Yoron language


The Yoron language 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.

Dialects

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.

Folk terminology

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 gives /junnuhu⸢tuba/ as the word form of her home community, Mugiya-higashiku. Other words she collected include /junnu⸢jun/, /nizjancju⸢jun/, /sima⸢jun/, /sima⸢guci/ and /simahu⸢tuba/. Yamada Minoru provides the word forms of the community of Chabana: /⸢ju⸣nnu ⸢fu⸣tuba/ and /⸢ʃi⸣ma ⸢fu⸣tuba/.

Phonology

The following is the phonology of the Mugiya dialect, which is based on Hirayama et al..

Consonants

Notes
The Yoron language has,,, and, long and short.

Correspondences to Standard Japanese

Only major sound correspondences are listed.