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 personswho, 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 shouldbe used. |
ho | 2nd sg. fam. | It's used to persons to whom it is not necessary to usehamú (2nd pl). |
* The Batak are organized in 'margas', large family groups. Themembers of one marga can only marry a person of another marga. Uponher marriage the wife passes over into the husband's marga.(source:http://www.indonesianmusic.com/batak.htmDate: 25.06.2002)