Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/turu

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 1

The core meaning appears to be vine; line; string as a noun, and to hang down, as a line or string; to form or take the shape of a line or string (both transitive and intransitive) as a verb.

Cognate with *tura (“vine; line, string; line (of things), queue, procession”).

Pronunciation

Accent class: 2.2

Noun

*turu

1. a vine
2. a line or string

Descendants

vine

• Old Japanese: 蔓 (turu)
  • Japanese: 蔓 (tsuru)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *turu
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 蔓 (tsïru)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 蔓 (tsïru)
    • Yonaguni: 蔓 (chirun)

line, string

• Old Japanese: 弦 (turu)
  • Japanese: 弦 (tsuru, “bowstring; musical instrument string; metal handle attached to both sides of a pot, under which the pot hangs”)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *turu
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Okinawan: 弦 (chiru)
    • Okinoerabu: 弦 (chiru)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Yonaguni: 弦 (chirun)

Verb

*turu (infinitive 1 *turi, infinitive 2 *turay)

1. to hang down, as a line or string
2. to form or take the shape of a line or string
3. to fish

Descendants

to hang; to fish

• Old Japanese: 釣る, 吊る (turu)
  • Japanese: 釣る, 吊る (tsuru)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *turi
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Okinawan: 釣いーん (chīn), 釣ゆん (chiyun)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 釣 (tsïï)
    • Yonaguni: 釣るん (chirun)

to form or take the shape of a line or string

• Old Japanese: 連る (turu)
  • Japanese: 連れる (tsureru)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *ture
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kunigami: 連りーるん (chirīrun)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 連るぃるり (tsïrïruri)
    • Okinawan: 連りゆん (tsiriyun)
    • Yoron: 連りゅん (chiryun)

Etymology 2

Appears to be distinct from *turu meaning vine; line; string; to hang.

Vovin (2008) considers it possibly related to an ancestor of Korean 두루미 (durumi, “crane”), with a Pre-Proto-Japonic root-final -m vanishing later, leaving only a Kansai accent pattern behind (see pronunciation section below). May ultimately be a regional Wanderwort. Compare also Proto-Turkic *turunya (“crane”) (whence Turkish turna), Mongolian тогоруу (togoruu, “crane”), Hungarian daru (“crane”). (Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• Accent class: 2.5x
  • The Proto-Ryukyuan accent is irregular.

Noun

*turu

1. a crane (large, long-legged and long-necked bird of the family Gruidae)

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 鶴 (turu)
  • Japanese: 鶴 (tsuru)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *turu (tone class A)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 鶴 (turu)
    • Kunigami: 鶴 (chirū /⁠tɕìɾúː⁠/)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 鶴 (tsïru)
    • Okinawan: 鶴 (tsiru /⁠tsíɾù⁠/)
    • Okinoerabu: 鶴 (tsuru /⁠tsùɾú⁠/)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 鶴 (tïru /⁠tɨ̀ɾû⁠/)
    • ⇒ Tokunoshima: 鶴ん鳥 (tsïruntui) (< *turu-n-tui)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 鶴 (churu)
    • Yaeyama: 鶴 (tsïru /⁠tsɨ́ɾù⁠/)
    • ⇒ Yonaguni: 鶴鳩 (chiru-hatu /⁠tɕìɾû.hàtù⁠/) (< *turu-pato)