10 The Ainuic language family
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Anna Bugaeva
Abstract
This chapter explores the Ainuic language family, including the Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and Kuril dialects. Native to Japan but unrelated to Japonic, Ainuic is the only surviving lineage from the Jōmon period (around 12,000 years BP). The family’s diversification is relatively shallow, suggesting survival after a northward migration. Ainuic may have reduced linguistic diversity by assimilating or displacing other Jōmon languages during its spread to Hokkaido. Colonization led to the loss of Ainuic, with Kuril and Sakhalin Ainu disappearing in the early and late 20th century, and Hokkaido Ainu barely having survived into the 21st century. Teaching Ainu as a second language is a current focus. The chapter emphasizes Hokkaido Ainu, the best-documented dialect group, while considering other groups. Differences in vocabulary, phonology, and word formation exist between southwestern and northeastern Hokkaido dialects. Sakhalin Ainu is divided into northern and central groups, with separate dialects in the southwest and northeast. Ainuic phonology and grammar are contrasted with other Northeast Asian languages, to highlight distinct characteristics such as head-marking, polysynthesis, and noun incorporation. It is proposed that Ainu represents an ancient language type in Northeast Asia, in contrast to Japanese or Korean.
Abstract
This chapter explores the Ainuic language family, including the Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and Kuril dialects. Native to Japan but unrelated to Japonic, Ainuic is the only surviving lineage from the Jōmon period (around 12,000 years BP). The family’s diversification is relatively shallow, suggesting survival after a northward migration. Ainuic may have reduced linguistic diversity by assimilating or displacing other Jōmon languages during its spread to Hokkaido. Colonization led to the loss of Ainuic, with Kuril and Sakhalin Ainu disappearing in the early and late 20th century, and Hokkaido Ainu barely having survived into the 21st century. Teaching Ainu as a second language is a current focus. The chapter emphasizes Hokkaido Ainu, the best-documented dialect group, while considering other groups. Differences in vocabulary, phonology, and word formation exist between southwestern and northeastern Hokkaido dialects. Sakhalin Ainu is divided into northern and central groups, with separate dialects in the southwest and northeast. Ainuic phonology and grammar are contrasted with other Northeast Asian languages, to highlight distinct characteristics such as head-marking, polysynthesis, and noun incorporation. It is proposed that Ainu represents an ancient language type in Northeast Asia, in contrast to Japanese or Korean.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of contents V
- List of Contributors IX
- Introduction XI
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I Major language groups of Inner Eurasia
- 1 The Turkic language family 1
- 2 The Mongolic language family 75
- 3 The Tungusic language family 123
- 4 The Samoyed languages 167
- 5 Khanty dialects 253
- 6 Mansi dialects 281
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II Microfamilies of Siberia and Asia’s North Pacific Rim
- 7 The Yukaghir language family 307
- 8 The Yeniseian language family 365
- 9 The Amuric language family 481
- 10 The Ainuic language family 541
- 11 The Chukotko-Kamchatkan Languages 633
- 12 The Eskaleut language family 669
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of contents V
- List of Contributors IX
- Introduction XI
-
I Major language groups of Inner Eurasia
- 1 The Turkic language family 1
- 2 The Mongolic language family 75
- 3 The Tungusic language family 123
- 4 The Samoyed languages 167
- 5 Khanty dialects 253
- 6 Mansi dialects 281
-
II Microfamilies of Siberia and Asia’s North Pacific Rim
- 7 The Yukaghir language family 307
- 8 The Yeniseian language family 365
- 9 The Amuric language family 481
- 10 The Ainuic language family 541
- 11 The Chukotko-Kamchatkan Languages 633
- 12 The Eskaleut language family 669
