Linguistic Assimilation as the Toba Batak’s Natural Resources

Lilis Handayani Napitupulu

, Robert Sibarani

and Namsyah Hot Hasibuan

Student of Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North Sumatra,

Indonesia

Professor of Anthropolinguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North

Sumatra, Indonesia

Doctor of Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Keywords: Linguistic assimilation, Toba Batak, natural resources

Abstract: This paper describes the linguistic assimilation as the Toba Batak’s Natural Resources by Toba Batak

people that live in Sitoluama Village and Hinalang Bagasan Village, Toba Samosir district, North Sumatera,

Indonesia. It aims at (1) finding linguistic assimilation as the Toba Batak’s natural resources phonemically

and phonetically and (2) contributing to the development of the theory of language assimilation. This

research is conducted by qualitative design from the viewpoints of phonology and generative morphology

approach.

1 INTRODUCTION

Each language has a set of rules in its words or

sounds. Words or sounds used in a language will

show the specificity of the language of the area, such

as Toba Batak language that has the same meaning

of vocabulary with the vocabulary in the language of

Indonesia, but the way its use or its structure in a

sentence will be different, although the meaning and

the purpose is the same. Toba Batak is the local

language used by Batak tribe in their daily life as a

means of communication, especially in North

Sumatera, Indonesia. Toba Batak is one of the

Austronesian languages and also is part of other

Batak, such as Karo Batak, Simalungun Batak,

Pakpak-Dairi Batak, and Angkola-Mandailing Batak

(Sibarani, 1997). Nowadays, Toba Batak language is

getting faded because it is rarely used by Toba Batak

people as language for everyday communication

(Sibarani, 2017).

The difference in the ways of life as well as the

structure of vocabulary or sound in a sentence it

could just happen to nouns, verbs, adjectives, and

assimilation that is strongly related to Toba Batak

language. Assimilation is the process in which

sounds become identical or more alike under the

influence of a third sound or that of one upon the

other. It may occur at the beginning, in the middle,

or at the ends of words (Sibarani, 1997, 2017)

(Alfozan, 1989).

Toba Batak language has its own special

characteristics in terms of assimilation because when

it is used in communication, not all the sound is

spoken as written to the process of assimilation. The

characteristics can be seen that the process of

assimilation can happen inter-syllable, inter-

morpheme, and inter-word in Toba Batak language.

Table 1: Toba Batak language

Formation Written Spoken

om-ba <

omba> [

obba]

{

maN-

}

aha

<man

aha> [ma

aha]

hudon

tano

<hudon tano> [hudot tano]

First, the characteristics of Toba Batak language

can be seen above that the assimilation process can

occur in the form of inter-syllable, namely syllable

/m/ which is adjacent to syllable /b/ in the word

somba 'worship'. In the written form, the word does

not undergo an assimilation process, but in the

spoken form, the word undergoes an assimilation

process into [sobba].

Second, the characteristics of Toba Batak

language can be seen that the assimilation process

can occur in the form of inter-morpheme, which is

between the prefix {maN-} which is adjacent to the

word jaha 'read'. In the written form, the inter-

Handayani Napitupulu, L., Sibarani, R. and Hot Hasibuan, N.

Linguistic Assimilation as the Toba Batak’s Natural Resources.

DOI: 10.5220/0009900800002480

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (ICNRSD 2018), pages 241-245

ISBN: 978-989-758-543-2

241

morpheme form does not undergo an assimilation

process, but in the spoken form, the inter-morpheme

form undergoes an assimilation process into

[majjaha].

Third, the characteristics of BBT can be seen that

the assimilation process can occur in the form of

inter-word, that is between the word /hudon/ ‘pot’

'and the word /tano/ ‘clay’. In the spoken form,

phoneme /n/ in word /hudon/ undergoes an

assimilation process. The phoneme /n/ changes to

phoneme /t/ so that it forms the pronunciation of

[hudot tano].

Toba Batak language is also can be affected

because of the mutual cooperation in Toba Batak

society that is based on the concept of ‘cohesiveness,

synchrony, and togetherness’ in acting, behaving or

working (Sibarani, 2017).

