Accent in Some Kikai-jima Dialects of Ryukyuan with Particular Reference to Nouns in Central and Southern Dialects

Abstract

The accent systems of nouns and their mechanism are described in six dialects of central and southern Kikai-jima, an island in the Ryukyus. First, we are concerned with the Wan dialect, which has a two-pattern accent system, one pattern with word-tone on the bunsetsu unit, and one pattern with an ascending kernel on the penultimate mora of the word. Here we see coexistence of word-tone and accent kernel. It also has the peculiarity that a moraic nasal can bear a final high pitch of the word-tone, but not an ascending kernel. This fact shows a qualitative difference between word-tone and accent kernel. The relationship between the kernelless pattern and word-tone is also considered. Next, the accent systems of five dialects, Sakamine, Kami-katetsu, Araki, Nakazato and Isaneku are interpreted in relation to that of the Wan dialect. Finally, assuming that the Isaneku system is the proto-system of these dialects, their historical relationships are outlined.