Predicate in Semantic
INTRODUCTION
Predicate is an important part in a sentence. In syntax, it is clear that
predicate is generally understood to be realized as a verb. Predicate is needed
as grammatical structure in language. As Fillmore (1968: 23) says in “The Case
For Case” that the basic structure of sentences, which is called proposition,
is a tenseless set of relationship involving verbs and nouns. Here, a verb takes
a role as indication in forming a sentence.
In grammatical rule, predicate has a function to define the position of
an object or some relation between two or more objects. The objects concerning
which a predicate asserts something are the arguments of that predicate. Concerning
to the position of predicate in structure and semantics, he (ibid, 32) also states:
Verbs are subclassified according to the case environments which accept
them, and the semantic characterizations of verbs relate them either to
specific case elements in the environment or to elements containing features
(such as animateness) introduced as obligatory accompaniments of particular
cases.
It means that
syntax and semantic can not be separated in a sentence because the two are
interrelated. The meaning of a sentence, which is semantics, has the account of
different form of the ‘same’ word (cat-cats, connect-connecting-connected, etc)
which is ruled in syntax. In this case, while semantics deals with meaning,
syntax deals with structure of meaning.
Soekemi (2000: 112) states that there is the basic type of sentence,
namely predicate and referring expression. Argument is a reflection of
referring expression. The use of predicate itself is to make the specific
relation with the arguments.
Predicate is any words or any
phrases that have any function of predicator. In semantics, predicator can be:
preposition, object or object phrase, adjective or adjective phrase, and noun
phrase.
This paper is started from the
definition of predicate and classification of predicate, semantic role as
argument, and a variety of predicator. Then, the theory will be applied by
analyzing the running text taken from the
Jakarta Post.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
PREDICATE
Predicate can be defined as a part
that has an important function to identify arguments in sentence, or describe
the referring expression in a particular situation.
According to Soekemi (2000: 25), “a
predicate is any word (sequence of words) which can function as the predicator
of a sentence”. In this case, predicator is as a central part of the analysis.
Predicate are classified into:
1. Zero-place
predicate: predicate that does not require some referent or argument in the
sentence. For example: It is raining. The verb “rain” does not name anything in
the subject “it”. The sentence has a subject, because English requires a
subject, but this subject does not correspond anything in the sentence.
2. One-place predicate: predicate that requires in one
arguments. Adjective usually one-place predicate, e.g.: happy, cool, etc. For
example: She is happy. “She” is an
argument and “happy” is one-place predicate which has the function as an
adjective. This sentence is intransitive verbs, or it can be called
one-argument predicate. Argument names an actor that carries out the action
(predicate). Predicates tell what an argument did.
3. Two-place predicate: a verb or predicate with two
arguments, namely as a subject and an object). For example: Jane teaches English. “Jane” is an argument
as a subject in a sentence; “teaches” is two-place predicate which has the
function as a verb; and “English” is an argument as an object in a sentence.
Predicate is as a link between one argument as a subject and another argument
as an object.
4. Three-place predicate: predicate with three
arguments.
For example: the museum is between
the church and the school. “The museum”, “the church”, and “the school” are
arguments; and “between” is a three-predicate which has the function as
preposition.
The degree of predicate or the
classification of predicate which have number of zero, one, two, or three of
arguments are required when the predicate used as predicator in utterance or
sentence. Therefore, predicate can be functioned as predicator. Then,
predicator becomes a central part of the analysis.
2.2. SEMANTIC ROLE
Semantic role is a part of sentence
in the basic type of semantic instead of predicate. Semantic role is an
argument which is played by referring expression. As Kreidler (1998: 68)
states, the arguments that accompany the predicate have different semantic
functions, or roles, in the proposition. Predicate has a function to identify the
role of argument in producing meaning.
Soekemi (2000: 113) divides the roles played by referring expression
called participant roles into:
- Agent: the person carrying out the action described. As example: the gardener in the gardener opened the gate
- Affected: the thing or the person, upon which the action is carried out. As example: the door in the gardener opened the door.
- Instrument: the thing by means of which the action is carried out. As example: the key in the gardener opened the gate with the key.
- Beneficiary: the person for whose benefit the action. As example: students in the gardener opened the gate for the students.
- Location: the place where the action described. As example: In campus in the gardener opened the gate for the students in the campus.
According to
Fromkin, Rodman, and Hyams (2003: 193-194) classify the thematic roles into:
- Agent, the one who performs an action.
For example: Joyce
ran.
- Theme, the one or thing that undergoes an action.
For example: Mary found the puppy.
- Location, the place where an action happens.
For example: It rains in Surabaya.
- Goal, The place to which an action originates
For example: He flew from Singapore to Surabaya.
- Instrument, the means by which an action is performed.
For example: Freddie cuts hair with
a razor.
- Experiencer, one who perceives something.
For example: Ruli
heard Beni playing the guitar.
- Causative, a natural force that causes a change.
For example: The
wind damaged the roof.
- Possessor, one who has something.
For example: The tail of the dog wagged furiously.
A VARIETY OF PREDICATES
According
to Kreidler (1998: 251), there are three groups of predicates, namely:
1. Attitudinal
predicates: express mental.
It means that people have about their past experiences and possible
future and general feelings about likes, dislikes and preferences. Attitudinal
predicate is a verb or adjective that expresses the feelings of the subject.
For example: I hate this music
“Hate” is kind of expression of dislikes to something.
2. Enabling and preventing: express actions that
cause something to be done, enables someone to act, or prevents someone from
acting.