The role of Toba Batak language is still seen as a

communication tool in cultural life as natural

resources. Research in Toba Batak language was

also carried out to show the ethnic identity of Toba

Batak language as natural resources and preservation

of regional languages in North Sumatra.

2 CONCEPT HEADINGS

There are several linguistic concepts that play a role

in the assimilation process. First, the most important

is sound change. Assimilation is a process of

changing sound from one sound to another. So, in

assimilation, the role of phonological theory

becomes important in solving a problem of sound

change. Second, the assimilation process can also

occur in the form of inter-morpheme.

Thus, morphological theory becomes important

in solving problems that occur between morphemes.

Third, the assimilation process can also occur

between words in the scope of the phrase. So,

syntactic theory is needed in solving problems that

occur between data. The theories used in this study

refer to phonological theory, generative morphology

theory, and syntactic theory.

2.1 Phonology

Sound in a language can affect the language itself.

Based on the location of the sound, there is

assimilation which is one of the processes of sound

change in phonology. It is divided in 5 kinds of

assimilation in phonology (Keraf, 1984), namely:

 Regressive assimilation: the sound change

because of the influence of the following sound

which the second phoneme influences the first

phoneme or one phoneme influences another

phoneme backward

 Progressive assimilation: the sound changes

because of the influence of the preceding sound

which the first phoneme influences the second

phoneme or one phoneme influences another

phoneme forward

 Reciprocal assimilation: the process of mutual

influence of the sounds upon each other

 Total assimilation: the process by which two

phonemes that are equated become similar

 Partial assimilation: the process by which both

phonemes are partially equated.

2.2 Generative Morphology

The native speakers of the language have the ability

called intuition to know not only the words in the

language, but what the words in the language that is

set up (Halle, 1973) (Dardjowijoyo, 1988) (Sibarani,

2015). Therefore, generative morphology consists of

4 components (Halle, 1973), namely:

 Lists of morpheme: in the list of morphemes,

all morphemes of both free morpheme and

bound morpheme are identified by finding

repeating parts with a fixed meaning and

finding contrast in a framework.

 Word formation rules: the process of how the

morphemes of a language are arranged in

clusters to form the true words in that

language.

 Filter: a mechanism that handles idiosyncrasy

contained in a language.

 Dictionary: words that have gone through the

filter form a dictionary of the language in

question, which is the final component of this

morphological model.

The theory of generative morphology expressed

by Halle needs to be adjusted in order to elucidate

the process of assimilation in a Toba Batak. It was

adapted to the Dardjowidjojo opinion that diagrams

filed by Scalise, was still not perfect. Therefore,

Dardjowidjojo remodel the diagram of generative

morphology into more specifically than Halle’s.

3 RESEARCH

METHODOLOGIES

This research is descriptive research that combines

interactive qualitative method (Miles, Huberman,

Saldana, 2014). It is consisting of data collection

methods, divided into 3 techniques, namely:

ICNRSD 2018 - International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

242

 In-depth, open-ended interview: done to people

who are still fluent in using Toba Batak

language in everyday life.

 Direct and participatory observations: applied

primarily in obtaining data to answer the

question in relation to the Toba Batak language

assimilation process, namely the spoken form.

 Written documents: carried out to obtain

information, especially to answer the question

about Toba Batak language in written form.

Data analysis methods consisting of 3 data

analysis activities, namely:

 Data condensation: process of selecting data,

focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and

transforming the data that appear in written-up

field notes or transcriptions.

 Data display: process of selecting data,

focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and

transforming the data that appear in written-up

field notes or transcriptions.

 Conclusion drawing/verification.

 The data used in this study were obtained over

the 2 sources, such as sources of written and

oral data. The written data source is scriptures,

dictionary, and songbook. Oral sources of data

in this research were obtained from native

speakers in Sitoluama Village that is located in

Toba Samosir District and Hinalang Bagasan

Village that is located in Balige District, North

Sumatera, Indonesia.

4 RESULTS

The results of this research indicate that:

 The process of assimilation in the form of

writing the Toba Batak language occurs in the

form of inter-morpheme that produces 5

changes, such as base word between prefixes,

base word between suffixes, base word

between confixes, and base word between

enclitics.

