Central Okinawan, or simply the
Okinawan language (/
Uchinaaguchi ), is a Northern
Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the
island of Okinawa, as well as in the surrounding islands of
Kerama,
Kumejima,
Tonaki,
Aguni, and a number of smaller peripheral islands. Central Okinawan distinguishes itself from the speech of Northern Okinawa, which is classified independently as the
Kunigami language. Both languages have been designated as
endangered by the
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger since its launch in February 2009.