X-Nico

unusual facts about Ainu language


Ainu language

During the 1980s, in the town of Nibutani (part of Biratori, Hokkaido), where many of the remaining native speakers live, there were 100 speakers, out of which only 15 used the language every day.


Applicative voice

Applicative constructions are found in various languages, particularly in highly agglutinative languages, such as Bella Coola (Nuxálk), Ubykh, Ainu and Bemba.

Cahiers de Linguistique Asie Orientale

It publishes articles in English, French and Mandarin Chinese, and covers a wide range of topics including Generative syntax, Linguistic typologyPhonetics, Phonology and Historical linguistics on all languages of the Sino-Tibetan, Austro-Asiatic, Austronesian, Hmong-Mien, Kra-Dai, Tungusic, Mongolic and Turkic families, as well as on Japanese, Korean and Ainu.


see also

Biratori, Hokkaido

Nibutani's best known son is perhaps Shigeru Kayano, an advocate for the Ainu and Ainu language and culture.