Sundanese verbal groups: Towards a systemic functional linguistic description

Abstract

This paper focuses on the description of verbal groups in Sundanese, a Malayo-Polynesian language of West Java, Indonesia, from a Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) perspective. Verbal groups in Sundanese are described in relation to their functions in the clause, their interactions with other systemic options at group rank, and their morphology at word rank. It begins by reviewing relevant descriptions of Sundanese verbs. Drawing on SFL theory, verbal groups are then interpreted in relation to their co-textual (discourse semantics) and contextual (register and genre) features. In particular, the paper reveals the contribution of verbal groups to interpersonal and experiential meanings at clause rank. Interpersonally, verbal groups in Sundanese play a role in the negotiation of information and goods-and-services, realise the mood, modality and polarity systems implicated in the tenor of discourse within the context. Experientially, they contribute to the expression of different types of experience in ideational discourse semantics, providing resources for construing the events and states implicated in the field of discourse within context.