Why there is sometimes (but not always) more than one possible root word for a meN-
form
The chart below shows you a number of words (most of them hypothetical, not-real-but-possible Indonesian) and shows what happens when you add meN- [look at columns A, B, and C] and when you try to figure out what are the possible roots for a given meN- form [look at columns C, D, and E].
A |
B you should : |
C so you have the meN- form: |
D which could come from: |
E meaning the root is: |
| unjuk | add meng- | mengunjuk | adding meng- to a word that starts with a vowel |
unjuk |
| kunjuk | drop k, add meng- | adding meng- after dropping initial k | kunjuk | |
| ngunjuk | add me- | adding me- to a word starting with ng | ngunjuk | |
| gunjuk | add meng- | menggunjuk | adding meng- to a word starting with g | gunjuk (and nothing else) |
| tunjuk | drop t, add men- | menunjuk | adding men- after dropping initial t | tunjuk |
| nunjuk | add me- | adding me- to a word starting with n | nunjuk | |
| junjuk | add men- | menjunjuk | adding men- to a word starting with j | junjuk (and nothing else) |
| punjuk | drop p, add mem- | memunjuk | adding mem- after dropping the initial p | punjuk |
| munjuk | add me- | adding me- to a word starting with m | munjuk | |
| bunjuk | add mem- | membunjuk | adding mem- to a word starting with b | bunjuk ( and nothing else) |
| sunjuk | drop s, add meny- | menyunjuk | adding meny- after dropping initial s | sunjuk |
| nyunjuk | add me- | adding me- to a word starting with ny | nyunjuk | |
| runjuk | add me- | merunjuk | adding me-to a word starting with r | runjuk (and nothing else) |