Effect-for-cause inferencing in the evaluation of loudness among Toba Batak people

Authors

  • Andrew P.L. Tobing STT Pelita Kebenaran Author
  • Himpun Panggabean Universitas Methodist Indonesia Author
  • Tengku Silvana Sinar University of North Sumatra Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v10i3.28869

Keywords:

inferencing, effect-for-cause, loud speech voice, social distance, Toba Batak, Indonesia

Abstract

The paper presents evidence for an effect-for-cause inferencing process underlying the general style of using loud speech voice among Toba Batak speakers (Indonesia). A subjective reaction test was conducted to find out their perception towards the use of loud voice in three relational settings having different combinations of bipolarity: 1) vertical social distance and horizontal social distance; 2) vertical social distance only; and 3) horizontal social distance only. The results showed that in contexts where horizontal social distance remains, the absence of vertical distance significantly weakens the perception of impoliteness and unacceptability towards the use of loud voice. This indicates that Toba Bataks assume a pseudo social proximity when they are speaking to people with whom they have no horizontal social closeness. This method of inferencing is consistent with an effect-for-cause relational structure, being metonymic in nature.

Author Biography

  • Andrew P.L. Tobing, STT Pelita Kebenaran
    Dr. Andrew Tobing studied at the Department of Linguistics, University of North Sumatra, Indonesia and was a visiting student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. His most recent article is ‘Structural complexity and saliency in interpretation of familiar metaphors’. He is currently serving as Vice Dean of STT Pelita Kebenaran, Indonesia.

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Published

2017-01-20

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Tobing, A. P., Panggabean, H., & Sinar, T. S. (2017). Effect-for-cause inferencing in the evaluation of loudness among Toba Batak people. Sociolinguistic Studies, 10(3), 455-474. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v10i3.28869