<![CDATA[This study contributes to language documentation and preservation efforts of Toba Batak by providing an applied linguistic analysis of allomorphic variation of the prefix ma-. As an endangered Austronesian language with strong cultural significance, Toba Batak requires systematic linguistic documentation to support both academic understanding and practical preservation initiatives. However, its morphological variation, particularly in verb formation, remains insufficiently described in applied linguistic contexts. This research employs an applied adaptation of generative morphology to analyze natural speech data collected from 12 native speakers in the Samosir and Toba regions. The analysis focuses on identifying and describing the structural variation of the prefix ma- in verb constructions. The findings reveal four main allomorphic realizations of the prefix ma-: maŋ-, maŋa-, mam-, and man-, which occur in predictable phonological environments. These variations demonstrate that the prefix ma- is highly productive and plays a significant role in lexical and grammatical formation in Toba Batak. From an applied linguistics perspective, the results of this study provide a structured linguistic resource that can support language documentation, development of teaching materials, and efforts in cultural and linguistic preservation. The proposed analysis also offers a practical model for documenting morphological variation in under-documented languages. Overall, this study bridges descriptive linguistics and applied language preservation, contributing to the sustainability of Toba Batak in the context of language endangerment.]]>
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