Dying Inside

Sumerian is the world's oldest written language, but the ability to read it is restricted to the lucky few - until now! Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian: An Introduction for Complete Beginners is written specifically for people with no training in ancient languages, letting the reader learn Sumerian without having to learn grammatical jargon first. Any grammatical terms that are used are explained in clear language, and a handy index provides definitions just in case you need a reminder! Each of the 11 chapters introduce and explain important grammatical features, building upon previous chapters to provide and in-depth understanding of the language without being overwhelming. Every chapter includes a list of vocabulary and cuneiform signs for the student to master, as well as exercises to help solidify the reader's understanding of grammatical concepts. Exercises written in cuneiform mean that you start reading authentic Sumerian right from the start, building up to translating ancient cuneiform inscriptions from drawings and photographs! This book will: Teach you the fundamentals of Sumerian grammar in language you can understand. Give you exercises so you can test and consolidate your new-found knowledge. Let you read actual cuneiform inscriptions from 4,000 years ago! cover 1 Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian_ - Joshua Bowen 11 PREFACE - Why a Sumerian Grammar? 11 Thanks and Acknowledgements 15 Introduction 17 Chapter One Cuneiform Signs and Sounds 23 Chapter Two Introduction to Verbs and the Genitive 47 Chapter Three Case Endings 65 Chapter Four The Verbal “Chain” Part One: Case Elements 79 Chapter Five Verbal Inflection 90 Chapter Six Possession, Independent Pronouns, and Intransitive Verbs 103 Chapter Seven Transitive Verbs: Ḫamtu 115 Chapter Eight Transitive Verbs: Marû 125 Chapter Nine Remaining Verbal Prefixes 133 Chapter Ten Compound and Auxiliary Verbs 144 Chapter Eleven Imperatives and Several Non-Finite Forms 154 Conclusion 164 Appendix A Additional Exercises 166 Appendix B Answer Key 180 Appendix C Glossary of Sumerian Words 231 Appendix D Glossary of Proper Nouns 240 Appendix E Glossary of Common Irregular Verbs60F 244 Appendix F Cuneiform Sign List 246 Appendix G Glossary of Grammatical Terms 259 Appendix H Index to Cuneiform Sources 267 Bibliography 268 Página en blanco 2 Página en blanco 10 Página en blanco -1 Página en blanco 16