Accessibility

1. くぬ ばしゅや くるまいすっし いゆる くとぅ なやびーみ？

   Ku-nu ba-shu-ya ku-ru-ma-i-su-shi i-yu-ru ku-tu na-ya-bii-mi

   Is this place wheelchair accessible?

   Usage

   Ask whether a venue is accessible for wheelchair users

   Grammar Note

   "Place" is bashu (basju) and "this" is kunu. The particle -shi (-Qsi) marks means, "to enter" is iyun (?ijuN) with the attributive iyuru, and ability is expressed as …kutu nayabiimi

2. エレベーターや あいびーみ？

   E-re-bee-taa-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Do you have an elevator / lift?

   Usage

   Ask whether a building has an elevator

   Grammar Note

   Existence is asked with aibiimi, the polite question form of an "there is" (?aN). Yaibiimi is the copula "is it?" and cannot stand in for an existential

3. バリアフリーぬ ざしちぬ いりゆー やいびーん。

   Ba-ri-a-fu-rii-nu za-shi-chi-nu i-ri-yuu ya-i-bii-n

   I need a room with accessibility features.

   Usage

   Request an accessible hotel room at check-in

   Grammar Note

   A room is zashichi (Zasici "zashiki"), and "necessary" is iriyuu (?irijuu). Bariafurii is a loanword

4. スロープ とぅ だんさぬ ねーん いりぐちや あいびーみ？

   Su-roo-pu tu dan-sa-nu nee-n i-ri-gu-chi-ya a-i-bii-mi?

   Is there a ramp or step-free entrance?

   Usage

   Ask about ramp access or a step-free entrance

   Grammar Note

   "There is not" is neen (neeN; the polite form is neeyabiran), used unchanged before a noun. The listing particle is tu — Japanese ya does not carry over, and Okinawan yaka is the comparative "than", not "or"

5. バリアフリーぬ ふーるや まーかい やいびーが？

   Ba-ri-a-fu-rii-nu fuu-ru-ya maa-kai ya-i-bii-ga

   Where is the accessible restroom?

   Usage

   Ask where the accessible toilet is located

   Grammar Note

   A toilet is fuuru (huru). Maakai yaibiiga is the fixed pattern for asking where something is

6. わんねー みーぬ みーやびらん。てぃがねー たぼーりみそーれー。

   Wan-nee mii-nu mii-ya-bi-ran. Ti-ga-nee ta-boo-ri-mi-soo-ree

   I am visually impaired — can you help me?

   Usage

   Tell someone about a visual impairment and request help

   Grammar Note

   "Eye" is mii and "to be able to see" is miiyun (miijuN), whose polite negative is miiyabiran. "Help" is tiganee (tiganee; kashii is the alternative). Taboorimisooree is the most deferential request form

7. まぎさる じーぬ メニューや あいびーみ？

   Ma-gi-sa-ru jii-nu me-nyuu-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Do you have large-print menus?

   Usage

   Request a large-print menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Letter, character" is jii (zii) and "big" is magisan (magisaN; uhwisan is the alternative), which becomes the attributive magisaru before a noun. Mooji is simply the Japanese word moji

8. おんせーガイドや あいびーみ？

   On-see-gai-do-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Are there audio guides available?

   Usage

   Ask whether audio guides are available at an attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Audio guide" is a modern term. The lengthening of Japanese onsei into onsee is a regular Okinawan sound change. Existence is asked with aibiimi

9. わんねー ほちょーき ちかとーいびーん。あちらかに はなちみそーれー。

   Wan-nee ho-choo-ki chi-ka-too-i-bii-n. A-chi-ra-ka-ni ha-na-chi-mi-soo-ree

   I use a hearing aid — please speak clearly.

   Usage

   Inform someone you wear a hearing aid and ask them to speak clearly

   Grammar Note

   "To use" is chikayun (CikajuN), polite progressive chikatooibiin, and "to speak" is hanashun (hanasjuN) with te-form hanachi. Achiraka is ?aciraka "clear"

10. かいじょいん ちりてぃ いゆる くとぅ なやびーみ？

    Kai-jo-in chi-ri-ti i-yu-ru ku-tu na-ya-bii-mi

    Can I bring my service / guide dog?

    Usage

    Ask whether a service or guide dog is permitted on the premises

    Grammar Note

    "To take along" is chiriyun (CirijuN), te-form chiriti. The word for a dog is in (?iN), but kaijoin "service dog" is a modern institutional term and stays Japanese

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