/masr(i)-?/, (*472)ma-sa5+ra/i-
‘(a commodity)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Class
- Base
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 1163
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/masr(i)-?/, (*472)ma-sa5+ra/i-
‘(a commodity)’1.1.1Transmission
This noun is attested twice in letter found in Assur, but probably originating from elsewhere. The texts date to the late 8th century BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| acc. pl. | /masrinzi?/ | (*472)ma-i-sa5+ra/i-zi-i | ASSUR letter a, §10 |
| (*472)ma-sa5+ra/i-zi | ASSUR letter d, §7 |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this lexeme is rather unclear. If the link with Akkadian mašrum (thus Giusfredi 2012a:157) holds true, then the form /masr(i)-/, as suggested above, is the most likely rendition of this loan into HLuw. However, due to a lack of cognates in the other Anatolian languages, the interpretation of the HLuw. form retains a number of doubtful elements.
Firstly, it cannot be ruled out that the sign *472, analysed as a logographic determinative here, actually should be understood as representing part of the phonological shape of the word, changing the entire onset of the lexeme. Sign *472 has so far remained without a semantic or phonetic interpretation,Save for the idea voiced by Melchert 1988b:224f. n. 18 that it may represent PAELEX ‘harlot, concubine’, linking it to the lexeme /amanasr(i)-/ ‘concubine’. since the present word is the only one it appears with; see the discussion of the meaning below. Secondly, the hieroglyphic system is unable to accurately render consonant clusters, and it is therefore not evident if the attested spelling represents /mas(s)ar-/ or /masr-/. Thirdly, the stem-final vowel remains unclear due to use of the underspecified sign 〈ra/i〉 (*383), and another possible form besides those given so far is hence /mas(sa)ra-/.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The noun appears twice in the ASSUR letters, both times in clauses where the sender of the letter requests the addressee to send him certain items. However, like many of the commodities named, those occurring in the contexts around the present lexeme have remained mainly untranslated so far. Still, it should be noted that /masr(i)-?/ appears with other commodities of trade that all seem to denote inanimate objects, which is why the suggestion by Melchert 1988b:224f. n. 18, to interpret /masr(i)-?/ as ‘concubine, harlot’, seems rather less likely. Further textual evidence is needed to decide the matter.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The word is clearly a common gender noun in HLuw., although its status regarding i-mutation cannot be determined, because the sign 〈ra/i〉 (*383) is underspecified regarding the quality of its vowel. The formation of the stem is likewise unclear, but the word may be a loan from Akkadian mašrum ‘teaseled (cloth)’ (cf. CAD M1:385) as suggested by Giusfredi 2012a:157.
[AH.B.]
1.1.6Origin
The lexeme possibly represents a loan from Akkadian mašrum ‘teaseled (cloth)’ (cf. CAD M1:385), see Giusfredi 2012a:157.
[AH.B.]