Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/kara

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.

This Proto-Japonic entry contains original research. The reconstruction in this entry is based on published research, but the specific form presented here is not found in prior works.

Proto-Japonic

Etymology 1

Noun

*kara

1. lineage, origin
2. course, way

Descendants

In all of its descendants, the term has also evolved into an ablative marker meaning "from".

• Old Japanese: 柄 (kara, “lineage, origin”), から (kara)
  • Japanese: 柄 (kara, “lineage, origin; type, characteristic”), から (kara)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *kara
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: から (kara), ら (ra)
    • Kunigami: から (khara), ちゃら (chara), ら (ra)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: はら (hara), か゚ら (xara), から (kara)
    • Okinawan: から (kara)
    • Okinoerabu: から (kara)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: はら (hara), か゚ら (xara), から (kara)
    • Tokunoshima: から (kara)
    • Yoron: から (kara), ちゃら (chara)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: から (kara)
    • Yaeyama: から (kara)
    • Yonaguni: がら (gara)

Etymology 2

Noun

*kara

1. shell; hollow place

Descendants

• Old Japanese: から (kara, “shell”) (voiced hapax)
  • Japanese: 殻, 骸 (kara, “shell”), 空, 虚 (kara, “empty”)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *kara (“empty”), *-gara (“shell”)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kunigami: 殻, 骸 (-garā, “shell”), 空, 虚 (harā, “empty”)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 殻, 骸 (-gara, “shell”), 空, 虚 (xara, “empty”)
    • Okinawan: 殻, 骸 (-gara, “shell”), 空, 虚 (kara, “empty”)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 空, 虚 (kara, “empty”)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 空, 虚 (kara-, “empty”)
    • Yaeyama: 空, 虚 (kara-, “empty”)

Etymology 3

Adjective

*kara

1. sharp of flavor
   1. salty
   2. spicy
   3. strong (of alcohol)
2. harsh

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 辛, 苛, 鹹 (kara)
  • Japanese: 辛い, 苛い, 鹹い (karai)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *kara
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kunigami: 辛ーせん, 苛ーせん, 鹹ーせん (harāsen)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 辛さり, 苛さり, 鹹さり (xarasari)
    • Okinawan: 辛さん, 苛さん, 鹹さん (karasan)
    • Tokunoshima: 辛さい, 苛さい, 鹹さい (karasai)
    • Yoron: 辛さん, 苛さん, 鹹さん (harasan)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 辛, 苛, 鹹 (kara)
    • Yaeyama: 辛さん, 苛さん, 鹹さん (karasan)
    • Yonaguni: 辛ん, 苛ん, 鹹ん (karan)