Research Report for Cycle 1

Preservation of Okinawan Language

Starting Story

The reason why I chose this topic is that I witnessed the decline of the Okinawan language. A few years ago, I used to see my grandparents using Okinawan language, but I don't see it much anymore. And I had heard that the language had been used as the official language of the Ryukyu until a century ago, and I thought it should be preserved as a culture.

Basic Information of Okinawan Language

Okinawan language is called Ryukyuan or Okinawan. Ryukyuan was originally the same as Japanese and then they had changed in Nara period. And Ryukyuan used to been an official language in Ryukyu Kingdom. There is also diversity by region, with the language of the Northern and Southern Ryukyus being quite different.

Now most Okinawan people other than elderly use normal Japanese and a few broken Ryukyuan.

Current Situation

According to Okinawa Prefecture's survey, it is clear that the percentage of people who use Ryukyuan differs greatly from generation to generation. "The level of understanding of Ryukyuan (しまくとぅばに対する理解度）" shows the tendency. The people who answered "well understand or somewhat understand is over 95% in over 70s. In contrast, over 70% of teen agers answered "don't know much or not at all.

しまくとぅば県民意識調査

Toujisya's Voice

・If Okinawan people don’t understand Ryukyuan, they can't understand the meaning of classical lyrics and plays, so we should pass on to the next generation.

・No one around me uses it.

・I was taught not to use it in the past,

・There are words that can only be conveyed in Ryukyuan.

・My grandparents use a Ryukyuan and I want to learn

Causes - why did Ryukyuan decline?

In 1879, Japan annexed the Ryukyu Islands. Later, as part of the assimilation policy(同化政策), the ordinance that restricts the use of dialects was issued. Firstly, the ordinance prohibited the use in government offices, but gradually in school. "Hougen Huda (方言札) " is one example of prohibition. It was used as punishment to children who used Ryukyuan in 1920-30.

During Battle of Okinawan in the Pacific War, Okinawan people who used Ryukyuan were regarded as spay because of Japanese army.

➡Okinawan people had been prohibited using Ryukyuan many times, so they have been instilled the value that using Ryukyuan is not good.

Action for Regaining Ryukyuan

1 Certification Test

県しまくとぅば普及センター conducts the certification test to familiarize Ryukyuan with Okinawan people. Anyone can take the test and receive a certificate if they pass.

2 Organization

There are as many as 76,000 folk tales in only Okinawa, while there are 60,000 in Japan as a whole. To preserve and inherit folk tales, 沖縄伝承話資料センター has recorded exactly what Ryukyuan speakers spoke through interview. By 2018, they achieved 40,000 recording and digitalization and donated those to museums and art galleries.

Summary

I found out how Ryukyuan had declined by researching statistics and history and hearing Toujisya's voice. There are some actions for preserving it, but I think it is not enough. That's because the people involved in such activities may be limited to those who are interested in the Ryukyuan language. Therefore, activities should be undertaken so that more people can pay attention to Ryukyuan.

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