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The Ryukyus and the New, But Endangered, Languages of Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Patrick Heinrich ,
Fija Bairon  and
Matthias Brenzinger
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On 21 February 2009, the international mother language day, UNESCO launched the online version of its ‘Atlas of the world's languages in danger’. This electronic version that will also be published as the third edition of the UNESCO Atlas in May 2009, now includes the Luchuan [Ryukyuan] languages of Japan (UNESCO 2009). ‘Luchuan’ is the Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan language) term for the Japanese ‘Ryukyu’. Likewise ‘Okinawa’ is ‘Uchinaa’ in Uchinaaguchi. Well taken, UNESCO recognizes six languages of the Luchu Islands [Ryukyu Islands] of which two are severely endangered, Yaeyama and Yonaguni, and four are classified as definitely endangered, Amami, Kunigami, Uchinaa [Okinawa] and Miyako (see UNESCO 2003 for assessing language vitality and endangerment).

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Research Article
Information
Asia-Pacific Journal , Volume 7 , Issue 19 , May 2009 , e3
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Copyright © The Authors 2009

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