per-...-an (peristiwa)

Events and Processes with Per-...-an

Level 4

The per-...-an circumfix creates nouns that describe the result of an action or a field/domain. It is the formal counterpart to many ber- verbs.

How It Works

The per-...-an circumfix is a productive nominalizer in formal Malay. It serves four primary functions:

  • Event or Result: It names the abstract result of an action. For example, pertemuan (a meeting) is the result of the act of bertemu (to meet).
  • Place or Location: It indicates a specific place where an action occurs. For example, perhentian (a stop) from henti (stop) or perpustakaan (library) from pustaka (book/archive).
  • Institutional Domain/Collective: It defines a specific sector, industry, or a collection of items. For example, perikanan (fishery) refers to the entire industry related to ikan (fish).
  • Abstract Concepts: It turns roots into formal abstract nouns, such as perbezaan (difference) from beza (different).

Morphological Rules:
1. Standard: The prefix remains per- for most roots (e.g., per- + tanya + -an = pertanyaan).
2. The 'r' and 'er' rule: The prefix per- simplifies to pe- in two specific cases:

  • When the root word begins with the letter 'r' (e.g., per- + rumah + -an = perumahan).
  • When the first syllable of the root contains the sound 'er' (e.g., per- + kerja + -an = pekerjaan; per- + ternak + -an = peternakan).

3. Irregularities: A few common words have unique changes, most notably ajar (teach/learn) which becomes pelajaran (lesson), where the 'r' becomes 'l'.

Examples (6)

  1. Bas itu berhenti di <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">perhentian</grammar> bas.

    The bus stopped at the bus stop.

    Word by Word: Bus that stop at stop-place bus.

    'Perhentian' (a stop/station) demonstrates the 'Place' function of the per-...-an circumfix, derived from the root 'henti' (stop).

  2. Kami sedang menunggu hasil <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">perundingan</grammar> itu.

    We are waiting for the result of those negotiations.

    Word by Word: We currently wait result negotiation that.

    'Perundingan' (negotiation) comes from 'berunding' (to negotiate) and represents the event or process result.

  3. Sektor <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">perhutanan</grammar> sangat penting bagi ekonomi negara.

    The forestry sector is very important for the country's economy.

    Word by Word: Sector forestry very important for economy country.

    'Perhutanan' (forestry) refers to the institutional domain or industry related to 'hutan' (forest).

  4. <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">Pertanyaan</grammar> anda akan dijawab sebentar lagi.

    Your question will be answered in a moment.

    Word by Word: Question you will be-answered moment more.

    'Pertanyaan' (question) is the abstract noun formed from the root 'tanya' (ask).

  5. <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">Pekerjaan</grammar> baharu itu sangat mencabar.

    That new job is very challenging.

    Word by Word: Job new that very challenging.

    'Pekerjaan' (job/occupation) follows the rule where 'per-' becomes 'pe-' because the first syllable of the root 'kerja' contains 'er'.

  6. Apakah <grammar expression="per-...-an event noun">perbezaan</grammar> antara kedua-dua buku ini?

    What is the difference between these two books?

    Word by Word: What difference between both-two book this?

    'Perbezaan' (difference) is an abstract noun derived from 'beza' (different).

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the 'r' entirely in spelling when the root starts with 'r'.

    Kawasan peumahan itu baru dibuka.
    Kawasan perumahan itu baru dibuka.

    When the prefix 'per-' is added to a root starting with 'r', the 'r' of the prefix is dropped (haplology), but the 'r' of the root remains. Therefore, the word is spelled with one 'r' (perumahan), not zero 'r's (peumahan).

  • Confusing per-...-an with peN-...-an for active processes.

    Perlantikan pengurus baru akan diadakan esok.
    Pelantikan pengurus baru akan diadakan esok.

    For the active act of appointing someone (from 'melantik'), use 'pelantikan' (peN-...-an). 'Per-...-an' is generally reserved for nouns related to 'ber-' verbs or institutional domains.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

per-...-an (peristiwa)Level 4Events and Processes with Per-...-an

Learn This First

To understand per-...-an as an event noun, learners must first be familiar with the ber- prefix, as per-...-an nouns typically derive from ber- verbs (e.g., berunding to perundingan). It is also helpful to recognize the per-...-an circumfix in its more concrete usage for places or fields before applying it to abstract processes.