Are the long-noted similarities between Japanese and other languages mere coincidences and created by chance? This presentation suggests a different view of these language resemblances based on global genetic history of homo sapiens and brain dynamics.

1. On Similarities
Between
Japanese and Other
Languages
Vietanh Nguyen

2. Table of Contents
3. Introduction
4-8 Samples of language similarities
Languages having noun similarities with Japanese
Languages having noun and verb similarities with
Japanese
9. Observations from linguists
10. A linguistic model of syntax
11. A dynamical system model of syntax
12. Implications
13. Approximate timeline of interactions
14-15. Map of migrations and hypothetical interactions
16. Conclusion
17. Appendix
Languages making no distinction between noun and verb
Being and becoming
18-20. References

3. Introduction
An observation from linguistics and dynamical
systems that over time nouns tend to be more stable
than verbs can be used to establish the order in time
of the similarities noted between Japanese and
other languages such as Igbo, Finnish, Lithuanian
and Tupinamba.

4. Samples of Language Similarities
Languages sharing mostly noun similarities:
- Igbo and Japanese
Languages sharing noun and verb similarities:
- Finnish and Japanese
- Lithuanian and Japanese
- Tupinamba and Japanese

5. Japanese and Igbo
Adachi = adachi (name)
Aki (opening) = aki (palm kernel)
Atami = atani (town name)
Hi = ehihie (day)
Iru (be) = iru (face)
Ishi (mind) = ishi (head)
Madoka = madoka (name)
Nanami = nnamani (name)
Obi (sash) = obi (heart)
Obuchi = obuchi (surname)
Osaka = osaka (name)
Ube (town name) = ube (pear fruit)
Uke (attack) = uke (evil attack)
Yutaka = utaka (name)

6. Japanese and Finnish
Ataeru = antaa (give)
Ha = hammas (tooth)
Hana (flower) = hana (water tap)
Himo (string) = himo (desire)
Kasa (umbrella) = kasa (a heap)
Kutsu (shoe) = kutsu (invitation)
Maku (curtain) = maku (taste)
Namae = nimi (name)
Risu (squirrel) = risu (a stick)
Sora (sky) = sora (gravel)
Suru = seista (stand)

7. Japanese and Lithuanian
Kawa (hide of animal) = kavoja, slepia (hiding)
Oppai = papai (tits, breasts)
Kande = kanda (bite, bites)
Mushi = muse (bug, fly)
Oshiri = uzhpakalis (butt, behind) (Lit. often pron, as "oshpakalis")
Kochi kochi = kuti kuti (tickling, tickle-tickle)
Katai = kietai, kieta, kietas (hard)
Konki = kantri (patience) (not very similar)
Tairaka = taikinga, taika (peaceful, peace)
Tooi = toli (far) (very similar because our "o" is pronounced long as Japanese "oo")
Wakai = vaikai (kids, young) (wakaa - in West Lithuanian dialect)
Ikimas(u) = ejimas (going)
Ikimasho = eikime (let's go)
Ate = ate (end, bye)
Aishiteru = aistra (JP: I love you; LT: passion)
Te = te (JP: hand; LT: take it (command))
Mizu = mizu (myzhu) JP: water; LT: I pee, I take a leak)
Tikyu = tikyu (JP: Earth; LT: I believe)

8. Japanese and Tupinamba
Kabe = acapê (wall)
Âme = amã, mana (rain)
Arashi = arassy (storm)
Hanasu = nheenga (talk)
Ikiru = ikobe (live)
Iki so suru (breathe) = iko (to be)
Kashi = caxi (oak)
Kuri = curi (chestnut)
Semaru = sema (approach)
Sumire = sumare (violet plant)
Suru (do) = so (walk)
Tataku = tataca (beat, hit, hammer)
Tsuku = syka (arrive)

9. Observations from Linguists
“Concrete objects and entities are easier to
individuate in the world (and therefore easier to
label) than are the relational constellations that
form the referents of verbs or prepositions.”
–Dedre Gentner (1981)
“Verbs change faster than nouns.”
–Mark Pagel (2007)
“Nouns are more stable than verbs.”
–Eyal Sagi (2010)

10. A Linguistic Model of Syntax
Example: A bear catches a salmon.
According to the linguist Lucien Tesnière, nouns can be seen as
actors or actants (semantic roles) in a real small drama and verbs
as interactions between actants.

