W. Stannard Allen 1947: 163 says that question tag is a very common device in conversation is that of making a statement and at once asking the listener to confirm it. In
most languages this is done simply by means of a stereotyped phrase. Common tags include wont you? Wasn’t it? Don’t you? Haven’t you? Okay?
And right? For examples:
61. He is a teacher, is he?
62. You are a best student, aren’t you?
63. They go to school, don’t they?
64. Susi likes apple, doesn’t she?
65. We don’t sleep, do we?
3.3 The formation of Interrogative sentence in Mandailing Language 3.3.1 The Question words in Mandailing Language
1. AHA
= WHAT
Aha is one of the question words in Mandailing language which is used to ask for information or someone. Its meaning is identical with ‘what’ in English.
For examples:
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66. Aha do na i jalaki mi natuari? Nai jalaki mi aha natuari?
Natuari naijalaki mi aha? What + past + look for + you + yesterday?
“What did you look for yesterday? English “ 67. Aha do naidokon mi?
Nai dokkon mi aha do? Nai dokkon mi aha?
What + present + say + you “What did you say? English”
68. Aha do nai karejoon mi sannari? Nai karejoon mi aha sannari?
Sannari nai karejoon mi aha? What + present + to be + you + now?
“What are you doing now? English”
69. Aha do nai pamasak mi tiop manyogot? Nai pamasak mi aha tiop manyogot?
Tiop manyogot naipamasak mi aha? What + present +verb I infinitive + you +every morning?
“What are you cooking every morning? English” 70. Aha do salana uboto goar ni ayah mu?
Uboto goar ni ayah mu aha do salana?
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Goar ni ayah m u uboto salan aha? What + present + to be + if + knowing + name + you?
“What is the problem if I know your father’s name? English” 71. Aha do maksud mu?
Maksud mu aha? What + past + mean + you?
“What do you mean? English”
2. ISE Tu ise, songon ise, sian ise =WHO
Ise as question word in Mandailing Language asks some information about person.
For Examples: 72. Ise do mambuat buku na dimeja i?
Mambuat buku nai meja i ise? Who to be auxiliary + S + V + O
“Who took the book from the table? English” 73. Sian ise do dapot ho carito i?
Carito i sian ise dapot ho? Dapot ho carito i sian ise?
Who to be auxiliary + S + V + O “Who do you get the information from? English”
74. Songon ise do anak mi mirip? Mirip songon ise do anak mi?
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Anak mi mirip songon ise? Who to be auxiliary + S + V + O
“Who does your boy look like? English” 75.
Tu ise do ilehen ko kue i? Ilehen ko tu ise kue i?
Kue i lehen ko tu ise? Whom to be auxiliary + S + V + O
“Whom do you give the cake to? English” 76.
Ise do dongan mu ro tu son? Dongan mu ise ro tu son?
Tuson ro dongan mu ise? Who to be auxiliary + S + V + O
“Who do you come here with? English
3. ANDIGAN = WHEN
