Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/-nu

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

Etymology

Related to *na (“prohibitive marker”).

Suffix

*-nu (infinitive *-ni, irrealis *-na)

1. Negativizes a verb in the irrealis stem.

   *kikanu

   does not listen

Descendants

• Old Japanese: ぬ (nu), ず (-zu) (< *-nu, *-n(i)su)
  • Japanese: ぬ (-nu), ず (-zu) (literary)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *-nai (suffixed with the irrealis *-na and *wu (“to have; to sit”))
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: ねーん (-nēn), ねーらん (-nēran)
    • Kunigami: ねー (-nē), ぬ (-nu)
    • Northern Amami-Oshima: ねん (-nen)
    • Okinawan: ねーん (-nēn)
    • Oki-No-Erabu: ん (-n)
    • Southern Amami-Oshima: ねむっ (-nem), ねーむっ (-nēm)
    • Yoron: ねん (-nen), ねんぬ (-nennu)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: なーん (-nān)
    • Yaeyama: ねーぬ (-nēnu)
    • Yonaguni: みぬん (-minun)