lalam(i)-

This Luwian lexeme is only attested in Hittite texts, i.e. two inventory texts (CTH 241 and 242), the deposition of Ukkura (CTH 293), the vow of Puduḫepa (CTH 585) and an offering ritual for the storm-god of Nerik (CTH 671).

[O.B.]

All forms have been checked against the Konkordanz (Mainzer Fotoarchiv).

[O.B.]

The meaning ‘receipt, list’ or similar (Ger. Empfangsbescheinigung) is largely consensual since Laroche 1949a:69 (thus also in Friedrich 1952a:126, Rosenkranz 1965a:246, Otten & Souček 1965a:21, Werner 1967b:72, Starke 1982b:361, CHD L-N:26, HEG L-M:22, CLL:122, HED L:45, EDHIL:804, Görke 2013a:129). Already Güterbock 1939a:31 determined that lalam(i)- must be some sort of sealable document. Laroche 1949a:69 specified the meaning as ‘list’ on the basis of certain contexts in which it appears, e.g. in inventories. Haas 1970a:164 (likewise CHD L-N:26 and Görke 2013a:129) expresses doubt that the same meaning should hold for the nom./acc. coll. form lalāma, but the context is too fragmentary to justify separating this form from lalam(i)- ‘receipt, list’. Etymologically, the meaning ‘receipt’ is plausible, given that the noun is most likely derived from lālā-⁽ⁱ⁾ ‘to take’ (see Stem).

[O.B.]

Luw. lalam(i)- is a common gender i-mutated stem, as can be seen from the nom. sg. ending -iš. The word is most likely derived from the verb [2561] lālā-⁽ⁱ⁾ ‘to take’. The manner of derivation has been subject to debate, however. According to Laroche 1959a:62 (also Rosenkranz 1965a:246, Werner 1967b:72, Starke 1982b:361, HEG L-M:22, HED L:46), lalam(i)- is a substantivized participle of lālā-⁽ⁱ⁾, thus with the literal meaning ‘that which is taken’. Conversely, we would expect a participle to show a geminate -mm-, which suggests that the word is rather derived with the suffix -m(i)- (CLL:122, Melchert 2014d:208). Given the relatively high number of attestations (9 instances across 5 tablets), it seems likely that the singleton spelling is standard and consequently that a participial analysis remains unjustified.

[O.B.]

The occasional Glossenkeile indicates that lalam(i)- does not belong to the Hittite native lexicon. Laroche 1949a:69 suggested a Luwian origin (thus also in Laroche 1959a:61f., Rosenkranz 1965a:246, Werner 1967b:72, Haas 1970a:164, Starke 1982b:361, CHD L-N:26, HEG L-M:22, CLL:122, HED L:46, Melchert 2005a,450, van den Hout 2006a:246, EDHIL:804, Görke 2013a:129). This is coherent with the semantics and morphology of the word (see Meaning and Stem).

[O.B.]

For the derivational base, see CLuw. lālā-⁽ⁱ⁾.