Amami languages

The Amami languages are a collection of dialect clusters spoken across the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. All dialects are members of the Ryukyuan languages, specifically its northern branch.

Amami languages
Native to	Japan
Region	Amami Islands
Ethnicity	Ryukyuan
Language family	Japonic Ryukyuan Northern Ryukyuan Amami languages
Dialects	Amami Ōshima Southern Amami Ōshima Kikai? Tokunoshima Okinoerabu? Yoron?
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	amam1245

Classification

There are many distinct clusters of the Amami languages, most of which have their own ISO 639-3 codes:[1][2]

• Amami Ōshima
  • Northern Amami Ōshima
  • Southern Amami Ōshima
• Kikai
• Tokunoshima
• Okinoerabu
• Yoron

Scholars are divided on the specific subgrouping of these dialects. The Okinoerabu and Yoron clusters may be grouped within the Kunigami language.[3]

References

1. "Did you know Amami-North Okinawan is endangered?". Endangered Languages. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
2. "ISO 639 Code Tables | ISO 639-3". iso639-3.sil.org. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
3. Michinori Shimoji, Patrick Heinrich, Shinsho Miyar (2015). Handbook of the Ryukyuan Languages History, Structure and Use. De Gruyter Mouton. p. 375.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)