Editing Okinawan language (section)

== Orthography ==
{{Further|Okinawan writing system}}
[[File:Tamaudun21bs4272.jpg|thumb|The ''Tamaoton no Hinomon'' ({{lang|ja|[[:ja:玉陵の碑文|玉陵の碑文]]}}), referred to as the ''Tamaudun no Hinomon'' in modern Japanese, is the oldest known inscription of Okinawan using both hiragana and kanji.]]

The Okinawan language was historically written using an admixture of [[kanji]] and [[hiragana]]. The hiragana syllabary is believed to have first been introduced from mainland Japan to the Ryukyu Kingdom some time during the reign of king [[Shunten]] in the early thirteenth century.{{sfn|Kodansha|1983|p=355}}{{sfn|OPG|2003}} It is likely that Okinawans were already in contact with [[Chinese characters|''hanzi'' (Chinese characters)]] due to extensive trade between the Ryukyu Kingdom and China, Japan and Korea. However, hiragana gained more widespread acceptance throughout the Ryukyu Islands, and most documents and letters were exclusively transcribed using this script, in contrast to in Japan where writing solely in hiragana was considered "women's script". The ''[[Omoro Sōshi]]'' ({{lang|ja|おもろさうし}}), a sixteenth-century compilation of songs and poetry,{{sfn|Kerr|2000|p=35}} and a few preserved writs of appointments dating from the same century were written solely in Hiragana.{{sfn|Takara|1994–1995|p=2}} [[Kanji]] were gradually adopted due to the growing influence of mainland Japan and to the linguistic affinity between the Okinawan and Japanese languages.{{sfn|WPL|1977|p=30}} However, it was mainly limited to affairs of high importance and to documents sent towards the mainland.  The oldest inscription of Okinawan exemplifying its use along with Hiragana can be found on a stone [[stele]] at the [[Tamaudun]] mausoleum, dating back to 1501.{{sfn|Ishikawa|2002|p=10}}{{sfn|Okinawa Style|2005|p=138}}

After the [[Invasion of Ryukyu|invasion of Okinawa]] by the [[Shimazu clan]] of Satsuma in 1609, Okinawan ceased to be used in official affairs.{{sfn|Kodansha|1983|p=355}} It was replaced by standard Japanese writing and a form of Classical Chinese writing known as [[kanbun]].{{sfn|Kodansha|1983|p=355}} Despite this change, Okinawan still continued to prosper in local literature up until the nineteenth century. Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], the Japanese government abolished the [[Abolition of the han system|domain system]] and formally annexed the Ryukyu Islands to Japan as the [[Okinawa Prefecture]] in 1879.{{sfn|Tanji|2006|p=26}} To promote national unity, the government then introduced standard education and opened Japanese-language schools based on the Tokyo dialect.{{sfn|Tanji|2006|p=26}} Students were discouraged and chastised for speaking or even writing in the local "dialect", notably through the use of "[[dialect card]]s" ({{lang|ja|方言札}}). As a result, Okinawan gradually ceased to be written entirely until the American takeover in 1945.
[[File:スクリーンショット_2025-02-19_113245.png|thumb|Chinese translation of Okinawan Script (Hiragana and Katakana) witten by Jo Hoko (徐葆光) in 1721 ]]
Since then, Japanese and American scholars have variously transcribed the regional language using a number of ad hoc romanization schemes or the [[katakana]] syllabary to demarcate its foreign nature with standard Japanese. Proponents of Okinawan tend to be more traditionalist and continue to write the language using hiragana with kanji. In any case, no standard or consensus concerning spelling issues has ever been formalized, so discrepancies between modern literary works are common.

