Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/inama

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Reconstruction:Proto-Ryukyuan/inama

This Proto-Ryukyuan 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-Ryukyuan

Reconstruction

According to one theory, the descendants would experience a sound shift via ⟨*ima⟩, by */ʔimya/ → */ʔmya/ → */na/.[1]. However, all reflexes point to initial *ena-ma > *ina-ma (second component identical to *ma (“place, space”)), with progressive palatalization operating in Northern Ryukyuan. Compare Proto-Ryukyuan *miyako > Miyako 宮古 (myāku) and Okinawan 宮古 (nāku).

Etymology

From Proto-Japonic *ima (“now”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /enama/

Adverb

*inama

1. now

Descendants

• Northern Ryukyuan: *inyama
  • Kikai: 今 (nyama)
  • Kunigami: 今 (namā)
  • Okinawan: 今 (nama)
  • Southern Amami-Oshima: 今 (nama)
  • Toku-No-Shima: 今 (nä)
  • Yoron: 今 (nyama)
• Southern Ryukyuan: *ïnama
  • Miyako: 今 (nnama)
  • Yaeyama: 今 (nama)
  • Yonaguni: 今 (nai, nnai)

References

1. “なま【今】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.