protoJaponicspråk

Proto-Japonic, or protoJaponicspråk, is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Japonic language family, which includes Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages. Through comparative study, linguists identify regular sound correspondences and shared grammatical traits among its descendants to infer properties of the ancestor. The homeland and timing are debated, but most reconstructions place Proto-Japonic in the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age in or near western Japan, with continued discussion of broader regional contact.

Phonology and grammar: The reconstruction commonly posits a five-vowel system and a modest set of consonants, such as p, t, k, s, m, n, h, w, y, r, with possible glottal or final-nasal elements. The language is thought to have a predominantly CV syllable structure and to favor postpositional grammar, with an agglutinative tendency for tense, aspect, mood, and case markers. Word order is reconstructed as likely SOV.

Lexicon and syntax: Core vocabulary shows cognates with both Japanese and Ryukyuan across domains like kinship, body, and nature. Grammatical patterns such as demonstratives, numerals, and certain verb inflections recur in descendants, supporting the reconstruction. However, Proto-Japonic remains hypothetical, requiring cautious extrapolation from attested languages.

Dating and debate: Chronology estimates range from several centuries BCE to the early centuries CE. Debates focus on homeland, the extent of contact with Koreanic languages, and whether Japonic has deeper links to other language families. Ongoing findings from archaeology, ancient loanwords, and comparative data continue to refine the reconstruction.

See also: Japanese language, Ryukyuan languages, Japonic language family, proto-language. References and further reading are found in surveys of Japonic comparative linguistics.