Description

Book Synopsis
Sakishima comprises a group of islands situated between Okinawa and Taiwan, forming a culturally important bridge between Japan and Taiwan. Studies of the languages of the Ryukyuan islands are valuable for an accurate understanding of the linguistic history of Japan as a whole. This monograph is the first attempt – in any language – at a large-scale reconstruction of the three languages of the southern Ryukyus (Sakishima), viz., Miyako, Yaeyama andYonaguni. An introduction outlines a brief history of the area, with a concise linguistic history, followed by an explanation of the languages studied. Succeeding chapters are devoted to the reconstruction of each of the three proto-languages. The three proto-languages are then compared and proto-Sakishima is reconstructed. This monograph provides data illustrating the importance of the language of Sakishima in understanding the linguistic history of the larger language family of Japonic.

Table of Contents
List of Figures; List of Maps; List of Abbreviations and Notations; Preface; 1 Introduction; 2 Proto-Miyako; 3 Proto-Yaeyama; 4 Pre-Yonaguni; 5 Proto-Sakishima; Appendix; References

A Linguistic History of the Forgotten Islands: A Reconstruction of the Proto-language of the Southern Ryūkyūs

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    A Hardback by John R. Bentley, Alexander Vovin

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      View other formats and editions of A Linguistic History of the Forgotten Islands: A Reconstruction of the Proto-language of the Southern Ryūkyūs by John R. Bentley

      Publisher: Brill
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 03/04/2008
      ISBN13: 9781905246571, 978-1905246571
      ISBN10:
      Also in:
      Historical and comparative linguistics

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Sakishima comprises a group of islands situated between Okinawa and Taiwan, forming a culturally important bridge between Japan and Taiwan. Studies of the languages of the Ryukyuan islands are valuable for an accurate understanding of the linguistic history of Japan as a whole. This monograph is the first attempt – in any language – at a large-scale reconstruction of the three languages of the southern Ryukyus (Sakishima), viz., Miyako, Yaeyama andYonaguni. An introduction outlines a brief history of the area, with a concise linguistic history, followed by an explanation of the languages studied. Succeeding chapters are devoted to the reconstruction of each of the three proto-languages. The three proto-languages are then compared and proto-Sakishima is reconstructed. This monograph provides data illustrating the importance of the language of Sakishima in understanding the linguistic history of the larger language family of Japonic.

      Table of Contents
      List of Figures; List of Maps; List of Abbreviations and Notations; Preface; 1 Introduction; 2 Proto-Miyako; 3 Proto-Yaeyama; 4 Pre-Yonaguni; 5 Proto-Sakishima; Appendix; References

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