Although it shares a common ancestor and some vocabulary and grammar with Japanese, Okinawan is largely incomprehensible to speakers of Japanese. Okinawan also has a much more complex honorific system than Japanese.
There are four other languages spoken in the Ryukyu islands: Amami (Shimayumusa), Miyako (Myakufutsu), Yaeyama (Yaimamuni) and Yonaguni (Dunangmunui). They are mutually imcomprehensible with each other, with Okinawan and with Japanese. All are highly endangered and are spoken mainly by older people. Young Ryukyuans tend to speak Japanese with Ryukyu accents.
During the reign of king Sho Shin (1477-1526), the Shuri dialect of Okinawan was standardised and was used as the official language of the aristocracy. It was also used as the language of songs and poems from that era.
Okinawan is written either with the Japanese hiragana syllabary or romaji (the Roman alphabet).
Okinawan pronunciation
Northern Okinawan alphabet and pronunciation
Some Okinawan proverbs
Nmarijima nu kutuba wasshii nee kuni n wasshiin.
Forgetting your native tongue means forgetting your native country.
Shinjichi nu ada nayumi.
Kindness will never be wasted in any way.
Tusui ya tatashina mun. Warabee shikashina mun.
The old should be treated with due respect. Children should be treated with gentleness.
Sample text in Standard Okinawan (Shuri-Naha dialect)
Transliteration
Ninjinoo taan ‘nmariyagiinaa jiyu yai, mata, duu teeshichi ni umuyuru chimu tu duu mamurandiru chimoo taa yatin yunu gutu sajakatooru mun yan. Ninjinoo muutu kara iikani nu sunawatookutu, tageeni choodeeyandiru kangeesaani kutuni atarandaree naran.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
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