Lexical Change: Synonym and Homonym in Batak Toba Language in North Sumatra

This study focuses on language change, specifically the lexical change of the Batak Toba language in two different areas. This research aims to contribute to other researchers and governments related to the future of the local language in maintaining the local language itself. This research used a qualitative research method, specifically a case study, to analyze language aspects among people who use the Batak Toba language in their area. Miles and Huberman’s technique of collecting data was used in this research. The data was collected from two different Batak Language videos in two different areas. The video was transcripted and eliminated by identifying synonyms and homonyms using language change theories. The online Batak dictionary was used to verify the meaning of every synonym and homonym itself. From the data source, which is 25 (twenty-five) videos, the total of the synonym is 22 words, with the detail 14 words found through videos in Tapanuli Tengah and eight words found through Humbang Hasundutan. Similarly, the homonym between these two districts can also be found, with 3 (three) homonyms. Lexical change through synonyms and homonyms occurs because of convergence, cultural change, and lexical borrowing, second language learning, and relexification. Keywords: homonym, language change, synony

Using Digital Books and Comics in English Teaching and Learning Activities

This paper focuses on the implementation of linguistics theory, particularly in multimodality, to understand various forms of reading materials such as digital books and comics. This paper aimed to gain insights into how practitioners such as school teachers optimise the use of digital books and comics in English teaching and learning activities using well-informed theories. In addition, this study also described the perspectives of creative industry practitioners to contribute to the practice by giving insights into the production of digital books and comics. This research collected data from three sessions of workshop series where discussion results between the stakeholders, namely academicians, researchers, and teachers, were documented in field notes. The findings of this research imply that the multimodal theories and implementation were useful in understanding the use of digital books and comics. The workshop series was particularly effective, as can be seen through how the participants were enthusiastic about participating in this activity. Furthermore, all the participants can understand how theoretical knowledge is needed to support and develop their knowledge on optimally using reading materials in the form of digital books and comics. Keywords: multimodal texts, digital books, comics, reading materials

The Role of Parents' Social Background in Home Language Practices: A Family Language Policy Perspective

Departing from Indonesia’s unique and complex multilingual environment, our study sought to investigate the role of the social background of multilingual parents in implementing home language use. Specifically, we ask whether home language practice is shaped by parents’ education level, ethnicity, and occupation, particularly in parent-child interaction. Our analysis draws from an online survey of 1.344 multilingual parents from different parts of Indonesia, with the survey being mainly distributed to over 28 provinces, including NAD, North Sumatra (North & West), Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, Bengkulu, Jakarta, West Java, Central, and East Java, Yogyakarta, Maluku, Kalimantan (North, South, West, East, and Central), Riau, Sulawesi (North, South, and Southeast), Bali, Nusa Tenggara (West and East), West Papua, and Papua. A single paragraph of 200 words maximum. Our findings indicate that education, ethnicity, and occupation significantly shape parents’ decisions to manage home language practice with their children. Keywords: social background, multilingual parents, home language practice