A linguistic history of the forgotten islands : a reconstruction of the proto-language of the Southern Ryūkyūs / / John R. Bentley.

• Author: Bentley, John R.
• Place / Publishing House: Folkestone : : Global Oriental,, 2008.
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Series: Languages of Asia 7.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (328 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.
• Other title: Preliminary Material /; 1. Introduction /; 2. Proto-Miyako /; 3. Proto-Yaeyama /; 4. Pre-Yonaguni /; 5. Proto-Sakishima /; Appendix: List Of Proto-Sakishima Data /; References /
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (p. [302]-309).
• ISBN: 1282486152; 1283266172; 9786612486159; 9786613266170; 9004213260
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: John R. Bentley.

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.