SumerianGrammar

THE VERB 117
kalam-e hé-∞gál-la “u HÉ.A-da-pe“-e [he-eda-b-pe“-e] “let the Land
(stretch out the hand =) gain in abundance (with you =) under your
rule” Gudea Cyl. A xi 9.
mu-ni ... dub-ta hé-em-ta-∞gar “may his name ...be (set =) taken
off the tablet” Gudea Stat. B ix 16.
hé-àm “let it be” became in effect an expression for “yes”, in contrast
to in-nu “no” (cf. 12.11.2.2).
Note: See also Edzard 1971, 213 f. (note that in TCS 1 no. 82:4 there is 3 rd , not
2 nd person).
hé is used as an independent verbal base in the expression A
hé-a B hé-a (= lù A lù B), (“A WISH-ing, B WISH-ing =) be it A,
be it B”, e.g., in blessing or curse formulae, en hé-a lugal hé-a
“whether he be a lord or a king”.
12.11.6. The vetitive (negative precative)
It is used with the 2 nd and 3 rd person, “you/he should not”, “please
do not”, etc. It is found in complementary distribution with the negative
cohortative (1 st person, see 12.11.4).
Like the negative cohortative, vetitive is marked by the prefixed
particle [bara]. It is found with the marû verbal base if the verbal
form is transitive.
mí-ús-sá-zu mí-ús-sá-∞gu 10 ba-ra-me “the son-in-law you (had in mind)
should certainly not be(come) my son-in-law” NG no. 18:24 (oath).
Note: Since the copula is intransitive and has no opposed ¢am†u : marû forms, it
is difficult to decide whether this is a vetitive or a negative affirmative “will certainly
not . . .”; cf. 12.11.8.
12.11.7. Affirmative 1
Like the precative (see 12.11.5) it is marked by the prefixed particle
[he] and its allomorphs. As against precative (occurring with 2 nd
and 3 rd persons), affirmative 1 occurs in the 1 st and 3 rd persons. It
refers to something in the past and, therefore, is found with conjugation
pattern 2b (see 12.7.3) and the ¢am†u verbal base if the verbal
form is transitive.
Edzard 1971, 213–25.
“Affirmative 1” is a catch-all term. The main function of this mood
is to remove doubt, on the side of the listener, about what is being said.
Note: Cf. “honest!” in colloquial English, which serves to remove doubt.