Art & Museums

1. びじゅつかん・ギャラリーや、まーかい あいびーが？

   Bijutsukan / gyararii ya, maakai aibiiga?

   Where is the art museum / gallery?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of an art museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   "Aibiiga" is the polite question form in Ryukyuan. "Maa" = where, the Ryukyuan equivalent of Japanese "doko"

2. あきいりぬ じかんや なんどぅち やいびーが？

   Akiiri nu jikan ya nan-du-chi yaibii ga?

   What are the opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about opening hours

   Grammar Note

   "Nandu-chi" asks "what time" in Ryukyuan (the same word as in "nanduchi yaibiiga?"). "Nuu" (what) is not used to ask the time. "Nu" is the genitive particle, equivalent to Japanese "no"

3. むんちんや ちゃっさ やいびーが？

   Munchin ya chassa yaibiiga?

   How much is the entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the admission price

   Grammar Note

   The Okinawan word is munchin (muNciN "gate money, admission fee for a play"). "Chassa" is the Okinawan word for "how much" — it is not the Japanese "ikura". "Yaibiiga" is the polite interrogative ending

4. なかんかい しゃしん とぅてぃ いいびーみ？

   Nakan kai shashin tuti iibiimi?

   Is photography allowed inside?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted inside

   Grammar Note

   The permission question has the same shape as "shashin tuti iibiimi?". "Tuti" is the te-form of "to take", and "iibiimi" is the polite question "is it okay?". Yes/no questions end in "-mi"; the Japanese-style "-na" is not used

5. オーディオガイドや あいびーみ？

   Oodiogaido ya aibiimi?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask for an audio guide

   Grammar Note

   "Ya" is the Ryukyuan topic marker, equivalent to Japanese "wa". "Aibiimi" = is there (polite question); yes/no questions take "-mi" (questions with a question word take "-ga")

6. しまぬ でんとーてきな うぶなーぬ しゅうしゅうや まーかい あいびーが？

   Shima nu dentooteki na ubunaa nu shuushuu ya maakai aibiiga?

   Where is the collection of local / traditional art?

   Usage

   Used to locate the local or traditional art collection

   Grammar Note

   "Shima" = island, but in Okinawan means "hometown/community". "Shima nu" = of the local area

7. くぬ さくひんや ちゅらさんどー — たがちゅくたが？

   Kunu sakuhin ya churasan doo — ta ga chukuta ga?

   This artwork is stunning — who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to express admiration and ask who created the artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Churasan" = beautiful, the signature Ryukyuan adjective (cf. Churaumi Aquarium). "Ta" = who

8. くぬ さくひんぬ プリントやー こーいびーみ？

   Kunu sakuhin nu purinto yaa kooibiimi?

   Can I buy a print / reproduction of this work?

   Usage

   Used to ask about purchasing art prints or reproductions

   Grammar Note

   "Kooibiin" is the polite Ryukyuan form of "to buy". Adding "mi" creates a yes/no question, "kooibiimi?" (the Japanese-style "na" is not used)

9. ガイド あいびーる ツアーや あいびーみ？

   Gaido aibiiru tsuaa ya aibiimi?

   Is there a guided tour available?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether guided tours are offered

   Grammar Note

   "Aibiiru" is the attributive (pre-noun) form of "aibiin" (there is), used to modify nouns. Loanwords are written in katakana, matching ekotsuaa

10. アートワークショップんかい さんか しーぶさいびーん。

    Aato waakushoppu nkai sanka shiibusaibiin.

    I'd like to attend an art workshop.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in joining an art workshop

    Grammar Note

    The polite "I would like to…" is shiibusaibiin: the stem sii of sjuN "to do" plus the desiderative suffix -busjaN ("want to; attaches to the verb stem"), in its polite -saibiin form. The same suffix appears in siibusikoo neeN ("does not want to") and siibusjahuNdee ("doing as one pleases"). The final doo ("indeed, I tell you", as in nusudu doo "it is a thief!") attaches to the plain assertive and does not co-occur with the polite -ibiin. Sanka "participation" is a modern word.

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