berjudul’’Istana Sisingamangaraja Sebagai Objek Pariwisata di Kecamatan Baktiraja Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan Kajian: Budaya Pariwisata

Abstract

This study aims to reveal linguistic representation in the public space of the Sisingamangaraja Palace area in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra, as a form of cultural identity, ideology, and local tourism development strategy. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through visual observation and interviews with key informants. The results of the analysis show that the linguistic landscape in this area is dominated by the use of Indonesian, Toba Batak, and English, each with a different symbolic function: Indonesian as the national and official language, Toba Batak as a marker of local identity, and English as a means of global communication for tourists. The use of bilingual and even trilingual on information boards and inscriptions reflects the hierarchy of languages, symbolic power, and strategies for strengthening Batak ethno-linguistic identity. In addition to its informative function, this linguistic landscape contains historical, spiritual, and political values that are rooted in the culture of the Batak people. This study confirms that the linguistic landscape is an integral part of cultural heritage that is not only visual, but also full of social and ideological meaning in the dynamics of locality and globality.