っいぇなさり

Northern Amami Ōshima

Etymology

From Proto-Ryukyuan *ina-. Cognate with Tokyo-Oshima Japanese いならっこい (inarakkoi, “young and adorable”).

Pronunciation

• (Yamatohama) IPA^(key): [jˀɛnasaɾi]

Adjective

っいぇなさり ('yenasari) 

1. small (height)

   く゚ん　まむぃつぃぶ　やー　っいぇなさり。

   Xun mamïcïbu yā 'yenasari.

   Those specks of beans are small.

   わが　あんまー　っいぇなさて゚ぃ。

   Waga anmā 'yenasaθï.

   My mother was small.

   っいぇなさりん　くぁ　ぬなち゚ゅり。

   'Yenasarin kwa nunaθyyuri.

   The little child is crying.

   く゚ん　くつー　っいぇなさて゚ぃ　はぎ　ぬ　やむり。

   Xun kucū 'yenasaθï hagi nu yamuri.

   These shoes are small so my foot hurts.

2. thin (physical size)

   わー　いぶぃ　やー　びょうき　しゃっとぅ　っいぇなさ　なて゚ぃ　ゆびわ　ぬ　ごらごら　なて゚ぃ。

   Wā ibï yā byōki syattu 'yenasa naθï yubiwa nu goragora naθï.

   If my finger becomes blister, it will become thin and my ring will be loose.

   っやー　か゚まちんき゚ぃ　やー　っいぇなさりん　ばん　わー　むん　なー　あらさり。

   'Yā xamachinxiï yā 'yenasarin ban wā mun nā arasari.

   Your hair is thin, but mine is big (rough).

References

• Osada, Suma, Suyama, Nahoko (1977) 奄美方言分類辞典 [Thematic Dictionary of the Amami Dialect], volume 2, Tokyo (東京都): Kasama Shoin (笠間書院), page 144