Amami Japanese (トン普通語, ) is a variety of the
Japanese language
is the principal language of the Japonic languages, Japonic language family spoken by the Japanese people. It has around 123 million speakers, primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language, and within the Japanese dia ...
spoken on the island of
Amami Ōshima
, also known as Amami, is the largest island in the Amami Islands, Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa. It is one of the Satsunan Islands, all of which belong to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
The island, 712.35 ...
.
Its native term means "potato standard". Much like
Okinawan Japanese
is the Japanese language as spoken by the people of Okinawa Islands. The name ''Uchinaa'' ''Yamatu-guchi'' is composed of ''Uchinaa'' meaning "Okinawa", ''Yamatu'' referring to mainland Japan, and the suffix -''guchi'' approximately meaning " ...
, it is a descendant of Standard Japanese but with influences from the traditional
Ryukyuan languages
The , also Lewchewan or Luchuan (), are the indigenous languages of the Ryukyu Islands, the southernmost part of the Japanese archipelago. Along with the Japanese language and the Hachijō language, they make up the Japonic language family.
Ju ...
(in this case, Amami Japanese is influenced by the
Amami Ōshima language
The Amami language or languages (, , ), also known as Amami Ōshima or simply Ōshima ('Big Island'), is a Ryukyuan language spoken in the Amami Islands south of Kyūshū. The southern variety of the Setouchi township may be a distinct langua ...
).
History
In the past, the locals of Amami Ōshima spoke the Amami Ōshima language, which belongs to the northern group of the larger
Ryukyuan language family. However, as a result of Japanese assimilation policies, a language shift towards Japanese began. The same occurrence happened in the other parts of the
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Geography of Taiwan, Taiwan: the Ryukyu Islands are divided into the Satsunan Islands (Ōsumi Islands, Ōsumi, Tokara Islands, Tokara and A ...
.
Despite Japanese becoming widespread in Amami Ōshima, a substrate from the Amami language was present.
This caused the creation of Amami Japanese, known locally as . Amami Japanese was looked down upon for much of its existence. However, in modern times, the variety is viewed positively by its speakers.
Features
The last two English examples are not words on their own. They instead list the situations in which the Amami Japanese words are used. indicates a quote, and the word marks a question when placed at the end of a phrase.
See also
*
Kagoshima dialect
The , often referred to as the , is a group of dialects or dialect continuum of the Japanese language spoken mainly within the area of the former Ōsumi and Satsuma provinces now incorporated into the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima. It ...
*
Okinawan Japanese
is the Japanese language as spoken by the people of Okinawa Islands. The name ''Uchinaa'' ''Yamatu-guchi'' is composed of ''Uchinaa'' meaning "Okinawa", ''Yamatu'' referring to mainland Japan, and the suffix -''guchi'' approximately meaning " ...
, the equivalent of Amami Japanese spoken on the
Okinawa Islands
The are an island group in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and are the principal island group of the prefecture. The Okinawa Islands are part of the larger Ryukyu Islands group and are located between the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture to the ...
*
Amami Ōshima language
The Amami language or languages (, , ), also known as Amami Ōshima or simply Ōshima ('Big Island'), is a Ryukyuan language spoken in the Amami Islands south of Kyūshū. The southern variety of the Setouchi township may be a distinct langua ...
, the language that influenced this variety of Japanese
*
Amami Ōshima
, also known as Amami, is the largest island in the Amami Islands, Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa. It is one of the Satsunan Islands, all of which belong to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
The island, 712.35 ...
, the island where is spoken
References
Amami Islands
Japanese dialects
{{Japonic-lang-stub