Grammaticalization of *i-'to do' (intransitive) in Luchuan

Abstract

An example of grammaticalization is found in the Yaeyama group of the Luchuan (Ryukyuan) language, comparing morphemes of verbal conjugation. Miyara verbal conjugations are divided into two major groups. Group I corresponds with the Japanese 5-dan type, and Group II corresponds with the 1-dan type. However, Group I has one additional conjugational type, the Active, which Group II lacks.[table]Yonaguni dialect has the verb i-(r-) which is equivalent to suru ('to do', intransitive) in Common Japanese.[table]It is concluded that the Miyara morpheme i-(r-) originated in the verb ^*i-, which means that acts or things have come into existence, uttered when the speaker has a look at these acts or things. It seems that in Miyara dialect, the grammaticalization progressed from Group II to Group I.