The genetic relationship of the Ainu language

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the genetic relationship of the Ainu language. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the history of the investigation of the Ainu language and the various theories hypothesized as to its origin. It is noted that the current state of language typology maintains that Ainu is a language isolate. Chapter 2 presents phonological evidence relating Ainu to the Altaic language family. The primary source of the Altaic data is Poppe (1960). Recurring sound correspondences are hypothesized and a total of 167 Ainu lexical items are presented as having Altaic origins. Chapter 3 further pursues the question of Altaic features in the Ainu language by noting various similarities in lexical and morphological categories between Ainu and Altaic. Chapter 4 presents phonological evidence relating Ainu to Japanese and Korean. Recurring sound correspondences are hypothesized and a total of 200 Ainu lexical items are presented as being of common origin with Japanese or Korean lexical items. Chapter 5 discusses whether the similarities in phonology and morphological and lexical patterning between Ainu and the Altaic languages can be attributed to borrowing or to common genetic origin. The author concludes that the nature of the evidence presented suggests that common origin is the correct explanation. Similarly, in the case of the relationship of Ainu, Japanese, and Korean, the author concludes that these languages are descended from a Proto-Korean-Japanese-Ainu. A further conclusion, not dependent on the borrowing or common origin controversy, is that the Ainu were originally on the Asiatic mainland and later migrated to the Japanese archipelago. An appendix containing a grammatical sketch of the Ainu language is based primarily on Japanese sources and is included for the benefit of those who do not have access to the Japanese material.