Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/yə

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.

Likely related to *ya (“eight”).

*yə

1. four

• Old Japanese: 四 (yo₂)
  • Japanese: 四 (yo)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 四 (yū-)
    • Kunigami: 四 (yū-)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 四 (yū-)
    • Okinawan: 四 (yū-)
    • Okinoerabu: 四 (yū-)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 四 (yū-)
    • Tokunoshima: 四 (yū-)
    • Yoron: 四 (yū-)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 四 (yū-)
    • Yaeyama: 四 (yū-)
    • Yonaguni: 四 (dū-)

Seemingly connected to Old Japanese 節 (yo₂, “section”), but the accent values do not match.

*yə

1. world, era

• Old Japanese: 世 (yo₂)
  • Japanese: 世 (yo)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 世 (yū)
    • Kunigami: 世 (yū)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 世 (yū)
    • Okinawan: 世 (yū)
    • Okinoerabu: 世 (yū)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 世 (yū)
    • Tokunoshima: 世 (yū)
    • Yoron: 世 (yū)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 世 (yū)
    • Yaeyama: 世 (yū)
    • Yonaguni: 世 (dū)

*yə

1. same

• ⇒ Old Japanese: よち (yo₂ti, “same-age child”)
• ⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *yono-
  • Northern Ryukyuan: ゑん (wen) (Omoro Sōshi, 1531)
    • Kikai: いぃん (yin-)
    • Kunigami: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: ゆん (yun-)
    • Okinawan: いぃぬ (yinu-), いぃん (yin-)
    • Okinoerabu: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: いぃぬ (yinu-)
    • ⇒ Tokunoshima: いぬい (inui, “first birthday”) (< *yono-(p)i)
    • Yoron: ゆぬ (yunu-)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Yaeyama: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Yonaguni: どぅぬ (dunu-)