Also Known As:
Ikimatsu, Ryukyuan, Southern Ryukyuan, Saskisima, Saskishima, 宮古語, 宮古方言, ミャークフツ
Dialects & Varieties
- Mainland Miyako
- Ōgami
- Ikema
- Irabu
- Tarama
Recent Resources
English Description
In the Hisamatsu region, every year on the 4th of May (lunar calendar) a festiva
Shimoji Isamu: Miyako language
Contributor:
Patrick Heinrich
Performance of the song "Obaa" by Isamu Shimoji, a singer from Miyako.
Severely Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Less than 2,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 4
Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.
4
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 5
Used only in a few very specific domains, such as in ceremonies, songs, prayer, proverbs, or certain limited domestic activities.
5
Transmission
Transmission 4
Many of the grandparent generation speak the language, but younger people generally do not.
4
Bibliography
Bibliography of Vitality:
Shinohara, Shigeko & Qandeel Hussain. 2020. Ikema Miyako (Japan) – Language Snapshot. Language Documentation and Description 19, 240-248.
Bibliography of Locations:
Shinohara, Shigeko & Qandeel Hussain. 2020. Ikema Miyako (Japan) – Language Snapshot. Language Documentation and Description 19, 240-248.
Bibliography of Context:
Shinohara, Shigeko & Qandeel Hussain. 2020. Ikema Miyako (Japan) – Language Snapshot. Language Documentation and Description 19, 240-248.