 The process of assimilation in the form of

pronunciation of the Toba Batak language

occurs in inter-syllable, inter-morpheme, and

inter-word forms grouped into types of

assimilation, namely progressive assimilation,

regressive assimilation, and reciprocal

assimilation.

5 DISCUSSIONS

In Toba Batak language, not all phonemes or sounds

are written and pronounced the same as those

written in the writing. This causes assimilation,

which is a change in sound or mutual influence

between two adjacent sounds that can take the form

of words, between elements, and between words. So

that it changes the writing and speech which results

in the same or almost the same sound.

5.1 Written Form in Linguistic

Assimilation as Toba Batak’s

Natural Resources

The process of assimilation in the written spoken

only occurs in changes in forms inter-morphemes. In

inter-morpheme change, it is divided into 4 parts,

namely words with prefixes, words with suffixes,

words with confixes, and words with enclitic.

The assimilation process in the written form can

occur between basic words and prefixes. Prefixes

that are often used are maN- (nasal) prefixes that

have allomorphs (man-, mam-, mang}, prefix {paN-

} which has {pan-, pam-, pang-} allomorphs, {saN-}

prefixes that have alomorf {san-, sam-}, suffix {-

hon}, confix {maN-hon} and enclitic like {-ta}, {-

na}, {-hi} and {-hu}. Prefix {maN-}, {paN-}, and

{saN-} show a formal resemblance to the allomorph.

The selection of the prefix {maN-}, {paN-}, and

{saN-} as the representative of the morphs is due to

the level of ability {maN-}, {paN-}, and {saN-} to

distribute with basic morphemes which begin with

any vowels and consonants or the extent of

distribution with morph that is in Toba Batak

language. For example, the prefix {maN-} will

change to one of the allomorphs, which is morph

{man} if the prefix is attached to the base word

beginning with phoneme /d/ and phoneme /j/. Some

examples such as the morpheme {maN} + / dok/

become <mandok> ‘say’. In the {maN} + /jarum/

become <manjarum> ‘sewing’. The prefix {maN-}

will change to one of the allomorphs that is morph

{mam-} if it is attached to the base word that starts

with phoneme /b/. For example like in {maN-} +

/bahen/ becomes <mambahen> ‘to make’.

The assimilation process in the spoken form can

occur between basic words and suffixes. The suffix

that is often used is the {-hon}. The suffix {-hon} is

attached to the base term ending in phoneme /t/,

phoneme /p/, phoneme /s/, phoneme /r/, phoneme

//, and phoneme /l/. For examples like the

Linguistic Assimilation as the Toba Batak’s Natural Resources

243

morpheme /sila



/ + {-hon} become <silangkon>

‘cross over’.

The assimilation process in the written form can

occur between the basic words and the confix. The

frequently used conflict is confix {maN + hon}

which has allomorph (man- + -hon} and {mang- + -

hon}. Conflict {maN- + -hon} will turn into one of

the allomorphs, namely morph (man-hon) if the

confix is attached to the base word beginning with

phoneme /d/. For example like the morpheme

{maN} + / dapot / + {-hon} become

<mandapothon> 'to get' and in the morpheme

{maN} + /durus/ + {-hon} become <mandurushon>

'to shed'.

The assimilation process in the writing form can

occur between the basic words and the enclitic. The

commonly used enclosures are {-ta}, {-hu}, and {-

hi}. For example such as morpheme /hudon/ ‘pot’ +

{-ta} become <hudonta> ‘our pot’. In morpheme

/ama/ ‘father’ + {-ta} becomes <amanta> ‘our

father’. This result in the addition of phonemes /n/ in

the word /ama/ before the enclitic {-ta} so that it

becomes <amanta> is morphophonemic assimilation

of the {-ta} enclitic.

5.2 Spoken Form in Linguistic

Assimilation as Toba Batak’s

Natural Resources

The assimilation process in the spoken form occurs

in 3 types, namely progressive assimilation,

regressive assimilation, and reciprocal assimilation.

