The term "Japonic" refers to a language family that includes the languages spoken in Japan, primarily Japanese and the Ryukyuan languages. These languages share common linguistic features and are believed to have evolved from a common ancestral language. Japonic languages are characterized by their unique phonetic systems, grammar, and vocabulary. While Japanese is the most widely spoken, the Ryukyuan languages, such as Okinawan, are spoken in the Ryukyu Islands and have distinct dialects. The Japonic family is considered a separate branch within the larger Altaic language hypothesis, though this classification is debated among linguists.