SUMERIAN

The locative cases
The 3rd ps. sg. non-human composite prefix is reduced to /b/, see, e.g., exx.
(391) and (397) below. In case of the 2nd ps. sg composite prefix, it may not be
decided on the basis of the attested forms which allomorph of the 2nd ps. sg.
IPP is used; thus, in Table 14.1 and in ex. (407) below a question mark indicates
the uncertainty of the form.
The syncopation of the locative2 prefix results in the compensatory
lengthening of the finite marker, indicated by plene-writing from the end of
the 3rd millennium BCE, see ex. (397) below. Compare this example with ex.
(429) below. In ex. (429) a 3rd ps. sg. non-human locative3 is cross-referenced
by the final pronominal prefix /b/ in S11. Here no syncopation took place,
consequently there is no lengthening of the finite marker either.
The simple locative2 prefix always cross-references a 3rd ps. sg. non-human
participant. If S11 contains no morpheme, then the simple prefix /e/ contracts
with the preceding vowel and lengthens it in the 3rd millennium BCE, see, e.g.,
ex. (403) below, whereas in texts from the 2nd millennium BCE the contraction
results in an /ē/, see exx. (399) and (400) below.
It is unclear what happens with the simple locative2 prefix, when S11 is
filled with a morpheme, as the orthography as a rule does not suggest its
presence. The problem can be demonstrated by a comparison between exx.
(386) and (387). Both sentences are about the building of a temple on a ritually
clean place, and contain a transitive preterite verbal form. Ex. (387) differs in
the presence of a participant in the dative. Consequently, a simple locative2
prefix should occur in the verbal form, yet nothing indicates in the writing of
the verbal form that there is an /e/ between the dative prefix and the FPP. Since
verbal forms like the one in ex. (387), do not change to *mu-ne-du₃ ( S4 mu- S6 nn-
S7 a- S10 e- S11 n- S12 du- S14ø = VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-L2-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P) in the 2nd
millennium BCE, one cannot but assume that the simple locative2 prefix /e/ is
not present in these forms.
In its basic function the locative2 indicates a location above or on top of
someone or something, or a movement to the top of someone or something:
(386) Gudea Statue B 4:7–9 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232275)
e₂ d nin-ŋir₂-su-ka, eridug ki -gen₇,
e ningirsuk=ak=ø eridug=gen
house DN=GEN=ABS GN=EQU
ki sikil-la bi₂-du₃
ki sikil=ø=ʾa S5 b- S10 i- S11 n- S12 du- S14 ø
place pure=TL=L2.NH 3.SG.NH-L2-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P
“He (= Gudea) has built the temple of Ningirsu in a place as pure as Eridu.”
207