noun
Okinawan language; Okinawan dialect
Refers to the Ryukyuan language spoken in Okinawa, often called a dialect in Japanese context. In linguistics, it is considered a separate language from Japanese.
沖縄方言は日本語と大きく異なる。
The Okinawan language differs greatly from Japanese.
彼は沖縄方言を研究している。
He is researching the Okinawan dialect.
琉球語 is the broader linguistic term for the Ryukyuan languages, while 沖縄方言 specifically refers to the Okinawan variety, often treated as a dialect in everyday Japanese.
Compound of 沖縄 (Okinawa) and 方言 (dialect). The term reflects the common Japanese perception of Okinawan as a dialect, though linguistically it is a distinct language.