Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/uwo

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

Alternative forms

• *iwo

Etymology

Possibly sound-symbolic.

The *u ~ *i alteration is common in various words, but no explanation is given for why this phenomenon exists.

Noun

*uwo

1. fish

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 魚 (uwo)
  • Japanese: 魚 (uo, io)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *iwo (< *iwo), *iyO
  • Northern Ryukyuan: 亦窩 (io) (Liúqiú guăn yìyŭ, 1469–1470)
    • Kikai: 魚 (iyu)
    • Kunigami: 魚 ('yū)
    • Northern Amami-Oshima: 魚 ('yu)
    • Okinawan: 魚 (iyu, iu)
    • Oki-No-Erabu: 魚 ('yū)
    • Southern Amami-Oshima: 魚 ('yū)
    • Toku-No-Shima: 魚 ('yu)
    • Yoron: 魚 ('yū)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 魚 (zzu)
    • Yaeyama: 魚 (izu)
    • Yonaguni: 魚 (iyu)

Further reading

• “いう・いゆ【魚】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.