Also Known As:
Yayeyama, Ryukyuan, Southern Ryukyuan, Saskisima, Saskishima, 八重山語, 八重山方言
Dialects & Varieties
- Taketomi
- Hatoma
- Hateruma
- Kabira
- Kohama
- Sonai
- Ishigaki
- Kuroshima
- Shiraho
- Aragusuku
personal communication on Japonic languages
Thomas Dougherty. May 2014. Personal Communication on Japonic languages.
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Unknown; perhaps only a few thousand
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 3
Some adults in the community are speakers, but the language is not spoken by children.
3
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
0
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
"'Language nest' is implemented at the community level, though the government has issued statements that it is certainly not opposed."
Location and Context
Countries
Japan
Location Description
The Yaeyama (八重山) Islands
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Japanese
Number of Other Language Speakers:
all
Domains of Other Languages:
all
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
kana
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
It's not written until quite recently and speakers don't write much.
Recent Resources
This is a version of "Let It Go" from the Disney movie "Frozen" translated into Miyara Yaeyaman, one
The Ryukyuan languages, spoken in southern Japan, are all highly endangered, with almost all speaker
The Ryukyuan languages, spoken in southern Japan, are all highly endangered, with almost all speaker