SUMERIAN

Genitive constructions
(43) Iri-kagina 5 obv. 1:12–13 (RIME 1.9.9.5 ) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222618)
barag d en-lil₂-la₂, barag d utu-ka
P1 barag P3 [ P1 enlil= P5 ak] P1 barag P3 [ P1 utu= P5ak]= P5ʾa
P1 dais P3 [ P1 DN₁= P5 GEN] P1 dais P3 [ P1 DN₂= P5 GEN]= P5 L2.NH
“(He looted) the pedestal of Enlil and the pedestal of Utu.”
Like ex. (43), ex. (44) too contains two coordinate genitive constructions; and
the two noun phrases are also case-marked here only once with the case
governed by the verb of the sentence, the absolutive. In this example, however,
also the genitive is suspended: only the second genitive construction is marked
with the genitive (ensik kurkur=ak), the case-marker is not present in the first
one (baragbarag kiengir). In ex. (44) therefore enclitic suspension occurs
twice: once with the case governed by the verb, once with the case governed
by the possessum.
(44) Lugal-zagesi 1 2:21–22 (RIME 1.14.20.1) (Uruk, 24th c.) (Q001379)
barag-barag ki-en-gi, ensi₂ kur-kur-ra
[[ P1 barag~barag P3 kiengir] [ P1 ensik P3 kur~kur]= P5 ak]= P5 ø
[[ P1 dais~PL P3GN] [ P1 ruler P3 land~PL]= P5 GEN]= P5 ABS
“the sovereigns of Sumer and the rulers of all lands”
In ex. (45) the coordinate construction consists of three genitive constructions,
and the whole construction is left-dislocated. Here too, the possessor is casemarked
with the genitive only in the last of the three genitive constructions.
(45) En-metena 4 5:4–8 (RIME 1.09.05.04) (Lagash, 25th c.) (Q001117)
dumu unug ki , dumu larsam ki , dumu pa₅-ti-bir₅-ra ki -ka
[[ P1 dumu P3 unug] [ P1 dumu P3 larsam] [ P1 dumu P3 patibira]= P5 ak]= P5 ak
[[ P1 child P3 GN₁] [ P1 child P3 GN₂] [ P1 child P3 GN₃]= P5 GEN]= P5 GEN
[ama]-gi₄-be₂,
e-ŋar
P1 amargi= P3 be= P5 ø
S2 i- S11 n- S12 ŋar- S14 ø
P1 freedom= P3 3.SG.NH.POSS= P5 ABS FIN-3.SG.H.A-place-3.SG.P
“He released the citizens of Unug, the citizens of Larsam, and the citizens of
Patibira.”
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