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

By 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1905246579
• ISBN13: 9781905246571
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Brill
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 8.6"