Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/kora

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

Reconstruction

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Derivationally, appears to be a compound of *ko (“child”) +‎ *-ra (pluralizing and generalizing suffix). Compare a similar semantic shift in modern Japanese 子供 (kodomo), which was originally a plural and shifted to a singular.

Noun

*kora

1. children; child

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 子等 (ko₁ra, “children”)
  • Japanese: 子等 (kora, “children”)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *kura ~ kuCa (“child”)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 子 (k'wa, k'a)
    • Kunigami: 子 (k'wā)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 子 (k'wa)
    • Okinawan: 子 (kkwa)
    • Okinoerabu: 子 (k'wā)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 子 (k'wā)
    • Tokunoshima: 子 (k'wa, k'wā)
    • Yoron: 子 (k'wa)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 子 (ffa)
    • Yaeyama: 子 (fā)
    • Yonaguni: 子 (pā)