A Three-pattern Accent System in Hateruma Ryukyuan

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the Hateruma Ryukyuan accentual system. Although many previous works have claimed that Hateruma has a two-pattern accent system, some recent studies have proposed that it has a three- or four-pattern accent system.

In the first part of this paper, we address synchronic issues and argue that Hateruma has a three-pattern accent system on the basis of an analysis of F0 tracks. We also show that adjectives and compound words can have two accentual units in a single word. In the latter part of the paper, we discuss diachronic issues. Based on the so-called “classified vocabulary” (keiretsubetsu-goi) and the word-initial sound, we found that one can reliably predict a word’s accent pattern. This is true of not only Hateruma Ryukyuan but also Shiraho Ryukyuan. By comparing these two dialects, we conclude that Hateruma has retained its accent system for more than 250 years.