Javanese Base-Word Conjugation Outline

Javanese has a system where everything is formed from a baseword and the derivative words are the ones used in the sentences. And sometimes, the first derivative word can be a second baseword itself and forms many second derivative words, and so on. This is why, understanding both the outline and the detail of this system is the key of understanding how Javanese works and how to use it productively. Every baseword class can form all derivative word classes. But, keep in mind that different baseword classes behave differently on the affix used. Hence, in the detailed explanation in the different blog article, we will see how to use correct affixes to produce derivative words we need from the baseword we have.

Now, we will see an example of the conjugation of a sample baseword into its derivatives.

Baseword: 

Jupuk (transitive verb class)

Derivatives:

Commands (Imperatives):

Jupuk

Añjupuka

Jupukên

Jupukana

Jupukna

Irrealis:

Añjupuka

Dwiowah:

Jujupuk

Jupuk-jupuk

Active verbs:

Añjupuk

Añjupuki

Añjupukake

Passive I verbs (actor):

Dijupuk

Dijupuki

Dijupukake

Passive II verbs (unknown actor):

Kajupuk

Kajupukan

Kajupukake

Adjectives:

Ajupuk

Ajupukan

Jupukjati

Tanjupuk

Añjupukên

Kañjupukên

Kamijupukên

Kumajupuk

Kapijupuk

Adverbs:

Kanthi + Adjectives

Nouns:

Jupukan

Pajupuk

Pijupuk

Pañjupuk

Piñjupuk

Pajupukan

Pinijupuk

Old constructions:

Jumupuk

Jinupuk

Jinujupukan

Jupuk-jinupuk

Pakajupuk

Makajupuk

Pinakajupuk

Others:

Orajupuk (angorajupuk, etc.)

Balijupuk (ambalijupuk, etc.)

Orabalijupuk (angorabalijupuk, etc.)

Bisajupuk (angbisajupuk, etc.)

Orabisajupuk (angorabisajupuk, etc.)

Note:

1) Some affixes like pra- is not displayed because it usually creates a whole new baseword with different meaning. Unless, for Pra + numbers.

2) Affixes like pra-an is limited in use. Thus, it can not be used in just every baseword.

3) Javanese has 3 grammatical Moods: Imperative, Irrealis, and Indicative. Irrealis can be used for subjunctive, etc.

4) Dwiowah words are always second basewords. So, they will have their own (second) derivatives as well.

5) Old Constructions are derivatives using old or archaic affixes. They are still in use from time to time.

This way, we can see through mapping how many derivatives can be formed by a baseword both generally and for each specific class. And, we can understand how important baseword-affix system in Javanese is, and what we need to form derivatives we would like to use each time through this system.