Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/mari

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 1

From Proto-Japonic *mari (“something round; a ball”).

Pronunciation

• Tone class: C

Noun

*mari

1. ball

Reconstruction notes

The Amami forms have a back vowel in the second syllable. Whether this is derived from this word, or from *maro (“round”), is unclear. There is a homophone *mari (“butt”), which might have been the reason for this irregular sound change in Amami.

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • >? Kikai: 毬 (mārū)
  • Kunigami: 毬 (mai)
  • >? Northern Amami Ōshima: 毬 (man)
  • Okinawan: 毬 (māi)
  • ⇒ Okinoerabu: 唐毬 (tōmai)
  • >? Southern Amami Ōshima: 毬 (marū)
  • >? Tokunoshima: 毬 (maru)
  • >? Yoron: 毬 (maru)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: 毬 (māɿ)
  • Yaeyama: 毬 (māɿ)
  • Yonaguni: 毬 (maryan)

Etymology 1

According to Nakasone (1983:513), it is derived from *mari (“to excrete”).

Pronunciation

• Tone class: C

Noun

*mari

1. butt

Reconstruction notes

Found predominant in Amami dialects. Elsewhere, *sirioi or *tube were used.

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kikai: 放い (mai), 放り (mari)
  • Kunigami: 放い (mai)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 放り (mari)
  • Okinoerabu: 放い (mai)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 放りー (marī)
  • Tokunoshima: 放い (mai)
  • Yoron: 放い (mai)