--- In qalam@yahoogroups.com, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@...>
wrote:

> rothkofan wrote:
> >
> > node_ue wrote:
> > > I was just wondering if anybody had any info about the KAIDA

script

> > > [formerly] used in the westernmost Ryukyuan Island of Yonaguni

(and

> > > perhaps in all of Japan) to write the Yonaguni language (SIL

code

> > > YOI) of the islanders, or on the "suuchuuma" numerals also

(formerly)

> > > used on the island.
> >
> > Here are pics of Kaida and other Ryukyu Characters.
> > http://www.wonder-

okinawa.jp/024/english/moji/rongoron/kaida/index.html

> > http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/024/english/moji/rozetta/index.html
> > http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/024/english/moji/sanninum/index.html
> > http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/024/english/moji/warazan/index.html
> > http://www.churashima.net/shima/yonaguni/x_20020125/09.html
> > http://www.bihou.com/iseki/etc/etc-3.htm
> > http://www.kk.iij4u.or.jp/~isao9pw/dairyq_10.htm
> >
> > I'm Japanese. I didn't know anything about those characters until

I read

> > your post, but if you need help in Japanese please don't hesitate

to ask.

>
> Is there reason to believe that this is a writing system, that is,

a set

> of graphic symbols and rules for their use, such that any utterance

in

> its language can be reproduced identically without the intervention

of

> the utterer? (Or is it ideographic?)

Yes, you see not all the examples provided were KAIDA characters.

http://www.wonder-
okinawa.jp/024/english/moji/rongoron/kaida/index.html
http://www.churashima.net/shima/yonaguni/x_20020125/09.html

It seems that the other websites either concentrated on the KAIDA-
like characters found at the undersea ruins off the coast of Yonaguni
(not the one all these sites claim is similar to the "Okinawa rosetta
stone", but rather one that contains two KAIDA-like characters,
nearly identical to the symbols for 'horse' and 'goat' iirc) or on
mysterious writings found elsewhere in Ryukyu usually not related to
KAIDA characters.

There are many, many KAIDA pictograms. Common longevity peculiar to
Ryukyu means that there are still individuals alive who were around
when this system was being used, so they can confirm the nature of
these symbols.

Actually, now that I think about it, with the amount of information I
have, I'm not sure they can actually be used to write anything in
Yonaguni, since I've never seen any examples of their use. It's quite
possible that they were just used to record financial transactions
("so-and-so sold X amount of barley...") and the like.

So I guess I don't have enough information to tell for sure, although
I do know that there are many characters available.

--Mark