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Kunigami language facts for kids

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Kunigami language
ヤンバルクトゥーバ
Native to Japan
Region Northern Okinawa
Ethnicity Ryukyuan people
Native speakers 5,000 (2004)  (date missing)
Language family
Japonic
  • Ryukyuan
    • Northern Ryukyuan
      • Kunigami language

The Kunigami language (Kunigami: 山原言葉, Yanbaru kutūba) is an endangered Ryukyuan language spoken in the Kunigami area of Okinawa, Japan.

Japan calls it a dialect while most linguists put Kunigami as its own language within the Ryukyuan languages group.

Kunigami is somewhat understandable to people who speak the Okinawan language. However, Japanese speakers wouldn’t be able to understand Kunigami. There are also different dialects of Kunigami, such as the one on Okinoerabu.

Phrases

Okinoerabu dialect

Thank you. = みへでぃろ。(Mihediro).

Welcome. = うがみやぶら。/ めんしょーり。(Ugamiyabura. / Menshoori.)

Music

A famous sanshin song known as “Aha Bushi” is sung in Kunigami.

Related pages

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Idioma kunigami para niños

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Kunigami language Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.