The relationship between language, culture, and thought is reflected in the naming of a region or
place. This study examines the naming of plantations in Medan by finding patterns in naming these
areas to illustrate the values and beliefs depicted in them. This research was then carried out to find
the sign structure in the formation of the names of plantation areas in Medan and find the acceptance
of Sapir-Worf’s hypothesis in the toponymy process of plantation names in Medan. This research
was conducted through observations and interviews about naming plantation areas in
Medan, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Qualitative descriptive approaches and informal
data presentation methods were used to process and present the expected data. The findings showed
that the plantation areas in Medan or Tanah Deli have historically been closely related to Deli
Maatschappij, a well-known tobacco plantation company in North Sumatra. The relationship
between language, culture, and thought can be seen in plantation areas' naming, with several
changes occurring. The names of the plantation area include Maryland (Marelan), Helvetica
(Helvetia), and Poland (Polonia). This research is expected to contribute to the documentation
of the history of naming plantation areas in Medan by describing the values espoused and
the beliefs and expectations that are consistent with the people's culture.
