Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/yə

This Proto-Japonic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Japonic

Proto-Japonic numbers ^(edit)

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Cardinal: *yə

Etymology 1

Likely related to *ya (“eight”).

Numeral

*yə

1. four

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 四 (yo₂)
  • Japanese: 四 (yo)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 四 (yū-)
    • Kunigami: 四 (yū-)
    • Northern Amami-Oshima: 四 (yū-)
    • Okinawan: 四 (yū-)
    • Oki-No-Erabu: 四 (yū-)
    • Southern Amami-Oshima: 四 (yū-)
    • Toku-No-Shima: 四 (yū-)
    • Yoron: 四 (yū-)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 四 (yū-)
    • Yaeyama: 四 (yū-)
    • Yonaguni: 四 (dū-)

Etymology 2

Seemingly connected to Old Japanese 節 (yo₂, “section”), but the accent values do not match.

Noun

*yə

1. world, era

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 世 (yo₂)
  • Japanese: 世 (yo)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 世 (yū)
    • Kunigami: 世 (yū)
    • Northern Amami-Oshima: 世 (yū)
    • Okinawan: 世 (yū)
    • Oki-No-Erabu: 世 (yū)
    • Southern Amami-Oshima: 世 (yū)
    • Toku-No-Shima: 世 (yū)
    • Yoron: 世 (yū)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 世 (yū)
    • Yaeyama: 世 (yū)
    • Yonaguni: 世 (dū)

Etymology 3

Adjective

*yə

1. same

Descendants

• ⇒ Old Japanese: よち (yo₂ti, “same-age child”)
• ⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *yono-
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: いぃん (yin-)
    • Kunigami: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Northern Amami-Oshima: ゆん (yun-)
    • Okinawan: いぃぬ (yinu-), いぃん (yin-)
    • Oki-No-Erabu: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Southern Amami-Oshima: いぃぬ (yinu-)
    • ⇒ Toku-No-Shima: いぬい (inui, “first birthday”) (< *yono-(p)i)
    • Yoron: ゆぬ (yunu-)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Yaeyama: ゆぬ (yunu-)
    • Yonaguni: どぅぬ (dunu-)