Batak languages


The Batak languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages spoken by the Batak people in the Indonesian province of North Sumatra and surrounding areas.

Internal classification

The Batak languages can be divided into two main branches, Northern Batak and Southern Batak. Simalungun was long considered an intermediary, but in current classifications it is recognized as part of the Southern branch. Within Northern Batak, a study noted 76% cognate words between Karo and Alas, 81% with Pakpak, 80% with Simalungun, and 30% with Malay. Karo and Toba Batak are mutually unintelligible.
Mandailing and Angkola are closer related to each other than to Toba. The geographical influences on the Batak languages can be seen in the map in the infobox; Lake Toba separates the Karo from direct contact with the Toba.

Reconstruction

The Batak languages can be shown to descend from a hypothetical common ancestor, Proto-Batak. The sound system of Proto-Batak was reconstructed by Adelaar.
FrontCentralBack
High*i*u
Mid*ə
Low*a

Final diphthongs: *-uy, *-ey, *-ow.
The Proto-Batak sounds underwent the following changes in the individual daughter languages:
Historically, the Batak languages were written using the Batak script, but the Latin script is now used for most writing.