琉球語의 母音體系에 대한 硏究 -『琉球館譯語』와『語音飜譯』의 音訳表記를 중심으로-

Abstract

This paper is a study on the Ryukyuan written in Chinese of "Liúqiú guǎn yì yǔ" and Mid-term Korean language of "eoeumbeonyeog". Based on the notation in vowel of Ryukyuan used to write the vowel /e/, the paper focuses on vowel system of Ryukyuan from a perspective of historical phonology. The results are as follows. (1) In the vowel system of 15th and 16th centuries from a notation of Chinese character and Hangeul notation, existence of a central vowel is recognized. (2) A central vowel that existed in 15th and 16th centuries Ryukyuan is supposed to be /ɘ/, and that is measured that the central vowel existed as allophone such as [jəi], [ïi] depending on articulation position of initial consonant and Sound length. (3) Antient vowel system of Ryukyuan is presumed that /i・a・ə・u/ forms the vowel system. In particular, central vowel /ə/ is supposed that the area is extensive and have changed as ə→ɘ→ï or ə→ɘ→e→i. (4) From notation of 夏-那都[natu]-나ᄌᆞ[natsʌ], start of affricate, such as ‘t-ts’, is confirmed in 15th and 16th centuries Ryukyuan.