Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/e-ku

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

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *e-ku (“how many”).

Determiner

*e-ku

how many

Reconstruction notes

The Yamatohama dialect of Northern Amami-Oshima had lost many reflexes of *e-ku for some reason; this word only survives in that dialect in 幾返りん (ikkērin, “sometimes”).

Descendants

Northern Ryukyuan:
- Kikai: 幾 (ixu-)
- Kunigami: 幾 (iku-)
- Okinawan: 幾 (iku-)
- Yoron: 幾 (iku-)
Southern Ryukyuan:
- Miyako: 幾 (ifu-)
- Yaeyama: 幾 (ifu-)

⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *e-ku-tu
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kikai: 幾とぅ (ixutu), 幾つ (ixutsu)
  - Kunigami: 幾っちー (hikutchī)
  - Okinawan: 幾つぃ (ikutsi), 幾ち (ikuchi)
  - Oki-No-Erabu: 幾ち (ikuchi)
  - Southern Amami-Oshima: 幾ち (ixuchi), 幾ーち (ixūchi), 幾とっ (ixut)
  - Toku-No-Shima: 幾ち (ikuchi)
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako: 幾つ (ifutsï)
  - Yaeyama: 幾つぃ (ifutsï)
  - Yonaguni: 幾ち (iguchi)
⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *e-ku-tari
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kikai: 幾人 (ixutai)
  - Kunigami: 幾人 (hikutai)
  - Okinawan: 幾人 (ikutai)
  - Oki-No-Erabu: 幾人 (ikutai)
  - Toku-No-Shima: 幾人 (ikutai)
  - Yoron: 幾人 (ikutai)
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako: 幾人 (ifutaz)
  - Yaeyama: 幾人 (ifutārï)