pe-
Sound Changes
Like prefix me- a number of sound changes occur when prefix pe- is combined with root words in order to facilitate a smooth transition in pronunciation. What the sound will be in a particular word depends on the first sound of the root word following the prefix.
| First Letter | Inflection | Root Word | Prefix Pe- | Meaning |
| l m ny r w |
pe + root | lupa musik nyanyi rusak waris |
pelupa pemusik penyanyi perusak pewaris |
forgetful person musician singer vandal heir |
| Vowel g h |
pe + ng + root | uji gali hapus |
penguji penggali penghapus |
examiner digger eraser |
| c d j |
pe + n + root | cuci didik jual |
pencuci pendidik penjual |
washer teacher/educator seller |
| b f |
pe + m + root | buat fitnah |
pembuat pemfitnah |
maker detractor |
| p | pe + m + drop ‘p’ + root | pahat | pemahat | sculpture, carver |
| k | pe + ng + drop the ‘k’ + root | karang | pengarang | author, writer, composer |
| t | pe + n + drop the ‘t’ + root | tulis tari |
penulis penari |
writer dancer |
| s | pe + ny + drop the ’s’ + root | sapu | penyapu | sweeper |
Function
The prefix pe- is used to show the doer/person who does the action; someone who is fond of doing; it can be used to explain the character of the person; It can also form a noun that explain what that noun does.
| Roots | Prefix pe- | Meaning | Function |
| nyanyi tulis |
penyanyi penulis |
singer writer |
the doer/person who does the action |
| cetak garis hapus |
(mesin)pencetak penggaris penghapus |
printer ruler eraser |
to inanimate objects, with which the action is performed |
| marah malu |
pemarah pemalu |
ill tempered shy person |
to explain the character of the person |
| balap | pembalap | racer | someone who is fond of doing |
| main
tenis |
pemain pemain bola petenis |
player footballer tennis palyer |
to refer to sporting activities |
| diri | pendiri | founder | |
| cinta (men)cinta |
pecinta pencinta |
lover lover |
In few cases both have the same meaning. |
| tunjuk tunjuk |
penunjuk petunjuk |
indicator instructions, indication |
In this case each has different meaning. |
| jabat jabat |
penjabat(menteri) pejabat |
acting (minister) official |
Both have different meaning which are not related to actor and patient. |
Reference:
Indonesian: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge Grammars) by James Neil Sneddon(Dec 26, 1996)
Indonesian Reference Grammar, by James Neil Sneddon, 1996
Understanding Indonesian Grammar: A Student’s Reference and Workbook by James Neil Sneddon (Mar 2008)
Indonesian Grammar Made Easy by Liaw Yock Fang(Times Learner – 1996)
