Ryukyuan languages are the way people communicate in a group of islands across the sea from the big island of Japan. These languages are different from the languages people speak on the big island of Japan because they have their own unique sounds, words, and grammar rules. Just like how different toys have different shapes and colors, different languages have different ways of being used to talk with others. Some of the Ryukyuan languages are very similar to each other, like how two dolls with the same face might have different outfits. However, some of the languages are very different from each other, like how a teddy bear and a toy car are very different toys. People who live on the Ryukyuan islands use these languages to talk with each other and share their ideas, stories, and feelings.