Ainu
Hokkaido Ainu / アイヌ (ISO 639-3: ain)
VALID SCRIPTS: Latin, Katakana (No official status)
TONAL: No
Alphabet (IPA):
[a] [e] [i] [o] [u]
[m] [n] [p] [t] [t͡s] [s] [ʃ] [ɾ] [k] [w] [h] [x] [ç] [ɸ] [j]
Alphabet (Latin):
Info
The Hokkaido Ainu language is an endangered language spoken by the Ainu people of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Ainu is classified as a language isolate, meaning it has no known linguistic relatives. The language has a unique phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, making it an important part of the world's linguistic diversity.
The Ainu people have a long history in Hokkaido, with some estimates suggesting they have lived on the island for at least 10,000 years. However, due to colonization by the Japanese in the 19th century, the Ainu people were subjected to discrimination, assimilation, and forced cultural suppression. The use of the Ainu language was banned in schools and other public spaces, and many Ainu people were discouraged from speaking it in favor of Japanese.
As a result, the Ainu language has suffered a sharp decline in usage over the last century, and today it is estimated that only a few dozen fluent speakers remain. In response to this decline, efforts have been made to revitalize the language, such as through language classes and the creation of Ainu language learning materials. The Japanese government has also recognized the Ainu people as an indigenous group, which includes acknowledging the importance of the Ainu language and culture.
Despite these efforts, the future of the Hokkaido Ainu language remains uncertain. However, the Ainu people continue to fight for recognition and revitalization of their language and culture, in hopes of preserving an important part of Japan's cultural and linguistic heritage.
Ainu is usually written in katakana, which is a Japanese syllabary primarily used for writing loanwords from foreign languages. When Ainu words are written in katakana, they are pronounced according to the rules of Japanese pronunciation. However, the pronunciation of Ainu words often differs significantly from their Japanese counterparts, so this can lead to some discrepancies between the written and spoken forms of the language.