlative language

The language focus here is on superlative language. In English we often add the '-est' suffix (for example 'largest', highest') or we put the qualifying word 'most' in front of the adjective ('the most expensive', 'the most gorgeous'.)

In Indonesian, one function of the ter- prefix is to mean ‘the most’. ('terbesar' means ‘biggest’). Another way is to put the qualifying word 'paling' ('paling banyak' means the most, at most; 'yang paling baik' means the best).

Ask students to suggest the language forms used in English to say something is 'the most ...' and explain that this is the superlative form. Have students work through the superlative focus sheet (in Word or PDF). Discuss as a class.

See the Reflection section for some discussion of the importance of places of worship / sacred places to a culture.

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