SUMERIAN

Constructions involving an “extra” verbal participant
(479) NG 20 obv. 7 (Lagash, 21st c.) (P128442)
10 giŋ₄ kug-babbar-am₃ šum₂-ma-ab,
10 gig kug-babbar=ø=am-ø S1 šum- S4 m- S7 a- S11 b
10 unit silver=ABS=COP-3.SG.S give-VEN-DAT-3.SG.NH.P
“Give me ten shekels of silver!”
(480) Dumuzi’s Dream 19 (ETCSL 1.4.3)
nin₉-ŋu₁₀ tum₂-mu-un-ze₂-en
nin=ŋu=ø
S1 tum- S4 mu- S11 n- S14 zen
sister=1.SG.POSS=ABS bring-VEN-3.SG.H.P-2.PL
“Bring (pl.) my sister!”
Singular S or A is not marked with any verbal pronominal affix; plural S or A is
cross-referenced with the suffix -/(n)zen/ in S14, see ex. (480) above. As the
construction treats S and A alike, it can be said to have a nominative-accusative
conjugation pattern. In imperative forms the finite-marker prefix is /a/-, see
exx. (481) and (482) below.
(481) TCS 1, 142 rev. 4 (Nippur, 21st c.) (P145683)
e₂-a-ne₂
gul-a
e=ane=ø
S1 gul- S2 a
house=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS destroy-FIN
“Destroy his house!”
(482) NG 208 obv. 1:17 (Lagash, 21st c.) (P135750)
kišib-ŋu₁₀ zi-ra-ab
kišib=ŋu=ø S1 zir- S2 a- S11 b
seal=1.SG.POSS=ABS break-FIN-3.SG.NH.P
“Destroy my sealed tablet!”
The prefix /ga/­
The prefix /ga/- occupies S2 of the verbal prefix-chain, it is in complementary
distribution with the finite-marker prefix. The prefix /ga/- is only used is in 1st
ps. sg. or pl. verbal forms. Its meaning can be paraphrased as “It is my/our
intention to VERB”. It is characterised by a special construction that uses the
preterite stem but cross-references the P with the final pronominal prefix in S11. 21
21 For a rare exception that uses a present-future stem in a text from the first part of the 2nd
millennium BCE, see ex. (50) above in Lesson, section 5.1.
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