MEANINGS OF MODALVERBEN CONSTRUCTIONS IN GERMAN SENTENCES AND THEIR EQUIVALENCES IN INDONESIAN

Abstract

This study aims to describe: (1) Modalverben constructions in German sentences, (2) meanings of Modalverben in German sentences, and (3) equivalences of Modalverben in German sentences in Indonesian. This was a qualitative descriptive study. The objects of the research data were lingual units of modality constructions with objective and subjective meanings in both German phrases and sentences. The subjects of the data were modal verbs in German sentences. The data sources were the magazine NADI Indonesia Deutsch 2012 and 2013. The data were collected by means of reading and noting techniques and analyzed by means of the translational, equivalent, and distributional techniques. The data validity was assessed through the semantic validity and the inter-rater and intra-rater techniques. The research findings are as follows. (1) the objektive Modalverben construction in German is S - Inf+Modalverb and the subjektive Modalverben construction is S+Inf – Modalverb. (2) Meanings of objektive Modalverben are those which are loose in nature because because lexical elements of modality can reveal utterance contents while meanings of subjektive Modalverben are those outside lexical elements because they are affected by speakers’ subjective intentions. (3) The equivalences of objektive und subjektive Modalverben in German sentences in Indonesian are in the form Modalverb können appearing 107 times, equivalent to meanings of dapat, bisa, ada, menjadi, berhasil, mampu, meraih, terdiri, sungguh, and makna zero. Modalverb dürfen (8) are equivalent to meanings of dapat, boleh, and makna zero. Modalverb sollen (27) are equivalent to meanings of harus, akan, bisa, seharusnya, perlu, dan makna zero. Modalverb wollen (3) are equivalent to meanings of ingin, terus terang, and makna zero. Modalverb müssen (31) are equivalent to meanings of harus, dapat, bisa, and makna zero. Modalverb möchten (16) are equivalent to meanings of ingin, berminat, perlu, and makna zero.