11. A Dynamical System Model of Syntax
According to the mathematician Rene Thom, actants are point attractors
of a gradient system. The dynamic capture process can be described in
ordinary language as one minimum capturing the other.

12. Implications
The apparent long-term stability of nouns over verbs
implies that the interactions between people whose
languages having mainly noun similarities must be
more ancient than those of people whose languages
having both noun and verb similarities.

13. Approximate Timeline of Interactions

14. Map of Migrations and Hypothetical Interactions
The interaction times among people speaking Japanese and other languages
appear to follow and approximate the journey out of Africa into Central Asia and
the later expansions from Central Asia into the Baltic States area and East Asia
and eventually into the Americas.
1. The migration out of Africa into Arabian Peninsula – estimated 70,000 –
50,000 years ago
 Interaction between Igbo and Japanese
2. The migration from Arabian Peninsula into the Baltic States area and into
Central Asia and East Asia – estimated 40,000 – 30,000 years ago
 Interactions between Finnish, Lithuanian and Japanese
3. The migration from the East Asia into the Americas – estimated 20,000 –
15,000 years ago
 Interaction between Tupinamba and Japanese

15. (1) occurred after the interaction between Igbo and Japanese
(2) occurred after the interactions between Finnish, Lithuanian and
Japanese
(3) occurred after the interaction between Tupinamba and Japanese

16. Conclusion
The long-observed similarities between Japanese
and other languages like
Igbo, Finnish, Lithuanian, Tupinamba... can be
seen as remnants of their earlier interactions. The
times of the interactions appear to follow and
approximate the timeline of the journey out of Africa
into Central Asia and then of the migrations west to
the Baltic States area and east to Japan and
eventually into the Americas.

17. Appendix
There are certain Amerindian languages like Kalispel
Salish which do not make a clear distinction
between noun and verb.
A translation of A-bear-captured-a-salmon in this
language would appear to mean A bear captured it.
It was a salmon.
If noun can be seen as representing being and verb
as becoming, then this language – and to an extent
the world view of people who speak it – appears to
focus more on the act of becoming.

18. References
Similarities between Japanese and African languages
http://www.stewartsynopsis.com/links_to_japanese_and_af
rican_la.htm
http://www.igbodefender.com/blog/2012/07/25/interesting-
similarities-of-the-spellings-of-igbo-and-anglicized-
japanese-words/
Similarities between Japanese and Finnish, Lithuanian
http://www.jref.com/forum/learning-japanese-64/japanese-
finnish-5840/
Similarities between Japanese and Amerindian languages
http://www.unilang.org/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=30487

19. References
Gentner, Dedre, Some interesting differences
between Verbs and Nouns, Cognition and Brain
Theory, 1981, 4(2)
Pagel, Mark et al., Frequency of word-use predicts
rates of lexical evolution throughout Indo-European
history
Nature 449, 717-720 (11 October 2007)
Sagi, Eyal, Nouns are more stable than Verbs:
Patterns of semantic change in 19th century English,
Cognitive Science 2010

20. References
Rene Thom, Structural Stability and Morphogenesis
Marten Scheffer, Critical Transitions in Nature and
Society
Eugene M. Izhikevich, Dynamical Systems in
Neuroscience
James Shreeve, The Greatest Journey Ever Told:
The Trail of Our DNA, National Geographic, March
2006, 60-73
Spencer Well et al., Global Journey, National
Geographic, January 2013, 48-49.