International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2026

Geographical Distribution Types of Sino-Ryukyuan Readings

(Abstract)

Liu Xiaohai and Shi Chen

Through the methods of geolinguistics, Chinese historical phonology, and comparative linguistics, and by means of a comparison among Ryukyuan dialects, Middle Chinese, and Japanese on-yomi readings, Sino-Ryukyuan readings from the pronunciations of 206 basic lexical items recorded in the Illustrated Dictionary of the Ryukyuan Language (『図説琉球語辞典』) can be identified. Further, the distribution of these readings across 128 locations in the Ryukyu Islands is described. It is found that the geographical distribution types of Sino-Ryukyuan readings fall into at least five categories: the pan-regional type, the two-end type, the central type, the northern type, and the southern type. These findings can serve as a reference for further exploring the paths of Chinese influence on the Ryukyuan language, as well as the historical interactions, exchanges, and mutual learning between China and the Ryukyu Kingdom.