In progressive assimilation, there are 5 forms of

linguistic assimilation process.

In regressive assimilation, there are 17 forms of

linguistic assimilation process. In reciprocal

assimilation, there are 4 forms of linguistic

assimilation process. For example: in regressive

assimilation, there is a form between penultimate

(last but one) phoneme /k/ and ultimate (last)

phoneme /h/. Examples of sound changes produced:

 peak + {-hon}  [peakkon] ‘to put’

Based on the data found, the consonant /h/ phoneme

undergoes a sound change in the ultimate position

because of the influence of the consonant phoneme

/k/ on the penultimate position resulting in a sound

[kk]. The noiseless shifting consonant sound [h] in

the {-hon} suffix changes to a noise consonant

noiseless [k] because the effect of the consonant

noise is unvoiced [k] on the base /peak/ and /tumpak/

which precedes the consonant sound. The

phonological process is as follows:

Basic: * [[peak] v + [-hon] suf #] v

Assimilation: / h /  / k / consonant is changed in

suffix ultimate position

Result: [peakkon] ‘to put’

In progressive assimilation, there is a form

between penultimate (last but one) phoneme /m/ and

ultimate (last) phoneme /p/. Examples of sound

changes produced:

 tim-pul  [tippul] ‘smoke’

Based on the data found, the consonant /m/

phoneme experiences sound changes in the

penultimate position because of the influence of the

consonant phoneme /p/ on the ultimate position so

that it produces sound [pp]. Bilabial nasal

consonants sound [m] on syllable /tim/ and /sam/

change into bilabial consonant sounds noiseless [p]

because of the bilabial consonant sound effect of

noiseless [p] on syllable /pul/ and /pur/ which

precedes the sound of the consonant. The

phonological process is as follows:

Basic: * [[tim-pul] n #] n

Assimilation: /m/  /p/ consonant is changed in

syllable penultimate position

Result: [tippul] ‘smoke’

In reciprocal assimilation, there is a form

between penultimate (last but one) phoneme /m/ and

ultimate (last) phoneme /h/. Examples of sound

changes produced:

Examples of sound changes produced:

 uhum + {-hu}  [uhuppu] ‘my law’

Based on the data found, the consonant /m/ phoneme

experiences sound changes in the penultimate

position because of the influence of the consonant

phoneme /h/ on the ultimate position so as to

produce sound [pp]. The sound of the bilabial nasal

consonant sounds [m] in the word /uhum/ and

/tiham/ changes to the sound of the bilabial

consonant of the noiseless obstacle [p] because of

the noiseless pharyngeal consonant sound effect [h]

in {-hu} and {-hon} suffix which precedes the sound

of the consonant. The phonological process is as

follows:

Basic: * [[uhum] n + [-hu] suf #] n

Assimilation: /m/  /p/ consonant is changed on the

base word of penultimate position

Assimilation: /h/  /p/ consonant is changed in the

enclitic position

Result: [uhuppu] ‘my law’

6 CONCLUSIONS

Assimilation is the process in which sounds become

identical or more alike under the influence of a third

sound or that of one upon the other. It may occur at

ICNRSD 2018 - International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

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the beginning, in the middle, or at the ends of words.

When a sound adopts features of another sound, the

process of articulation becomes much easier.

Assimilation involves ease of articulation pressures

and it is an important means of making

pronunciation easier, especially in Toba Batak.

The process of writing and pronunciation in

Toba Batak is very influential for the people that

long-applying and studying the Toba Batak because

it is still inappropriate to pronounce the words

spoken by other people, especially for young

generation. This is an important thing that young

generation today are no longer considered that Toba

Batak was the mother tongue for those in everyday

life, so that is still a lot of error in writing when that

language was dictated, either Toba Batak or other

local languages.

The role of Toba Batak still seems in the cultural

life, as well as in the life of religious, social, and

economical for the people of Toba Batak. This

research is done in earnest against Toba Batak and

the form of pronunciation and writing on the process

of assimilation as natural resources so that the young

generation to the Toba Batak especially, can be a

successor to the nation that can preserve the culture

that was already awake from past until now so as not

to disappear consumed by the times.

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