2024 年 28 巻 2 号 p. 74-92
This paper explores correspondences between Western Old Japanese (WOJ) non-front mid-vowels and modern Ryukyuan. Although Ryukyuan underwent an essentially unconditioned mid-vowel raising, and WOJ mid-vowels typically correspond to Ryukyuan close vowels, occasionally the WOJ “o”-vowels unexpectedly correspond to unraised Ryukyuan mid-vowels. Through an extensive lexicographic study of the relevant correspondences between WOJ, North and South Ryukyuan, I have looked for patterns in that apparent irregularity. The conclusion is that the modern Ryukyuan back mid-vowel indeed reflects Proto-Japonic *o and *ɘ, and the explanations of that retention are partially rooted in systemic sound changes and partially in intrinsic (“natural”) articulatory causes.
