The Japanese language likely evolved through a mixing of languages, specifically a substratum language of Japan (possibly Austronesian) with a language brought by later arrivals (possibly Altaic).
Here's a breakdown of the proposed evolution:
-
The Substratum Language: Before the arrival of the ancestors of modern Japanese speakers, Japan was inhabited by other people speaking different languages. The most plausible candidate for this pre-Japanese language family is Austronesian. This is based on linguistic evidence, including shared vocabulary and grammatical structures found in Japanese and Austronesian languages.
-
Arrival of a New Language: Later, newcomers arrived in Japan, bringing with them a new language. This language is hypothesized to be part of the Altaic language family, although this connection is still debated by linguists. This influx of a new language significantly influenced the development of Japanese.
-
Language Mixing: The interaction between the substratum language and the newly introduced language led to the development of a mixed language. This mixing process involved vocabulary borrowing, grammatical adaptation, and structural changes. The modern Japanese language is thus considered to be a result of this linguistic blend.
Key Theories and Influences:
-
The Substrate Hypothesis: This hypothesis suggests that the original inhabitants of Japan spoke a language that left a lasting influence on the Japanese language, even after being largely replaced by the language of later arrivals.
-
Altaic Influence (Contested): The theory suggesting that the incoming language belonged to the Altaic language family (which includes Turkic, Mongolic, and possibly Korean) is a subject of ongoing debate. While some linguists find compelling evidence of Altaic influence in Japanese grammar and vocabulary, others remain skeptical.
Summary:
The evolution of the Japanese language is a complex process involving the interaction between at least two distinct language groups. While the specific details of this linguistic interaction are still under investigation, the blending of a substratum language (potentially Austronesian) with a later arriving language (potentially Altaic) is considered to be the most plausible explanation for the origins of the Japanese language.
