Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/kuzira

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

From Proto-Japonic *kuntira (“whale”).

Noun

*kuzira

1. whale

Reconstruction notes

Northern Amami Ōshima 鯨 (kujira) (for *gujirya), Serikaku Okinoerabu 鯨 (kujira) (for *gujiya), Ōura and Uechi Miyako 鯨 (kujira) (for *fudza), Iriomote, Kuroshima and Taketomi Yaeyama 鯨 (kujira) (for *futtsa), Yonaguni 鯨 (kudira) (for *funda) are borrowed from Japanese 鯨 (kujira). Some Amami and Kikai dialects show native-like developments but with initial k-, however.

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: *kujira, *gujira
  • Kikai: 鯨 (kujja, kuiya)
  • Kunigami: 鯨 (kujja)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 鯨 (gujira, xujiya)
  • Okinawan: 鯨 (gujira)
  • Okinoerabu: 鯨 (gujiya)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 鯨 (gujirya, gujrya)
  • Tokunoshima: 鯨 (gunja)
  • Yoron: 鯨 (gūja, gūjā)
• Southern Ryukyuan: *fuzïra
  • Miyako: 鯨 (fudza)
  • Yaeyama: 鯨 (futtsa)

References

• Thorpe, Maner Lawton (1983) Ryūkyūan Language History‎^[1], Doctoral dissertation. University of Southern California, pages 346-347