This condition certainly makes mandailingnese people do not have opportunity to use their language. But, language must be maintained, because language showed the identity of the language users. As Holmes (2001:63) stated that where language is considered as important symbol of a minority group’s identity, the language is likely to be maintained longer. Moreover, Corson (2001:174) said that the maintenance of a heritage language is vital for the self-identity and esteem of its speakers