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.

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Proto-Ryukyuan edit

Reconstruction edit

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 edit

From Proto-Japonic *a (“I”).

Pronoun edit

*a

I

Derived terms edit

*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 edit

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