An enabling predicate is a verb or an adjective which tells that the
following predication is made possible. For example: we allowed the car to pass. “Allowed” is an enabling predicate by using
of authority. The subject “we” makes possible for something (“car”) to do
something (“pass”).
A preventing predicate is a verb which states that an agent causes the
non-occurrence of the predication. For example: I kept the ball from rolling away. “Kept” is a preventing predicate
by using of effort.
3. Perceptual
predicates: express the sensations.
It is also called “sensory verbs”, express the sensations through five
hands. For example: Alice
heard a funny song. “Heard” is a
perceptual predicate by using sensory of ear.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
ANALYSIS
By
analyzing the data which is taken from The
Jakarta Post, is expected more understand about the participant role in
semantics.
1.
Speculation rises
about William’s future plans. “Speculation” is an argument which has the
position of subject. In the role of argument, “speculation” is a role of
affected because it undergoes a change in an event. “Rises” is a predicate which
is telling of an event as a changing in the condition of an argument. This
sentence is one-place predicate because the verb intransitive. In this case,
this sentence also can be written as “speculation rises (about William’s future
plans)”.
2.
I’m speaking
to every individual one of you when I say you are very special people. “I” is a
subject of an argument which has the role function of agent. “Speak” is a verb
in predicate. It is one-place predicate because the verb “speak” is
intransitive. In this case, a predicate needs an object or not. “Every
individual one of you” becomes an affected in a role of argument. “When I say you are very special people” has
the function of complement in the sentence.
3.
I love the
uniform. “I” is a subject of an argument which has the function as an agent.
“Love” is a verb of predicate which needs an object. It is two-place predicate
because there are two arguments, “I” and “the uniform”. “Love” is a kind of
expression of preferences on something, called attitudinal predicate. “The
uniform” as an object has the role function of affected.
4.
It is so sexy.
“It” here has referent of “the uniform” in the previous sentence. “It” is a
subject which has the role function of theme. “So sexy” is an adjective in the
position of one-place predicate because the verb in this sentence is
intransitive.
5.
This is a
milestone day. “This” is a subject that does not name anything. Therefore,
the predicate is categorized as zero-place predicate even though the sentence
has a subject. “A milestone day” is a predicate which has the function of noun
in the sentence.
6.
The queen inspected
all the new cadets. “The queen” is an agent which has the position of a subject
in the sentence. “The queen” is the doer who acts something. “Inspected” is a
predicate of verb which is categorized as two-place predicate because this
sentence has two arguments. “All the new cadets” becomes affected in a role of
the argument.
DISCUSSION
In the discussion, the tree diagram will
be drawn to get the summary from the analysis.
1.
Argument Predicate
Affected event
Speculation rises
about William’s future plans.
2. Argument Predicate Argument
Agent verb Affected
I speak every individual one of you
3. Argument Predicate Argument
Agent Verb Affected
I love the
uniform
4. Argument Predicate
Theme Verb
It so sexy
5. Predicate
Verb
A milestone day
6. Argument Predicate Argument
Agent Verb Affected
The queen inspected
all the new cadets
From the tree diagrams above, the
composition with the arguments an predicate in the six sentences are indicated
in abbreviated form in order to get more understanding about predicate in
semantics.
After making the tree diagram,
the summary can be drawn that the sentence have and predicate. Subject here is
an argument which has many functions. Argument is as an affected if the
argument undergoes a change in an event Argument is also as an agent which has
the function of the doer in the sentence. Therefore, agent needs an object as
the affected of the action. Then, argument is as a theme constitutes the one or
thing that undergoes an action. Another part of the sentence is predicate to
indicate the action (verb), event (verb), or adjective. Predicate as the action
is a verb. It usually categorized into two-place predicate because of two
arguments in a sentence. In this case, predicate needs the object to affect
something. An object as the sufferer immediately following a main verb in
predicate is often identified by the role of affected in the sentence. Predicate
as an event does not need an object because the verb is intransitive in a
sentence. Therefore, this predicate is categorized into one-place predicate
because of one argument in the sentence. Then, predicate as an adjective is to
describe on something whether it is sexy. There is also predicate that is
categorized into zero-place predicate. This predicate does not require referent
even though there is a subject that does name anything.
Conclusion
Predicate is often found in
utterance either in speaking or writing. Predicate is one of basic part in
semantics that associates with referring expression or argument. Predicate has
the function to identify a role that argument has in particular situation of
the sentence. Predicate can be preposition, object or object phrase, adjective
or adjective phrase, and noun phrase. There are four degrees in predication,
namely zero-place predicate, one-place predicate, two-place predicate and three
predicate. The degrees of predicate have a function to identify numbering of
argument. There are also three varieties of predicate, namely attitudinal
predicates, enabling and preventing predicates, and perceptual predicates.
Those varieties are kinds of expression that is used in predicate.
The grammatical positions which consist of subject, object, and
complement are identified as the position in the sentence. Therefore, semantics
and syntax can not be separated each other. In other words, they have
relationship between each other.
REFERENCES
Fillmore, Charles J. 1998. “The case for case”, in E. Bach and R.
Harms, eds, Universals in Linguistic
theory (New York:
Holt, Rinehart and Winston), 1-88.
Fromkin,
Victoria, Robert Rodman, Nina
Hyams. 2003. An Introduction to Language.
Seventh Edition. USA.
Kreidler. Charless W. 1998. Introducing English Semantics. London.
Soekemi, Kem. 2000. Semantics A Work Book Second Edition. Surabaya:
UNESA University Press.
The Jakarta
Post, December 20th, 2006
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