nikumẽk

This adverb is attested twice in the curse formulae of two mutually interconnected texts that were found in the precinct of Artemis of Sardis.

[I.Y.]

This adverb clearly has the negative meaning but there is no consensus whether it means ‘never’, as per Brandenstein 1931b:29, or ‘not at all’ as per Carruba 1959a:39. Both translations fit the context equally well, and the choice between them essentially depends on which among the competing morphological analyses one would favor. Therefore, see immediately below for the justification of the proposed translation.

[I.Y.]

The segmentation nik-um-ẽk (Brandenstein 1931b:29) may be regarded as superseded, since one does not expect the allomorph -um of the morpheme -m before a vowel, while the morpheme -ẽk remains fully unexplained. Modern scholars generally agree that the first morpheme of the complex under discussion is the negative element ni- (see Lyd. nid), while the last morpheme is -k, forming indefinite pronouns and adverbs. The structure of the middle part is more controversial. According to Carruba 1959a:39, followed in Melchert 1994a, nikumẽk is to be compared with Hitt. UL manka ‘not at all’, but this leaves the element -ku- historically unexplained. Therefore, more credence accrues to the suggestion of Gusmani 1980a:80, citing a personal communication of Heiner Eichner, according to which the element -kumẽ- can be compared with HLuw. /kuman/ ‘when’. Although the adverb /kuman/ probably arose via the inner-Luwian fusion, and so Lyd. -kumẽ- probably represents an independent formation, the Luwian and Lydian complexes were formed of the same elements and probably had the same meaning ‘when’.  This vindicates the translation of nikumẽk as ‘never’.

[I.Y.]