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.

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”).

Accent class: 2.2

*turu

1. a vine
2. a line or string

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)

*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

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)

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).^[1] 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?)

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

*turu

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

• 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)