CONSTRUCTION AND MEANING OF COMPOUND WORDS WITH JAPANESE LEXICON ATAMA

Abstract

This research focuses in analyzing the construction and meaning of compound words formed by the Japanese lexicon atama. Atama can be translated into head, hair, leader, mind, and intelligence. The data was collected from various Japanese official news websites likes Asahi Shinbun and NHK through the observation method dan note-taking technique. The data was analyzed using the identity method. The identity method was used to analyze the construction and meaning of Japanese compound nouns by using compound theory by Booij (2007), Akimoto (2001), and Katamba (1993).

The results of this research show that there are 11 compound words formed by the Japanese lexicon atama. It consists of two words of which atama appears first followed by different words. There are different types of combinations including compound nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Based on contextual meaning, it can be divided into two categories: endocentric, exocentric, and copulative meanings. Endosentric meaning includes words atamadekacchi, atamakabu, atamakazu, atamatsuki, atama-kin, and atamawari. Exocentric meanings include the words atamagonashi, atamadashi, atamagoshi, and atamauchi. Copulative meanings include atama-kabu.