| Language: | Batak (Toba) |
| Feature: | Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns by Johannes Helmbrecht |
| Value: | Binary politeness distinction |
|
hamú |
2nd sg. |
It is used instead of ho as a singular to persons who, in relation to the speaker, belong to a different marga* or must be regarded as so belonging. For example, adult brothers and sisters use it to each other, because a wife takes the marga of her husbandand and is, therefore considered to belong to a different marga to that of her brother. A father and her adult daughter use it for the same reason. |
|
hita |
2nd sg. hon. |
It is used when the speaker wishes expressively to be polite or when the kinship relationship is not known and there is doubt whether ho or hamú should be used. |
|
ho |
2nd sg. fam. |
It's used to persons to whom it is not necessary to use hamú (2nd pl). |
* The Batak are organized in 'margas', large family groups. The members of one marga can only marry a person of another marga. Upon her marriage the wife passes over into the husband's marga.(source: http://www.indonesianmusic.com/batak.htm Date: 25.06.2002)