沖繩語
Their usual ethnic name derives from the Chinese name for the islands, "Liuqiu" (also spelled as Loo Choo, Lew Chew, Luchu, and more), which in the Japanese language is pronounced "Ryuukyuu". In the Okinawan language, its pronounced "Ruuchuu". These terms are rarely used, and are politicized markers of a distinct culture.