Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/məsi

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

Reconstruction

The /ə/ in this word is reconstructed on the basis of the modern Japanese descendant 若し (moshi); if that vowel were /o/, it would have resulted in modern Japanese *mushi instead of moshi.

Pronunciation

Accent class: 2.x

Adverb

*məsi

if

Descendants

Old Japanese: 若し (mosi)
- Japanese: 若し (moshi, Heian RL, Tokyo 1 [HL(L)], Kyoto 2 [HL(L)], Kagoshima A [HL(L)])
Proto-Ryukyuan: *mosi
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kunigami: 若し (mushi /⁠múɕì⁠/)
  - Northern Amami Ōshima: 若し (moshi)
  - Okinawan: 若し (mushi /⁠múɕì⁠/)
  - Yoron: 若し (mushi /⁠múɕí⁠/)
- Southern Ryukyuan: *mosi, *mosi-ka
  - ⇒ Miyako: 若すか (musï-ka)
  - Yaeyama: 若しぃ (musï /⁠músɨ̥̀⁠/), 若しぃか (musï-ka /⁠músɨ̥́-kà⁠/)
  - ⇒ Yonaguni: 若しかん (mushi-kan /⁠mùɕí-káŋ⁠/) (with irregular lack of fortition)