Okinawan (Okinawan: Ucinaaguci) is a Ryukyuan language spoken in Japan on the southern island of Okinawa, as well as the surrounding islands of Kerama , Kume-jima , Tonaki , Aguni , and a number of smaller islands located to the east of the main island of Okinawa.

It is divided into three main groups: Northern (Kunigami dialect of Kunigami), Central (Standard, Shuri -Naha), and Southern. The Shuri dialect was standardized during the era of the Ryukyuan Kingdom, during the reign of King Sho Shin (1477-1526). It was the official language used by royalty and aristocracy. All of the songs and poems in the language from that era are written in the Shuri dialect.

Phonology

This section describes the Nakijin dialect, which differs from the Shuri dialect somewhat.

Vowels

Okinawan has three short vowels, [a i u], and five long vowels, [a: e: i: o: u:]. Note that [u] is rounded, unlike in Japanese.

Consonants

This is a comprehensive listing of consonants, and lists allophonic sets such as [h ç ɸ] separately. For a list of phonemic consonants, consult the syllabary.

Syllabary

(Technically, these are mora, not syllables.)

Correspondences with Japanese

Writing

Okinawan for Japanese audiences is now written entirely in katakana (phonetically) or like normal Japanese - a mixture of hiragana, katakana and Kanji (sometimes chosen for meaning only, for instance, 太陽 for tiida, sun; usually chosen because of cognacy) with ruby.

Grammar

Okinawan dialects retain a number of old grammatical features, such as a distinction between the terminal form (終止形) and the attributive form (連体形), the genitive function of が ga (lost in the Shuri dialect), the nominative function of ぬ nu (Japanese: の no), as well as honorific/plain distribution of ga and nu in nominative use.

One etymology given for the -un and -uru endings is the continuative form suffixed with uri (Classical Japanese: 居り wori, to be; to exist): -un developed from the terminal form uri; -uru developed from the attributive form uru, i.e:

• kacuru derives from kaci-uru;
• kacun derives from kaci-uri; and
• yumun (Japanese: 読む yomu, to read) derives from yumi + uri.

A similar etymology is given for the terminal -san and attributive -saru endings for adjectives: the stem suffixed with さ sa (nominalises adjectives, i.e. high → height, hot → heat), suffixed with ari (Classical Japanese: 有り ari, to exist; to have), i.e:

• takasan (Japanese: 高い takai, high; tall) derives from taka-sa-ari;
• atsusan (Japanese: 暑い atsui, hot; warm) derives from atsu-sa-ari; and
• yutasaru (good; pleasant) derives from yuta-sa-aru.

Bibliography

Japanese

• 平山輝男編著　『全国方言辞典〔１〕: 県別方言の特色』　角川書店、1983年 (昭和58年)

External links

English

• Arakaki, Tomoko: Aspect and Modality in Luchuan (PostScript file)

Japanese

• Basic Ryukyuan language
• Ryukyuan dictionary, with spoken examples.
• Nakasone Seizen manuscripts (mostly on the Nakijin dialect)
• A Shuri-Naha orthography and phonology