SumerianGrammar

THE VERB 95
At present, the diachronic evidence cannot be said to support a
hypothesis that the two spellings go back to two different morphemes,
[ba x ] and [ba y ].
For general discussion see Attinger 1993, 204 and 280–84.
ki-a-na∞g-e ha-ba-gub “let (the stela) stand at the libation place”
Gudea Stat. B vii 55.
“u ba(-n)-ti “he (brought the hand to it =) received (it)”.
Note: The compound verb “u ti offers a typical example of the frozen use of a
directive indicator.
Apart from indicating locative proper, [ba] may also, with verbs of
motion, denote moving away, e.g., picking up something here and
taking it there. Note the contrast between ba(-n)-de 6 “he carried (it)
away” and mu(-n)-túm “he brought (it) here”, where non-ventive
[ba] is in clear opposition with ventive [mu].
Note: In the second example, the ventive function of [mu] is general, not linked
to a specific goal (person, non-person).
A special function of [ ba], first attested in Ur III, is to denote passive
voice. The origin of this usage is not entirely clear. Edzard 1976,
169 f., tried to derive it from ocurrences such as ba-an-“úm [ba-n-
“um] “he (gave him to =) ordered him to (do something)” where
without ergative [n] a neutral form ba-“úm “he was given to (. . .)”
would have arisen.
Note the frequent variants in Ur III year formula: mu-un-hul “he destroyed” and
ba-hul “(a city) was destroyed”.
More research on the origin of passive [ba] is, however, very desirable.
Passive [ba], being disconnected from dimensional notation, has
no counterpart in ventive [mma] (30).
Although, in principle, locative [ba] and dative [na] are found in
complementary distribution, ba-na- is attested when [ba] denotes
passive, e.g., ba-na-ge(-n) “(someone/something) was confirmed/awarded
to him” NG III p. 114.
12.8.1.4: A dative “to you (pl.)” is not attested as a dimensional
indicator.
12.8.1.5 [(e)nea]:
hé-ne-ab-“úm-mu [he-(e)ne-a-b-“um-e] “let him give it (= the rent
for the hired boat) to them (= PN 1 and PN 2 )” TCS 1 no. 135:7; cf.
no. 365:6 (Ur III).