Johnson 2004 - CDLI - UCLA

followed by *-e (which could be an indication of progressive/imperfective aspect) are all
to be interpreted as examples of the ergative or locative-terminative postposition
following an indefinite relative construction. Although this is essentially negative
evidence, the absence of progressive/imperfective achievements (or at least their
restriction to highly exceptional contexts) is probably the best evidence available for the
classification of BNBV inal predicates as achievements.
Given the frequent use of metaphors that draw on imagery from the natural world
(see Black 1998 for background, cf. Heimpel 1968) both in Sumerian literature in general
as well as in the epic tale Gilgamesh and Huwawa in particular, the assertion in line 103
from Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A, that Huwawa’s brow devours reed-beds
(according to the ETCSL translation) is surely a little bit odd. In the following, I break
with my own convention and repeat the ETCSL translation verbatim.
(49) Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A [1.8.1.5], ll. 100-104 (Edzard 1991, 200-201
[equivalent to lines 99-103 in Edzard’s edition])
100. ur.saœ ka.ka.ni ka His pugnacious mouth is a dragon’s maw,
ußumgal.la.kam
101. igi.ni igi piriœ.œa 2.kam His face is a lion’s grimace,
102. ŒIÍ.GABA.a.ni a.œi 6 du 7.du 7.dam His chest is like a raging flood,
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