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)**
← 3	4	5 →
Cardinal: *yə

Etymology 1

Likely related to *ya (“eight”).

Numeral

*yə

four

Descendants

Old Japanese: 四 (yo₂)
- Japanese: 四 (yo)
Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kikai: 四 (yū-)
  - Kunigami: 四 (yū-)
  - Northern Amami Ōshima: 四 (yū-)
  - Okinawan: 四 (yū-)
  - Okinoerabu: 四 (yū-)
  - Southern Amami Ōshima: 四 (yū-)
  - Tokunoshima: 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

world, era

Descendants

Old Japanese: 世 (yo₂)
- Japanese: 世 (yo)
Proto-Ryukyuan: *yo
- Northern Ryukyuan:
  - Kikai: 世 (yū)
  - Kunigami: 世 (yū)
  - Northern Amami Ōshima: 世 (yū)
  - Okinawan: 世 (yū)
  - Okinoerabu: 世 (yū)
  - Southern Amami Ōshima: 世 (yū)
  - Tokunoshima: 世 (yū)
  - Yoron: 世 (yū)
- Southern Ryukyuan:
  - Miyako: 世 (yū)
  - Yaeyama: 世 (yū)
  - Yonaguni: 世 (dū)

Etymology 3

Adjective

*yə

same

Descendants

⇒ Old Japanese: よち (yo₂ti, “same-age child”)
⇒ Proto-Ryukyuan: *yono-
- Northern Ryukyuan: ゑん (wen) (Omoro Sōshi, 1531)
  - Kikai: いぃん (yin-)
  - Kunigami: ゆぬ (yunu-)
  - Northern Amami Ōshima: ゆん (yun-)
  - Okinawan: いぃぬ (yinu-), いぃん (yin-)
  - Okinoerabu: ゆぬ (yunu-)
  - Southern Amami Ōshima: いぃぬ (yinu-)
  - ⇒ Tokunoshima: 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-)