Akkadian Grammar Study Guide 007

Sound Changes

• i > e

  • Before the consonants r and h, i could change to e. This is inconsistent (cf. nakirum, nakerum, nakrum)

• a > e

  • a and e vowels would not exist in the same word. The a would become an e.

  *bēlātum > bēlētum

  • Exceptions:
    • There are a number of precise rules, but the gist is that if it is part of an ending or connection to an ending, the a is unchanged.

III-weak G Verbs

• III-weak verbs are verbs that are missing the third radical. (It has dropped out.)
• Basic rules for forming the verb:

  • If the third radical would have occurred after a vowel, nothing happens (end in the vowel).

    cf iprus & ibni

  • If the third radical would have occured before a consonant, lengthen the vowel.

    cf damiqtum & banītum

  • If the form would have a vocalic ending, follow the vowel lengthening rules.

    cf iprusū & ibnû

Infinitive

Preterite

Verbal Adjective

• Note: the masculine, nominative, singular is the same as the infinitive nominative.
• Compare to the strong verbal adjective.

Coordinators

• u
  • “and” (also “but”)
  • independent word
  • used to join nouns, phrases, and clauses
    • combines equally (no stress given to first or second clause)
• -ma
  • “and” (also “but”)
  • enclitic
  • if attached to a vowel, lengthens the vowel
  • if attached to n, the n usually assimilates to the m
    • rarely also happens with b and p
  • used to join clauses
    • usually connects clauses with verbs in the same mood
    • logical relationship between the clauses
      • first is logically subordinate to second
• -ma u
  • “and also”
  • treat as -ma
• ū and ū lū
  • “or”
  • u and ū indistinguishable in writing system
  • can be combined in various ways for “either…or”
• Asyndeton
  • clauses joined together without a coordinator