SUMERIAN

Pronouns, adverbs, and numerals
a-ba (aba=ø : who=ABS) = “who”, “whom”
a-ba-a (aba=e : who=ERG) = “who”
a-na (ana=ø : what=ABS) = “what”
a-na-aš (ana=še : what=TERM) = “why”, lit. “for what”
me-a (me=ʾa : wh=L1) = “where”
me-še 3 (me=še : wh=TERM) = “where to”
Constituent questions in Sumerian follow two main patterns in terms of the
form and place of the interrogative pronouns. An interrogative pronoun may
occur: i) in a sentence-initial position; or ii) immediately before the verb. In
sentence-initial position it is as a rule accompanied with a 3rd. ps. sg. enclitic
copula, see ex. (49) below. When it stands immediately before the verb, then it
usually occurs alone, see ex. (50).
(49) Proverbs collection 2 + 6 Segment D 23 (ETCSL 6.1.02)
a-ba-am₃ ŋiš ma₂ bi₂-in-du₈
aba=ø=am-ø ma=e S5 b- S10 i- S11 n- S12 du- S14 ø
who=ABS=COP-3.SG.S boat=L3.NH 3.SG.NH-L3-3.SG.H.A-caulk-3.SG.P
“Who caulked the boat?”
(50) Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana 121 (ETCSL 1.8.2.4)
en unug ki -ga en kul-aba₄ ki -ra a-na ga-an-na-ab-be₂
en unug=ak en kulaba=ak=ra ana=ø S2 ga- S6 nn- S7 a- S11 b- S12 e
lord GN=GEN lord GN=GEN=DAT.H what=ABS MOD-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.NH.P-speak.PF
“What shall I say to the lord of Unug, the lord of Kulaba?”
The indefinite pronoun
The pronoun /name/ “some, any” is used as an indefinite modifier, most often
in negative clauses as in exx. (51)–(53) below:
(51) The Cursing of Agade 160 (ETCSL 2.1.5)
niŋ₂ na-me a₂-be₂ la-ba-ra-e₃
P1 niŋ P2 name= P5ø a=be=ta nu-ba-ta-e-ø
P1 thing P2 some= P5ABS arm=3.SG.NH.POSS=ABL NEG-MID-ABL-leave-3.SG.S
“Nothing escaped their clutches.”
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