Yonaguni language

language of Okinawa, Japan

The Yonaguni language (与那国物言, Dunan-munui) is one of the six Ryukyuan languages. It is spoken by some people on Yonaguni, which is an island next to Taiwan and Ishigaki. Only half of Yonaguni's people speak the language, and most of them are over the age of 50.[1] Yonaguni locals also speak Japanese.

Yonaguni language
与那国物言
Native toJapan
RegionYonaguni, Okinawa Prefecture
Native speakers
<1000
Language codes
ISO 639-3yoi
ELPYonaguni

It has the most similarities with the Yaeyama language, and both languages form the Macro-Yaeyama language group of the Southern Ryukyuan languages.

References change

  1. "Did you know Yonaguni is severely endangered?". Endangered Languages. Retrieved 2020-10-23.