Describing the Interference in the Toba Batak Language

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 96 views

Introduction

The Toba Batak language, spoken by the indigenous people of North Sumatra, Indonesia, has been experiencing interference from the Indonesian language system (BI) in the city of Medan. This phenomenon is a result of the influence of elements from the BI language system, leading to deviations from the standard form of the Toba Batak language. These deviations can be observed at various levels, including phonological, grammatical, and lexical. This dissertation aims to investigate the interference in the Toba Batak language and its relationship with bilingual speakers in Medan.

Research Objectives

This research has several objectives to be achieved, including:

Describing the Interference in the Toba Batak Language: This objective aims to identify the types of interference that occur in the Toba Batak language, including phonological, grammatical, and lexical aspects.
Assessing the Attitude of Toba Batak Speakers: This objective aims to evaluate the attitude of Toba Batak speakers towards their language, based on variables such as gender, age, language use, and the length of stay in Medan.
Analyzing the Relationship between Language Attitude and Interference: This objective aims to investigate the relationship between the attitude of Toba Batak speakers and the interference phenomenon that occurs in their language.
Describing the Use of Toba Batak Language in the Current Field Context: This objective aims to provide an overview of the use of the Toba Batak language in the current field context, including its status, functions, and domains.

Theoretical Framework

This study is based on three main theories:

Language Contact Theory (Languages in Contact) by Weinreich (1968): This theory explains that interference is the transfer of language elements into other languages, which often involves deviations from the rules and norms of language.
Language Attitude Theory (Language Attitudes) by Anderson (1974): This theory confirms that attitudes are a system of beliefs related to long-lasting language and affects a person's behavior towards that language.
Sociolinguistic Theory: This theory provides a framework for understanding the relationship between language and society, including the role of language in shaping social identity and relationships.

Methodology

This study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to collect and analyze data. The data collection methods include:

Passive Participatory Observation: This method involves observing the language use of Toba Batak speakers in their daily lives.
Questionnaire Filling: This method involves administering a questionnaire to Toba Batak speakers to gather information about their language use and attitudes.
Recording Techniques and Tests: This method involves recording the language use of Toba Batak speakers and administering language tests to assess their language proficiency.

Data Analysis

The data analysis involves two main stages:

Comparative Descriptive Analysis: This stage involves comparing the language use of Toba Batak speakers with the standard form of the language to identify deviations and interference.
Statistical Analysis: This stage involves testing the language attitude data using t-test and ANOVA to identify significant differences between groups.

Research Findings

The research findings show that the Toba Batak language interference in Medan is influenced by Indonesian in several aspects:

Phonological Aspects: Change and phoneme assimilation.
Morphological Aspects: Interference in the formation of nouns and verbs.
Syntactic Aspects: Deviations occur in the use of particles such as "ni" and "na", as well as in the topic of sentence topics such as "do", "ma", "pe", "dope", and "be".
Lexical Aspects: Interference is found in words, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

On the other hand, the attitude of the Toba Batak speaker in Medan looks positive about the use of their language. However, the analysis shows a significant negative relationship between language attitudes and interference, which means that if the attitude of Toba's Batak speakers is more positive, the phenomenon of interference in BT language will tend to decrease.

Conclusion

This dissertation provides in-depth insights on how the Toba Batak language adapts in the multilingual context in Medan, as well as the factors that influence the attitude of speakers towards their language. By understanding this interference and the attitude of the language that is formed, we can better appreciate the diversity of languages and increase efforts to preserve local culture and language in the midst of geographical distances and the influence of other languages. This research is important not only for linguistic studies, but also to understand the socio-cultural dynamics in the region.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Language Education: Language education programs should be implemented to promote the use of the Toba Batak language among young people.
Language Planning: Language planning should be conducted to promote the use of the Toba Batak language in official contexts.
Language Attitude: Efforts should be made to promote a positive attitude towards the Toba Batak language among speakers.
Language Documentation: Language documentation should be conducted to record the language use and attitudes of Toba Batak speakers.

By implementing these recommendations, we can promote the use and preservation of the Toba Batak language in Medan and contribute to the preservation of local culture and language in the region.

Q: What is the Toba Batak language?

A: The Toba Batak language is a language spoken by the indigenous people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is a member of the Austronesian language family and is spoken by approximately 1.5 million people in the region.

Q: What is the significance of the Toba Batak language in Medan City?

A: The Toba Batak language is an important part of the cultural heritage of the indigenous people of North Sumatra. In Medan City, the language is still spoken by many people, particularly in informal settings such as at home and in the community.

Q: What are the main characteristics of the Toba Batak language?

A: The Toba Batak language has several distinct characteristics, including:

Phonological features: The language has a unique set of sounds, including the use of the "ng" sound, which is not found in many other languages.
Grammatical features: The language has a complex system of grammatical markers, which are used to indicate the relationship between words in a sentence.
Lexical features: The language has a rich vocabulary, with many words that are unique to the language.

Q: What is language interference, and how does it affect the Toba Batak language?

A: Language interference refers to the influence of one language on another, resulting in changes to the form and structure of the language. In the case of the Toba Batak language, language interference from Indonesian has resulted in changes to the phonology, grammar, and vocabulary of the language.

Q: What are the implications of language interference for the Toba Batak language?

A: The implications of language interference for the Toba Batak language are significant. If left unchecked, language interference can lead to the loss of the language's unique characteristics and the eventual replacement of the language with Indonesian.

Q: What can be done to promote the use and preservation of the Toba Batak language?

A: Several steps can be taken to promote the use and preservation of the Toba Batak language, including:

Language education: Language education programs can be implemented to teach the Toba Batak language to young people.
Language planning: Language planning can be conducted to promote the use of the Toba Batak language in official contexts.
Language documentation: Language documentation can be conducted to record the language use and attitudes of Toba Batak speakers.
Community engagement: Community engagement can be promoted to raise awareness about the importance of the Toba Batak language and to encourage its use in everyday life.

Q: What is the role of language attitude in the preservation of the Toba Batak language?

A: Language attitude plays a significant role in the preservation of the Toba Batak language. A positive attitude towards the language can encourage its use and promote its preservation, while a negative attitude can lead to its decline.

Q: What are the benefits of preserving the Toba Batak language?

A: Preserving the Toba Batak language has several benefits, including:

Cultural preservation: Preserving the language helps to preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenous people of North Sumatra.
Language diversity: Preserving the language helps to maintain language diversity in the region.
Community identity: Preserving the language helps to maintain community identity and a sense of belonging.

Q: What can individuals do to support the preservation of the Toba Batak language?

A: Individuals can support the preservation of the Toba Batak language by:

Learning the language: Learning the language can help to promote its use and preservation.
Using the language: Using the language in everyday life can help to promote its use and preservation.
Supporting language education programs: Supporting language education programs can help to promote the use and preservation of the language.
Raising awareness: Raising awareness about the importance of the Toba Batak language can help to promote its use and preservation.