Reproduction of Batak Manuscript for the Purposes of Revitalizing Local and Commercial Wisdom in Samosir Regency, North Sumatera Province

Abstract

Pustaha laklak is a handscrift or manuscript from Batak that uses tree bark as its medium. The writing in this pustaha laklak uses Batak script or also called the Batak letter. Batak letter has special technicalities in its writing. And this writing system is also closely related to the culture and local wisdom of Batak people. The relationship between the Batak script and the Batak customs is too close, so that efforts to obtain and possess these old texts continue to be carried out. One of the efforts undertaken by the community in Samosir Regency is to copy back the old manuscripts. This activity is part of the reproduction of the manuscript. However, this copying activity was carried out not solely for the purpose of saving the manuscript. However, commercial interests tend to be motivated because the texts are traded as souvenirs for local and foreign tourists. The right approach taken in this study is the approach of philology and local wisdom. Djamaris (2002: 3) said that philology is a science that makes old texts as the object of writing. Manuscript reproduction is an object of philology while the text or all messages contained in the manuscript is a form of local wisdom of the Toba Batak people. The research method used is the single manuscript edition method. Tomok Village and Tuktuk Siadong Village are suitable locations to be used as research sites because these two villages are closely related to the reproduction of manuscripts for commercial purposes for local and foreign tourists. Based on the studies conducted, it can be seen that copying is always done. Every writing of a manuscript, the writer refers to the manuscript that becomes the reference. The copying process is according to requests from what people need. The mistake that tends to be made is the use of child letter and parent letter, especially for child letter / i / and / u /.

Cultural Heritage Preservation and Manuscript Conservation: Safeguarding the Laklak Batak Manuscript of Batak Culture in Indonesia

“…The term "Laklak" refers to the script used in these manuscripts, which is unique to the Batak culture (Sinaga & Damanik, 2020) (van der Meij, 2021). The manuscripts are typically inscribed on lontar palm leaves or tree bark, and they are adorned with intricate illustrations and adorned with traditional motifs (Vickers, 2012).…”