Pesisir language

The Pesisir language (Pesisir: Bahaso Pasisi, Indonesian: Bahasa Pesisir, lit. 'coastal language'), is a dialect of the Minangkabau language spoken by the Pesisir people in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Pesisir people are descendants of the Minangkabau who migrated to Tapanuli from present-day West Sumatra in the 14th century and intermingled with other ethnic groups, including the Bataks and Acehnese. The Pesisir people reside in Central Tapanuli, Sibolga, the coastal areas of South Tapanuli, and Mandailing Natal, along the western coastline of North Sumatra. The history of this language began with the arrival of Minangkabau migrants from Pariaman in West Sumatra, who came to trade along the northern west coast of Sumatra. These migrants then made contact with other ethnic groups, resulting in a linguistic acculturation with both languages. As a result, the Pesisir language shares similarities with the Pariaman dialect of Minangkabau and has also been influenced by the Batak languages.

The Pesisir language of Sibolga serves as a lingua franca for the people of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli. The Pesisir language is used as a means of communication. In daily interactions, the Pesisir language plays an important role. This role can be seen in many aspects of their lives, such as activities in the market, greetings, working on the beach and at sea, visiting, joking, and playing. The use of the language in these aspects is not limited to certain groups but encompasses all members of society, from children to the elderly.