===Syllabary===
Technically, they are not syllables, but rather [[Mora (linguistics)|morae]]. Each mora in Okinawan will consist of one or two kana characters. If two, then a smaller version of kana follows the normal sized kana. In each cell of the table below, the top row is the kana (hiragana to the left, katakana to the right of the dot), the middle row in rōmaji ([[Hepburn romanization]]), and the bottom row in IPA.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!colspan=2 rowspan=2|
!colspan="100%"|Vowel
|-
! a !! i !! u !! e !! o !! ya !! yi !! yu !! ye !! yo !! wa !! wi !! wu !! we !! wo !! n
|-
!rowspan="100%" {{vert header|va=middle|Consonant}}
! (none)
| {{lang|ryu|あ・ア}}<br />a<br />{{IPA|[a]}}
| {{lang|ryu|い・イ}}<br />i<br />{{IPA|[i]}}
| {{lang|ryu|う・ウ}}<br />u<br />{{IPA|[u]}}
| {{lang|ryu|え・エ}}<br />e<br />{{IPA|[e]}}
| {{lang|ryu|お・オ}}<br />o<br />{{IPA|[o]}}
| {{lang|ryu|や・ヤ}}<br />ya<br />{{IPA|[ja]}}
| {{lang|ryu|いぃ・イィ}}<br />yi<br />{{IPA|[ji]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ゆ・ユ}}<br />yu<br />{{IPA|[ju]}}
| {{lang|ryu|えぇ・エェ}}<br />ye<br />{{IPA|[je]}}
| {{lang|ryu|よ・ヨ}}<br />yo<br />{{IPA|[jo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|わ・ワ}}<br />wa<br />{{IPA|[wa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ゐ・ヰ}}<br />wi<br />{{IPA|[wi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|をぅ・ヲゥ}}<br />wu<br />{{IPA|[wu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ゑ・ヱ}}<br />we<br />{{IPA|[we]}}
| {{lang|ryu|を・ヲ}}<br />wo<br />{{IPA|[wo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ん・ン}}<br />n<br />{{IPA|[ɴ]}} ({{IPA|[n̩]}}, {{IPA|[ŋ̣]}}, {{IPA|[ṃ]}})
|-
! {{sc|Q}}<br />(glottal stop)
| {{lang|ryu|あ・ア}}<br />{{sc|Q}}a<br />{{IPA|[ʔa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|い・イ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}i<br />{{IPA|[ʔi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|う・ウ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}u<br />{{IPA|[ʔu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|え・エ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}e<br />{{IPA|[ʔe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|お・オ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}o<br />{{IPA|[ʔo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っや・ッヤ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}ya<br />{{IPA|[ʔʲa]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|っゆ・ッユ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}yu<br />{{IPA|[ʔʲu]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|っよ・ッヨ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}yo<br />{{IPA|[ʔʲo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っわ・ッワ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}wa<br />{{IPA|[ʔʷa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っゐ・ッヰ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}wi<br />{{IPA|[ʔʷi]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|っゑ・ッヱ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}we<br />{{IPA|[ʔʷe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っを・ッヲ}}<br />{{sc|Q}}wo<br />{{IPA|[ʔʷo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っん・ッン}}<br />{{sc|Q}}n<br />{{IPA|[ʔɴ]}} ({{IPA|[ʔn̩]}}, {{IPA|[ʔṃ]}})
|-
! k
| {{lang|ryu|か・カ}}<br />ka<br />{{IPA|[ka]}}
| {{lang|ryu|き・キ}}<br />ki<br />{{IPA|[ki]}}
| {{lang|ryu|く・ク}}<br />ku<br />{{IPA|[ku]}}
| {{lang|ryu|け・ケ}}<br />ke<br />{{IPA|[ke]}}
| {{lang|ryu|こ・コ}}<br />ko<br />{{IPA|[ko]}}
| {{lang|ryu|きゃ・キャ}}<br />kya<br />{{IPA|[kʲa]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|きゅ・キュ}}<br />kyu<br />{{IPA|[kʲu]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|きょ・キョ}}<br />kyo<br />{{IPA|[kʲo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|くゎ・クヮ}}<br />kwa<br />{{IPA|[kʷa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|くぃ・クィ}}<br />kwi<br />{{IPA|[kʷi]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|くぇ・クェ}}<br />kwe<br />{{IPA|[kʷe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|くぉ・クォ}}<br />kwo<br />{{IPA|[kʷo]}}
