The Toponymy of Plantation Areas in Medan (Linguistic Anthropology Study)

Abstract

The relationship between language, culture, and thought is reflected in the naming of a region or place. This study examines the naming of plantations in Medan by finding patterns in naming these areas to illustrate the values and beliefs depicted in them. This research was then carried out to find the sign structure in the formation of the names of plantation areas in Medan and find the acceptance of Sapir-Worf’s hypothesis in the toponymy process of plantation names in Medan. This research was conducted through observations and interviews about naming plantation areas in Medan, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Qualitative descriptive approaches and informal data presentation methods were used to process and present the expected data. The findings showed that the plantation areas in Medan or Tanah Deli have historically been closely related to Deli Maatschappij, a well-known tobacco plantation company in North Sumatra. The relationship between language, culture, and thought can be seen in plantation areas' naming, with several changes occurring. The names of the plantation area include Maryland (Marelan), Helvetica (Helvetia), and Poland (Polonia). This research is expected to contribute to the documentation of the history of naming plantation areas in Medan by describing the values espoused and the beliefs and expectations that are consistent with the people's culture.