/zallalla(/i)-/, za-la-la-
‘cart’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst
- ID
- 2744
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/zallalla(/i)-/, za-la-la-
‘cart’1.1.1Transmission
This word is attested four times in inscriptions from Karkamiš, Tabal, and Tell Ahmar, as well as one of the letters found in Assur. The relevant texts date to between the late 10th and the late 8th centuries BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| abl./instr. | /zallalladi/ | (“SCALA+PES+ROTA”)za-la-la-ti-i | TELL AHMAR 6, §24 (Tell Ahmar) |
| nom./acc. pl. or coll. (?) | /zallalla/ | (*92)za-la-la | BULGARMADEN, §9 (Tabal) |
| poss. adj. acc. sg. c. | /zallallassin/ | (*91)za-la-la-si-na | ASSUR letter d, §9 |
| (*91/92/94)[z]a-la-la-[...]-na | KARKAMIŠ A24a2+3, §1 (Karkamiš) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of the present noun can be regarded as certain due to both its transparent spelling in HLuw. and its cognates such as CLuw. zalla- ‘movement, speed’ and GIŠzalt(i)- ‘cart, chariot’ (see Starke 1981a:155 n. 58), whose more precise spelling helps pin down the geminate quality of the laterals.
For a discussion of how the logograms used are combined, see Starke 1990a:338. Poetto 2014a:795f. comments on the unusual shape of the parts of the logogram combination SCALA.PES.ROTAE (sign *91) determining the word in TELL AHMAR 6, §24, which features one wheel instead of two.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning of the noun under discussion was determined by Starke 1981a:155 n. 58 (systematised and etymologised by Rieken 1997a:171f.), who connects the different members of the word family with each other across Luwian and Hittite. The context in BULGARMADEN, §9 confirms the assigned meaning most transparently: á-p[a]-sa-pa-wa/i-mu-u (“ASINUS”)tara/i-ka-sa-ni-ia-za (*92)za-la-la (“ARGENTUM.DARE”)pi-ia-ta-a, approx. /abas=ba=wa=mu tarkasniyanz(a) zallalla piyatta/, ‘He (scil. the aforementioned master) gave to me carts for (the?) donkeys’.
Tischler (HEG W-Z:630) points out that HLuw. features another logogram and word for drawn vehicles, viz. CURRUS (sign *288), used as a determinative for (CURRUS)ku-sà-ti ‘chariot’. Yet based on the contexts of attestations for /zallalla(/i)-/, it is possible that the present word also denotes chariots, besides meaning ‘cart’, especially since its contexts usually involve some military connotation, although none of them can be said to force such an interpretation.
For the genitival adjective form /zallallassa/i-/, Starke 1990a:339f. suggests interpreting it as ‘charioteer’, which is possible, but cannot be proven. Until evidence surfaces that lends more support to Starke 1990a’s interpretation, the genitival adjective should be assumed to be an adjective of appurtenance.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The word is likely derived from the noun zalla- ‘movement, speed’, which is not attested in HLuw., but can be found in CLuw. It is derived with the suffix /-alla/i-/, which forms adjectives of appurtenance (cf. e.g. Yakubovich 2015b:6.2), and constitutes one of the many subsequently substantivized words from that class. Its stem class is not assured, because za-la-la could represent the collective form of either /-all(i)-/ c. or /-alla-/ c. Thus, a neuter stem /-all(a)-/, though possible, is not assured. The forms /zallallassa/i-/ show the suffix /-assa/i-/, used to derive genitival adjectives from nouns (cf. Hawkins 2000a:546 for connecting the present forms).
[AH.B.]
For the lemma head, see Luw. */zal(l)-/.