SumerianGrammar

CONTENTS
Preface ........................................................................................
Abbreviations ..............................................................................
xi
xiii
CHAPTER ONE The Sumerian Language .............................. 1
1.1. General Characteristics .................................................. 1
1.2. The (hopeless) question of the linguistic affiliation of
Sumerian ........................................................................ 2
1.3. The linguistic environment of Sumerian .................... 3
CHAPTER TWO How we read Sumerian ................................ 7
2.1. General ............................................................................ 7
2.2. Spelling of Sumerian .................................................... 8
2.2.1. Classification of cuneograms .............................. 8
2.2.2. Combination of cuneograms; spelling proper .... 10
2.2.3. Evolution of Sumerian spelling .......................... 10
CHAPTER THREE Minimalia of Sumerian phonology and
syllabic structure .................................................................... 13
3.1. Phonology ...................................................................... 13
3.1.1. Vowels .................................................................. 13
3.1.2. Consonants .......................................................... 14
3.2. Syllable structure ............................................................ 22
CHAPTER FOUR The “word” in Sumerian, parts of
speech ...................................................................................... 23
4.1. “Word” ............................................................................ 23
4.2. Parts of speech .............................................................. 23
CHAPTER FIVE Substantives .................................................... 29
5.1. General ............................................................................ 29
5.2. Possession ........................................................................ 29
5.3. Number .......................................................................... 31
5.4. Case ................................................................................ 33
5.4.1. Notes on the phonetic and spelling behaviour
of the case particles ............................................ 35
5.4.2. Notes on the individual case particles .............. 35
5.4.2.1. Absolutive .............................................. 35
5.4.2.2. Ergative .................................................. 35