Old Japanese “Kara” in myth and etymology (Locating the Kara from which the proto-Japonics originated)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Studia Orientalia Slovaca |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://fphil.uniba.sk/fileadmin/fif/katedry_pracoviska/kvas/SOS_24_2/24_2_SOS1.pdf |
| Keywords | genesis of Japanese, Japonic language family, language prehistory, JapaneseIndo-European etymology, Izumo Fudoki, Kara polity, Silla, kentum, satem Indo-European languages. |
| Attached files | |
| Description | The toponym Kara is associated with the potential continental origin of protoJapanese speakers, according to several theories corroborated by mentions in the ancient Japanese chronicles. In order to clarify the possible location of Kara, these references are analysed and connected with the multiple homonyms of kara. An etymological analysis of these words suggest that many may reflect Indo-European origin–-cognacy or borrowing. The particular sources of the words, directions of borrowings, routes of reception, and detailed processes are yet to be clarified; however, the aim of this study is to identify possible distant connections spanning far beyond the Koreanic-Japonic and macro-Altaic relationships. The results of the analyses show that rather than referring exclusively to the polity on the southern tip of Korean Peninsula, Kara as the origin of Japonic may represent a broader geographical concept encompassing Korea and northeastern coastal China. |