Johnson 2004 - CDLI - UCLA

applying to nada as in [32b]) and “refer” in some sense to nothingness. The difference
between mirando a “to look at” and viendo “to see” also exists in Sumerian, thus in the
two following examples, which have already been presented earlier in the study, igi-√il 2
“to look at” does not require a perceived object, but igi-√du 8 “to see” does, even when it
is negated.
(36) Lugalbanda II (Wilcke 1969a, 110-111, 184)
207. [mußen.e an].ta igi mi.ni.in.il 2
302
As for the Bird, who was looking from
erin 2.e igi bi 2.in.du 8.ru above, she saw the troops,
208. [lugal].≠banda 3± da ki.ta As for Lugalbanda, who was looking from
igi mi.ni.in.il 2 sa˙ar erin 2.e below, he saw the troops
du 8.a igi bi 2.in.du 8.ru enveloped in dust,
(37) Gilgamesh and the Netherworld, ll. 300-303
(Karahashi 2000, 121, ex. 25; Shaffer 1963, 95, 119)
300. niœar x(NIGIN 3) œar tur.tur.œu 10
ni 2.ba nu.zu igi bi 2.du 8.am 3
(Gilgamesh:) As for my little newborns,
who never knew themselves, did
igi bi 2.du 8.am 3 a.na.gin 7 an.ak you see them? (Enkidu:) I saw them.
(Gilgamesh:) What happened to them?
301. œiß banßur ku 3.sig 17 ku 3.babbar (Enkidu:) They play on a table of gold and
lal 3 i 3.nun.ta e.ne im.di.e.ne silver, (laden with) honey and ghee,