Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/nonsi

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.

Proto-Japonic

Etymology

Various dialectal forms have an initial palatal glide /mj-/, /nj-/, etc., implying a diphthongal or palatal origin of the initial mora. This issue has not been brought up in previous scholarship, however. (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Noun

*nonsi

1. rainbow

Descendants

• Eastern Old Japanese: 虹 (no₁zi, nuzi)
• Old Japanese: 虹 (nizi)
  • Japanese: 虹 (niji)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *nozi, *noozi, *noogiri
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 虹 (niji)
    • ⇒ Kunigami: 天道虹 (thintōnōjiri) (< *tentau-noziri)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 虹 (nōgi)
    • Okinawan: 虹 (nūji)
    • Okinoerabu: 虹 (nōgi)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 虹 (noki, nok)
    • Tokunoshima: 虹 (nōji)
    • ⇒ Yoron: 虹 (gōnuji)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 虹 (nūzï)
    • Yaeyama: 虹 (nūji)