Southern Ryukyuan languages
| Southern Ryukyuan | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Sakishima Islands, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Linguistic classification | Japonic
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Glottolog | ryuk1244 |
The Southern Ryukyuan languages (南琉球語群 (Minami Ryūkyū gogun)) form one of two branches of the Ryukyuan languages. They are spoken on the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The three languages are Miyako (on the Miyako Islands) and Yaeyama and Yonaguni (on the Yaeyama Islands). Two have been identified as "critically endangered" by UNESCO[1][2] and the third as "definitely endangered".[3]
Writing system
All but one Ryukyuan language has used Chinese and Japanese script for writing. Yonaguni language, however, created its own form of writing called Kaidā logograms.
References
- ^ "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
- ^ "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
- ^ "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in danger". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2014-10-15.