Johnson 2004 - CDLI - UCLA

*-n- and *-b- in conjunction with the *bi-√ prefix is used to indicate “same” and “switch”
reference respectively. The relatively few cases assembled here conform to such a model
in that in the examples of topicalizing use with *mini-n-√, the “subject” of the relative
will also typically be the subject of the main clause (hence “same”), whereas the
examples with *-b- (not presented here in detail) tend to be identificational in use and to
end a discursive unit, so that the subject of the following clause is different (hence
“switch”). I do not attempt to investigate the matter further here.
There are also a couple of examples of BNBV inal predicates that appear in *mini-√
constructions; both examples are of igi-√du 8 “to see” and occur in related texts.
(32) Dumuzi’s Dream [1.4.3], ll. 138-142
(Alster 1972, 68-69; forthcoming; Heimerdinger 1979, pl. 4, bottom right)
138. nin 9 ki ßeß am 3.mu.un.pa 3.de 3.a The sister who reveals where her brother is,
139. u 4 ul ? .la 2.ta a.ba.a Since the most ancient times who has seen
igi mi.ni.in.du 8.a such a person,
140. œa 2.nam.ma.an.ze 2.en ku.li.ni.ir Come! Let us go to his friend!
ga.an.ßi.re 7.en.de 3.en
141. u 4 ne ku.li.ni.ir On the day that, to his friend,
142. i 7 a.ba mu.un.na.ba.e.ne they offer a river’s worth of water, he will
ßu am 3.ma.gid 2.de 3.en accept it,
The textual witnesses to line 139 show a great deal of variation in the form of the verb
without even so much as an arbitrary statistical edge for mi.ni.in.du 8.a.
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