|-
! g
| {{lang|ryu|が・ガ}}<br />ga<br />{{IPA|[ɡa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぎ・ギ}}<br />gi<br />{{IPA|[ɡi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぐ・グ}}<br />gu<br />{{IPA|[ɡu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|げ・ゲ}}<br />ge<br />{{IPA|[ɡe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ご・ゴ}}<br />go<br />{{IPA|[ɡo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぎゃ・ギャ}}<br />gya<br />{{IPA|[ɡʲa]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|ぎゅ・ギュ}}<br />gyu<br />{{IPA|[ɡʲu]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|ぎょ・ギョ}}<br />gyo<br />{{IPA|[ɡʲo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぐゎ・グヮ}}<br />gwa<br />{{IPA|[ɡʷa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぐぃ・グィ}}<br />gwi<br />{{IPA|[ɡʷi]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|ぐぇ・グェ}}<br />gwe<br />{{IPA|[ɡʷe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぐぉ・グォ}}<br />gwo<br />{{IPA|[ɡʷo]}}
|-
! s
| {{lang|ryu|さ・サ}}<br />sa<br />{{IPA|[sa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|すぃ・スィ}}<br />si<br />{{IPA|[si]}}
| {{lang|ryu|す・ス}}<br />su<br />{{IPA|[su]}}
| {{lang|ryu|せ・セ}}<br />se<br />{{IPA|[se]}}
| {{lang|ryu|そ・ソ}}<br />so<br />{{IPA|[so]}}
|-
! sh
| {{lang|ryu|しゃ・シャ}}<br />sha<br />{{IPA|[ɕa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|し・シ}}<br />shi<br />{{IPA|[ɕi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|しゅ・シュ}}<br />shu<br />{{IPA|[ɕu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|しぇ・シェ}}<br />she<br />{{IPA|[ɕe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|しょ・ショ}}<br />sho<br />{{IPA|[ɕo]}}
|-
! z
| {{lang|ryu|ざ・ザ}}<br />za<br />{{IPA|[za]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ずぃ・ズィ}}<br />zi<br />{{IPA|[zi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ず・ズ}}<br />zu<br />{{IPA|[zu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぜ・ゼ}}<br />ze<br />{{IPA|[ze]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぞ・ゾ}}<br />zo<br />{{IPA|[zo]}}
|-
! j
| {{lang|ryu|じゃ・ジャ<br />(ぢゃ・ヂャ)}}<br />ja<br />{{IPA|[dʑa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|じ・ジ<br />(ぢ・ヂ)}}<br />ji<br />{{IPA|[dʑi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|じゅ・ヂュ<br />(ぢゅ・ヂュ)}}<br />ju<br />{{IPA|[dʑu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|じぇ・ジェ<br />(ぢぇ・ヂェ)}}<br />je<br />{{IPA|[dʑe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|じょ・ジョ<br />(ぢょ・ヂョ)}}<br />jo<br />{{IPA|[dʑo]}}
|-
! t
| {{lang|ryu|た・タ}}<br />ta<br />{{IPA|[ta]}}
| {{lang|ryu|てぃ・ティ}}<br />ti<br />{{IPA|[ti]}}
| {{lang|ryu|とぅ・トゥ}}<br />tu<br />{{IPA|[tu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|て・テ}}<br />te<br />{{IPA|[te]}}
| {{lang|ryu|と・ト}}<br />to<br />{{IPA|[to]}}
|-
! d
| {{lang|ryu|だ・ダ}}<br />da<br />{{IPA|[da]}}
| {{lang|ryu|でぃ・ディ}}<br />di<br />{{IPA|[di]}}
| {{lang|ryu|どぅ・ドゥ}}<br />du<br />{{IPA|[du]}}
| {{lang|ryu|で・デ}}<br />de<br />{{IPA|[de]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ど・ド}}<br />do<br />{{IPA|[do]}}
|-
! ts
| {{lang|ryu|つぁ・ツァ}}<br />tsa<br />{{IPA|[t͡sa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|つぃ・ツィ}}<br />tsi<br />{{IPA|[t͡si]}}
| {{lang|ryu|つ・ツ}}<br />tsu<br />{{IPA|[t͡su]}}
| {{lang|ryu|つぇ・ツェ}}<br />tse<br />{{IPA|[t͡se]}}
| {{lang|ryu|つぉ・ツォ}}<br />tso<br />{{IPA|[t͡so]}}
|-
! ch
