Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/a

This Proto-Ryukyuan entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Ryukyuan

Reconstruction

According to Thorpe (1983), the daughter languages show variation in the use of this pronoun. Almost all daughter languages lost this pronoun except for Miyako and Yonaguni, where the latter uses it as a singular. However, Kunigami uses it as a plural.

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *a (“I”).

Pronoun

*a

1. I

Derived terms

• *aga (from *a + *ga)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kunigami: 吾が (aga)
• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako::
    • Minna: 吾が (aga)
• *ara (from the short nominative with *-ra taken from the plural)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako:
      • Ōgami: 吾ー (arā, topic) (< *ara wa)
• *anu (from the long nominative)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako:
      • Irabu: 吾 (anu)
      • Minna: 吾 (an)
      • Ōgami: 吾 (anu)
    • Yonaguni: 吾 (anu)

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kunigami: 吾 (a)
• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako:
    • Minna: 吾 (a)