Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/a

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.

This section or reconstruction entry lacks references or sources. Please help verify this information by adding appropriate citations. You can also discuss it at the Tea Room.

According to Thorpe (1983), the daughter languages show variation in the use of this pronoun. Almost all daughter languages lost this pronoun except for Miyako and Yonaguni, where the latter uses it as a singular. However, Kunigami uses it as a plural.

From Proto-Japonic *a (“I”).

*a

1. I

• *aga (from *a + *ga)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kunigami: 吾が (aga)
• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako::
    • Minna: 吾が (aga)
• *ara (from the short nominative with *-ra taken from the plural)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako:
      • Ōgami: 吾ー (arā, topic) (< *ara wa)
• *anu (from the long nominative)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako:
      • Irabu: 吾 (anu)
      • Minna: 吾 (an)
      • Ōgami: 吾 (anu)
    • Yonaguni: 吾 (anu)

• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Kunigami: 吾 (a)
• Northern Ryukyuan:
  • Miyako:
    • Minna: 吾 (a)