VILLAGE TOPONYMY IN NORTH ACEH REGENCY: THE HISTORY AND LANGUAGE STRUCTURES

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research is aimed to describe village toponymy in North Aceh, viewed from its history and language structures. The research method used in this research was descriptive qualitative. The data were collected through interview and documentation. The data were analyzed through some steps, namely; data reduction, data display and verification. Credibility, transferability, reliability, and confirmability tests were done to verify the validity of the data. The result of this research showed that there were some classifications of toponymy in North Aceh, including; 1) hydrological elements, it meant that the meaning of village names was related to water, such as Kampung Laga Baro. 2) Geographical elements, it referred to the village whose name was corresponded with topographical, such as Kampung Bluka Teubai, Meunasah Kulam, Ulee Barat, Cot Seumiyong, Lhok Jok, and Cot U Sibak. 3) Natural environment elements were divided into four; a) plant, such as kampung Geulumpang Sulu Timu, Meuria, Uteuen Geulinggang, Bangka Jaya, Kuta Glumpang, Beuringen, Murong, Mancang, b) Place and building, such as Lancang Barat, Meunasah Blang,c) Natural conditions, such as Krueng Mate, Bintang Hu, and d) Compass point, such as Lancang Barat, Geulumpang Sulu Timu. 4) Cultural element, it meant that the meaning of village names was referred to cultural aspects in society, such as Kampung Guha Uleu. Hence, the name of village was found dominantly in the forms of polimorfemic words, such as Bintang Hu, Meunasah Mancang, Cot U Sibak etc. Thus, it can be concluded that the toponymy of the village in the northern Aceh has 4 categories and posses the process of word formation morphologically.