Work

Toba Batak manang

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper offers a description of the multifunctional morpheme manang in Toba Batak (Austronesian; Sumatra) — as the disjunctor, the interrogative complementizer, and a particle forming wh -based polarity items — contextualized within the broader semantic and typological literatures on such meaning expressions. I also observe a puzzle regarding its form: the form manang diverges substantially from its functional equivalent, barang , as described in H. N. Van der Tuuk’s pioneering grammar of Toba Batak ( Van der Tuuk 1864–1867 ). I argue that consideration of this historical change supports the analysis of these various uses of manang as a case of functional polysemy, reflecting a common conceptual core.

Source: Studies in Language

DOI: 10.1075/sl.24067.erl

Author: Michael Yoshitaka Erlewine

Institutions: University of Helsinki, National University of Singapore, Nankai University, Sichuan University

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4407532778

FWCI:

Cites: 42

Cited by:

Related to: 10