MATAPENA: Jurnal Keilmuan Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2025): Desember 2025

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES IN TOBA BATAK LANGUAGE FROM A LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY PERSPECTIVE: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON COMRIE AND PAYNE

Ida Basaria (Unknown)
Marniman Jemila Zalukhu (Unknown)
Divya Neila Bulanda Sari (Unknown)
Tamba, Grace (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jan 2026

Abstract

This study aims to describe the forms, functions, and typological characteristics of interrogative constructions in the Toba Batak language. The analysis employs a syntactic typology and functional construction approach, focusing on structural, morphological, and pragmatic strategies used by native speakers in daily communication. The data were collected through documentation and in-depth interviews with native speakers from the Samosir and Toba regions. The analysis was conducted using intralingual and distributional methods based on the theoretical framework of Sudaryanto (2015) and Payne (2006). The findings reveal that interrogative constructions in Toba Batak can be categorized into three main types: yes–no questions, partial questions, and rhetorical questions. Interrogative markers include particles such as ma, do, and na, as well as rising intonation patterns at the end of sentences. Additionally, word order inversion often occurs in partial interrogatives. Functionally, Toba Batak interrogatives are not limited to seeking information but also serve pragmatic purposes such as expressing requests, irony, or emotional emphasis. This research contributes to the linguistic documentation of local languages and provides valuable insight into Austronesian typology, especially in the grammatical description of regional languages in Indonesia. Keywords: Toba Batak language, interrogative sentences, linguistic typology, questionparticles, syntactic structure

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Journal Info

Abbrev

matapena

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Matapena: Jurnal Keilmuan Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pengajarannya covers the fields of language, literature and teaching. Journal matapena published every June and December. The manuscript contained in the journal is derived from the results of research and critical studies of linguistics include: ...