Kunigami language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 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 | |
The Kunigami language (called Yanbaru kutūba by its speakers) is a special language. It is spoken in the northern part of Okinawa, Japan. Only about 5,000 people speak it today. This means it is an endangered language, which means it is at risk of disappearing.
Many people in Japan see Kunigami as a type of Japanese dialect. However, most language experts believe it is its own language. They place it within the Ryukyuan languages family.
People who speak the Okinawan language might understand some Kunigami words. But if you speak standard Japanese, Kunigami would be very hard to understand. There are also different ways of speaking Kunigami. For example, the way it is spoken on Okinoerabu Island is a bit different.
Learning Kunigami Phrases
It's fun to learn new words from different languages! Here are some common phrases in the Kunigami language. These examples come from the Okinoerabu dialect.
Okinoerabu Dialect Phrases
- Thank you. = みへでぃろ。(Mihediro).
- Welcome. = うがみやぶら。/ めんしょーり。(Ugamiyabura. / Menshoori.)
Kunigami Music
Music is a great way to experience a language. The Kunigami language is used in a famous traditional song. This song is called “Aha Bushi.” It is often sung with a special instrument called a sanshin. The sanshin is a three-stringed instrument from Okinawa.
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