The genetic relationship of the Ainu language
Date
1978
Authors
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Narrator
Transcriber
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
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.
Description
Keywords
Ainu language, Altaic languages, Comparative linguistics
Citation
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Theses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Linguistics; no. 1202
Related To (URI)
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.