| {{lang|ryu|ちゃ・チャ}}<br />cha<br />{{IPA|[t͡ɕa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ち・チ}}<br />chi<br />{{IPA|[t͡ɕi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ちゅ・チュ}}<br />chu<br />{{IPA|[t͡ɕu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ちぇ・チェ}}<br />che<br />{{IPA|[t͡ɕe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ちょ・チョ}}<br />cho<br />{{IPA|[t͡ɕo]}}
! ya !! !! yu !! !! yo
|-
! n
| {{lang|ryu|な・ナ}}<br />na<br />{{IPA|[na]}}
| {{lang|ryu|に・ニ}}<br />ni<br />{{IPA|[ni]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぬ・ヌ}}<br />nu<br />{{IPA|[nu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ね・ネ}}<br />ne<br />{{IPA|[ne]}}
| {{lang|ryu|の・ノ}}<br />no<br />{{IPA|[no]}}
| {{lang|ryu|にゃ・ニャ}}<br />nya<br />{{IPA|[ɲa]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|にゅ・ニュ}}<br />nyu<br />{{IPA|[ɲu]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|にょ・ニョ}}<br />nyo<br />{{IPA|[ɲo]}}
| rowspan="7" colspan="6" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! long vowel !! double consonant
|-
| {{lang|ryu|〜（あ、い、う、え、お）・ー}}<br />~(a, i, u, e, o)<br />~{{IPA|[Vː]}}
| {{lang|ryu|っ・ッ}}<br />(Any consonant)<br />{{IPA|[Cː]}}
|}
|-
! h
| {{lang|ryu|は・ハ}}<br />ha<br />{{IPA|[ha]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ひ・ヒ}}<br />hi<br />{{IPA|[çi]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|へ・ヘ}}<br />he<br />{{IPA|[he]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ほ・ホ}}<br />ho<br />{{IPA|[ho]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ひゃ・ヒャ}}<br />hya<br />{{IPA|[ça]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|ひゅ・ヒュ}}<br />hyu<br />{{IPA|[çu]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|ひょ・ヒョ}}<br />hyo<br />{{IPA|[ço]}}
|-
! f
| {{lang|ryu|ふぁ・ファ}}<br />fa<br />{{IPA|[ɸa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ふぃ・フィ}}<br />fi<br />{{IPA|[ɸi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ふ・フ}}<br />fu/hu<br />{{IPA|[ɸu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ふぇ・フェ}}<br />fe<br />{{IPA|[ɸe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ふぉ・フォ}}<br />fo<br />{{IPA|[ɸo]}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|-
! b
| {{lang|ryu|ば・バ}}<br />ba<br />{{IPA|[ba]}}
| {{lang|ryu|び・ビ}}<br />bi<br />{{IPA|[bi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぶ・ブ}}<br />bu<br />{{IPA|[bu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|べ・ベ}}<br />be<br />{{IPA|[be]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぼ・ボ}}<br />bo<br />{{IPA|[bo]}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|-
! p
| {{lang|ryu|ぱ・パ}}<br />pa<br />{{IPA|[pa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぴ・ピ}}<br />pi<br />{{IPA|[pi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぷ・プ}}<br />pu<br />{{IPA|[pu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぺ・ペ}}<br />pe<br />{{IPA|[pe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ぽ・ポ}}<br />po<br />{{IPA|[po]}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|-
! m
| {{lang|ryu|ま・マ}}<br />ma<br />{{IPA|[ma]}}
| {{lang|ryu|み・ミ}}<br />mi<br />{{IPA|[mi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|む・ム}}<br />mu<br />{{IPA|[mu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|め・メ}}<br />me<br />{{IPA|[me]}}
| {{lang|ryu|も・モ}}<br />mo<br />{{IPA|[mo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|みゃ・ミャ}}<br />mya<br />{{IPA|[mʲa]}}
|
| {{lang|ryu|みゅ・ミュ}}<br />myu<br />{{IPA|[mʲu]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|みょ・ミョ}}<br />myo<br />{{IPA|[mʲo]}}
|-
! r
| {{lang|ryu|ら・ラ}}<br />ra<br />{{IPA|[ɾa]}}
| {{lang|ryu|り・リ}}<br />ri<br />{{IPA|[ɾi]}}
| {{lang|ryu|る・ル}}<br />ru<br />{{IPA|[ɾu]}}
| {{lang|ryu|れ・レ}}<br />re<br />{{IPA|[ɾe]}}
| {{lang|ryu|ろ・ロ}}<br />ro<br />{{IPA|[ɾo]}}
| {{lang|ryu|りゃ・リャ}}<br />rya<br />{{IPA|[ɾʲa]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|りゅ・リュ}}<br />ryu<br />{{IPA|[ɾʲu]}}
| 
| {{lang|ryu|りょ・リョ}}<br />ryo<br />{{IPA|[ɾʲo]}}
|}