🌹Baciranun directed by Yonaguni islander Higashimori Aika is now available online (untill October). ▶ Bachiranun |JFF+ INDEPENDENT CINEMA 2023 (jpf.go.jp)
The Yonaguni language (与那国語), better known as Dunanmunui (与那国物言), Dunan-munui, or Dunan language, often referred to simply as Dunan, is the indigenous language of Yonagunijima (与那国島), the westernmost island of Japan. As of 2013, it has approximately 400 speakers, the majority of whom are middle-aged or older.
In Japan, Dunan and other Luchuan languages (Ryukyuan languages) are often referred to as “dialects” despite being unintelligible to Standard Japanese or other mainland variants. This is becuause assimilation policies were introduced to Ryukyu Islands after the Imperial annexation, and speaking Japanese has since been mandatory. In the early 20th century, Hougen Fuda (方言札) or dialect cards were commoly used at schools in Okinawa to coerce students into speaking only Standard Japanese.
Today, children no longer learn Dunan as mother tongue in the home, and the language is at risk of falling out of use. In 2009, UNESCO labeled Yonaguni (Dunan language), along with 5 other Ryukyuan languages, as “endangered” in the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing. According to UNESCO, these languages that carry the culture of Luchu (Ryukyu) are on the course of extinction by 2050.
・Classification
1) The Ryukyuan languages form a branch of the Japonic language family.
2) In terms of internal relationships, the Ryukyuan languages are divided into two groups: Northern Ryukyuan languages and Southern Ryukyuan languages.
3) Yonaguni language (Dunanmunui) belongs to the Southern Ryukyuan languages, and it has two dialects: dialect of Tumaimura (祖納村ぬ言葉) and dialect of Ndimura (比川村ぬ言葉). However, most written sources generally do not stress on the two dialects of Dunan simply because differences between them are not salient in perception.
・Writing system
1) Japanese Hiragana and Katakana are used to write modern Dunanmunui, but currently there is no standardized orthography.
2) The most common one for Dunan is full Hiragana writing.
3) Similar to Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan language), it is possible to write Dunan in Kana-Kanji mixed script.
🌹Let's learn some new vocabulary from the Japanese constitution.
Yonaguni (Dunan) simply does not possess the vocabulary to express many modern concepts, but authors 宮良 作 and 宮良純一郎 managed to coined or developed new political terms by combining different existing words.
This methodology is, of course, very common in Yonaguni terminology.
🌺道筋(みてぃすでぃ)- reason, principle
🌺睦まつぁん(むちまつぁん)- harmonious
🌺睦まさるん(むちまさるん)- to get along well
🌺人人間(っとぅにんぎん)- individual
🌺どぅぬ中(どぅぬなが)- society, world
🌺社会(しゃかい)- society
🌺関わり(かかわり)- relationship, relation
🌺企み(くるみ)- plan
🌺企び(たぐらび)- plan
🌺国(ふん)- country
🌺我達国(ばんたふん)- our country
🌺国ぬ民(ふんぬたみ)- the people, common people
🌺国ぬ形どぅきみひる力(ふんぬかたちどぅきみひるしから)- national sovereignty, the sovereignty of the people
🌺心んききみるん(くぐるんききみるん)- to make a resolution, to pass a resolution
🌺戦道具(いくつぁどぅく゚)- equipment, armed force, gear, weapons
🌺戦道具力(いくつぁどぅく゚しから)- war potential, force, strength, military power
🌺捨てぃひるん(かてぃひるん)- to give up, to relinquish
🌺国どぅ納みひる仕事(ふんどぅうさみるしかま)- national politics
🌺納みひる仕事(うさみるしかま)- politics
🌺意見(いきん)- opinion
🌺永遠(えいいん)- eternity
🌺強さる力(すさるしから)- authority, power,
🌺真高ぬ関係(まーだがぬかんけい)- equal relationship
🌺真丈ぬ関係(まーたぎぬかんけい)- equal relationship
🌺行ない(うぐない)- behavior
🌺確かとぅきみるん(しかとぅきみるん)- to define clearly
🌺使い働ぐん(かいはたらぐん)- to exercise power or authority