Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/-tu

This Proto-Japonic 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-Japonic

Suffix

*-tu

1. general classifier suffix

Usage notes

• This suffix was generally attached to cardinal numerals in order to directly modify almost any noun.
• However, *pi (“day”) was generally not counted with this classifier, instead *-ka was used. Hence, *təwə (“10”) would be suffixed to create *təwəka.

Descendants

• Old Japanese: つ (-tu)
  • Japanese: つ (-tsu)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *-tu
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: とぅ (-tu), ちゅ (-chu)
    • Kunigami: ち (-chi)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: つぃ (-tsï)
    • Okinawan: ち (-chi)
    • Okinoerabu: ち (-chi)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: とっ (-t)
    • Tokunoshima: つぃ (-tsï)
    • Yoron: ち (-chi)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: つぃ (-tsï)
    • Yaeyama: ずぃ (-zï)
    • Yonaguni: ち (-chi)