zala-^(ti)

This lexeme is found in a grave inscription.

[D.S.]

3sg. pres. ind. act.

zalatu

TL 131.4 (Limyra)

The verb zalatu occurs in a curse formula, immediately after the amount of cattle to be paid has been set, and it takes the potential offender as subject. While the earlier literature suggested various but similar translations for zalatu (Neumann 1974a:114 ‘he shall not delay’, comparing CLuw. zalla- ´movement, speed´, followed by Josephson 1979b:94f., Christiansen 2009a:50 and HEG U-Z:630, which is no longer possible on phonological grounds (*k̑ > Lyc. s), Carruba 1970b:34 ‘e non contrasti olte’, Josephson 1979b:94f. ‘he shall not shirk his obligation’), Melchert (DLL:87) was the first to take the Lycian base *za- ‘share, portion’ or the verb za-^(ti) ‘to give as a share’ into consideration. This led him to postulate the meaning ‘to withhold a share, take a share (of the penalty to be paid)’ (followed by Sasseville 2021a:58 ‘(morph.) to act as a zala’).

[D.S.]

The factitive verb zala-^(ti) is derived from an agent noun formation in -ala- c., i.e. zala- c. ‘the one of the share’ (Cf. zzala- (PN) and gen. adj. zalaha), which is in turn derived from either the noun za- c. ‘share’ or the verb za-^(ti) ‘to give as a share’ (Sasseville 2021a:58; contra Neumann 2007a:429).

[D.S.]

For the derivational base, see Lyc. za-^(t).