Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/inama

This Proto-Ryukyuan 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-Ryukyuan

Etymology

According to one theory, the descendants would experience a sound shift via ⟨*ima⟩ (c.f. *ima (“already”)), by */ʔimja/ → */ʔmja/ → */na/. However, all reflexes point to initial *ina-ma (second component identical to *ma (“place, space”)), with progressive palatalization operating in Northern Ryukyuan. Compare Proto-Ryukyuan *miyako > Miyako 宮古 (myāku) and Okinawan 宮古 (nāku).

Adverb

*inama

1. now

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: *inyama
  • Kikai: 今 (nyama)
  • Kunigami: 今 (nanma)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 今 (nama)
  • Okinawan: 今 (nama)
  • Okinoerabu: 今 (nama)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 今 (nama)
  • Tokunoshima: 今 (nā)
  • Yoron: 今 (nyama)
• Southern Ryukyuan: *ïnama
  • Miyako: 今 (nnama)
  • Yaeyama: 今 (nama)
  • Yonaguni: 今 (nai, nnai) (< *inae)