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.

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

Preliminary Material / J. R. Bentley -- 1. Introduction / J. R. Bentley -- 2. Proto-Miyako / J. R. Bentley -- 3. Proto-Yaeyama / J. R. Bentley -- 4. Pre-Yonaguni / J. R. Bentley -- 5. Proto-Sakishima / J. R. Bentley -- Appendix: List Of Proto-Sakishima Data / J. R. Bentley -- References / J. R. Bentley.