Reconstruction:Proto-Japonic/asa

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 an *as- root cognate with *asita (“tomorrow”) and Old Japanese 明日 (asu, “tomorrow”). Compare also modern Japanese 浅い (asai, “shallow”).

Alternatively, compare Middle Korean 아ᄎᆞᆷ〮 (àchóm). The word has accent class 2.5 (LF) pitch, which could be indicative of a lost consonant.

Pronunciation

• Accent class: 2.5b?

Noun

*asa

1. morning

   Synonym: *tuto

Descendants

• Old Japanese: 朝 (asa)
  • Japanese: 朝 (asa)
• Proto-Ryukyuan: *asa (used as an affix in the modern descendants)
  • Northern Ryukyuan:
    • Kikai: 朝 (asa)
    • Kunigami: 朝 (hasā)
    • Northern Amami Ōshima: 朝 (asa)
    • Okinawan: 朝 (asa)
    • Okinoerabu: 朝 (asa)
    • Southern Amami Ōshima: 朝 (asa)
    • Tokunoshima: 朝 (asa)
    • Yoron: 朝 (asa)
  • Southern Ryukyuan:
    • Miyako: 朝 (asa)
    • Yaeyama: 朝 (asa)
    • Yonaguni: 朝 (asa)

Further reading

• Pellard (2017) p. 60-61