SUMERIAN

LESSON 9
The prefix assimilates to the vowel of the next syllable only if it forms an
open syllable, see ex. (184) and the first verbal form in ex. (185) below. If it forms
a closed syllable, /uC/, then it does not assimilate. Its behaviour gives further
support to the assumption that the 3rd ps. sg. human IPP is /nn/, if followed
by a vowel. The different vowels of the prefix of anteriority in exx. (183) and
(184), /u/ vs. /i/, may easily be explained if one assumes that the grapheme NI
represents /nni/ in the former, but /ni/ in the latter.
(182) Iri-kagina 3 2:16’–18’ (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222610)
lu₂ dam u₃-taka₄, kug giŋ₄ 5-am₆,
lu=e dam=ø S1 u- S11 n- S12 taka- S14ø kug giŋ 5=ø=am-ø
man=ERG wife=ABS ANT-3.SG.H.A-leave-3.SG.P silver unit 5=ABS=COP-3.SG.S
ensi₂-ke₄, ba-de₆
ensik=e S5 ba- S11 n- S12 de- S14 ø
ruler=ERG MID-3.SG.H.A-bring-3.SG.P
“If a man divorced (his) wife, the ruler received 5 shekels of silver for himself.”
(183) En-metena 1 6:21–23 (RIME 1.9.5.1) (Lagash, 25th c.) (Q001103)
d nin-ŋir₂-su-ke₄, sa-šuš-gal-ne₂,
u₃-ni-šuš
ninŋirsuk=e sašušgal=ane=ø S2 u- S6 nn- S10 i- S11 n- S12 šuš- S14 ø
DN=ERG battle.net=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS ANT-3.SG.H-L2-3.SG.H.A-cover-3.SG.P
“After Ningirsu had thrown his battle-net on him (= the Ummaite), ….”
(184) Iri-kagina 1 7:17–21 (RIME 1.9.9.1) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222607)
RU-lugal-ke₄, saŋ ašag-ga-na-ka, pu₂ i₃-ni-du₃,
RUlugalak=e saŋ ašag=ane=ak=ʾa pu=ø S1 u- S10 ni- S11 n- S12 du- S14 ø
attendant=ERG head field=3.SG.H.POSS=GEN=L1 well=ABS ANT-L1-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P
“After an attendant had built his well in the front part of his field (…)”
(185) Amar-Suena 9 32–33 (RIME 3/2.1.3.9) (Ur, 21st c.) (Q000984)
lu 2 e 2 a-ba-sumun, u 3 -un-du 3
lu e=ø S1 u- S5 ba- S12 sumun- S14 ø S1 u- S11 n- S12 du- S14 ø
man house=ABS ANT-MID-old-3.SG.S ANT-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P
“The man, who, after the temple has become dilapidated, rebuilds it, ….”
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