The State of the Art of the Genetic Relationship of Japonic: non-Altaic Comparisons and the Fate of Linguistic Isolates

要旨

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Some lesser-known long range theories besides Altaic are discussed in the present article, before special attention is given to the two non-distant hypotheses which purport to substantiate the genetic relationship between Japonic and Ainu as well as between Japonic and Korean. Other assumptions about Japonic, such as Japanese as a ‘mixed language’, are also evaluated and critically assessed. Furthermore, the reasons why Japanese was linked to such a panoply of linguistic families are also taken in consideration, and a discussion about the fate of “linguistic isolates” is also offered.</jats:p>