Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/oyobe

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 *oyonpE (“finger”).

Noun

*oyobe

1. finger

Reconstruction notes

Likely loanwords from Japanese 指 (yubi) include Kikai 指 (yubi), Okinoerabu 指 (yubi), and Southern Amami Ōshima 指 (yubi, Koniya dialect).

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: *Oyebe, *eyebe
  • Kunigami: 指 (uibi)
  • Northern Amami Ōshima: 指 (ibï)
  • Okinawan: 指 (ībi)
  • Southern Amami Ōshima: 指 (ībï)
  • Tokunoshima: 指 (uibï, ïïbï, ūbï)
  • Yoron: 指 (uibi)
• Southern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako: 指 (uibi, uyibi)
  • Yaeyama: 指 (ubi)
  • Yonaguni: 指 (uyubi)

References

• Thorpe (1983) p. 285-286
• Curry (2004) p. 269
• Jarosz (2015) p. 638