The topic of Yoron language is an issue that has aroused great interest in contemporary society. Over the years, Yoron language has been the subject of debate, research and discussion in various areas, which demonstrates its relevance and impact today. From its origin to its influence today, Yoron language has played a fundamental role in people's lives, culture and history. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the impact of Yoron language, analyzing its different facets and its importance in today's society.
Yoron | |
---|---|
ユンヌフトゥバ Yunnu Futuba | |
Native to | Japan |
Region | Yoronjima within the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture |
Native speakers | 950 (2004) |
Japanese | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | yox |
Glottolog | yoro1243 |
The Yoron language (ユンヌフトゥバ Yunnu Futuba) is a dialect continuum spoken on Yoronjima in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. It is one of the Northern Ryukyuan languages, which are a sub-branch within the Japonic language family. The language is one of the most endangered languages in all of Japan.
According to local folklorist Kiku Chiyo, Yoron dialects can be divided into three groups:
The Mugiya district is often considered to have a distinct form of accent and intonation.
According to Kiku Hidenori, who leads conservation activities, people of Yoron Island, Kagoshima Prefecture call their language "Yunnu Futuba." More precisely, a dictionary compiled by his mother Kiku Chiyo (b. 1927) gives /junnuhu⸢tuba/ as the word form of her home community, Mugiya-higashiku. Other words she collected include /junnu⸢jun/ (Yoron accent), /nizjancju⸢jun/ (accent of people of Mugiya-higashiku and Mugiya-nishiku), /sima⸢jun/ (speaking the dialect), /sima⸢guci/ and /simahu⸢tuba/ (the island/home community's language). Yamada Minoru (b. 1916) provides the word forms of the community of Chabana: /⸢ju⸣nnu ⸢fu⸣tuba/ and /⸢ʃi⸣ma ⸢fu⸣tuba/ (the island's language).
The following is the phonology of the Mugiya dialect, which is based on Hirayama et al. (1969).
Bilabial | Alveolar | Post- alveolar |
Palatal | Velar | Glottal | Moraic | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m | n | Q N | ||||||||||
Stop | p | b | t | d | k | ɡ | ʔ | ||||||
Affricate | t͡ʃ | ||||||||||||
Fricative | s | z | h | ||||||||||
Approximant | j | w | |||||||||||
Flap | r[clarification needed] |
Notes
The Yoron language has /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/ and /u/, long and short.
Only major sound correspondences are listed.