The Okinawan Language

The Okinawan Language

           

            Okinawa language is very different from the Japanese language and probably only a hand full of people can understand what they are trying to say. When Okinawa people say, “How are you?” they say “ウブクンジャナシィーミシェービーティ” (ubukunnjansyemisyebeetee.) There is many more Okinawa dialect that Japanese would have any clue to figure out what it means. It is less than 200 years that Okinawa had become a part of Japan. Okinawa was previously classified as the Ryuku Island, a completely different country. This might be the reason for Okinawa having a totally different language. Then one question comes up to mind, if one country joins another (such as Okinawa joining Japan) would their language be classified as a part of the new country or would their language still is classified as a different language? Is Okinawa dialect part of Japanese language or is it totally a new language?

Is Okinawa dialect part of Japanese? Or is it not?

Examples of Okinawa dialect:

Good Morning

おはようございます (ohiyogozaimasu)

ウゥキンシェービティー (ukinnsyebitee)

Excuse me

すみません　（sumimasen)

ユシリヤビタン (yuushiriyabitan)

Thank you very much

ありがとうございます (arigatougozaimasu)

ニフェーデービル (nifedebiru)