/mizzinalla-/, (*265)mi-zi-na-la-
‘brewer, wine maker (?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 3173
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/mizzinalla-/, (*265)mi-zi-na-la-
‘brewer, wine maker (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested only once and can be found in one of the Karkamiš inscriptions dating to the late 10th or early 9th century BCE.
[AH.B.]
1.1.2Forms
| nom. sg. | /mizzinallas/ | (*265)mi-zi-na-la-sa | KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §17b (Karkamiš) |
The attestation in KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §17b is written across a line break with the determinative *265 on one line and the syllabic part continuing the word on the next line: 〈(*265)||mi-zi-na-la-sa〉.
[AH.B.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The present lexeme has only a very tentative phonological interpretation concerning the first part of its stem, because its meaning is unknown so far and it appears to be without cognates in the other Anatolian languages; however, see the discussion of the meaning below. Only the latter part of the stem, i.e. the suffix /-alla-/ is well-known from other stems, see the discussion of the stem below.
[AH.B.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning of this lexeme has long remained in the dark, and was only recently studied again by Simon 2019d:117f. (see there for a review of the existing literature), who explores the different phonological interpretations possible and tentatively connects it with the words around ‘barley’ in the Indo-European languages. While this is possible, there may be a more straightforward solution: it is suggested here that this lexeme may mean ‘beer brewer’ or ‘wine maker’, because the attested form could be based on a borrowing from Akkadian mizʾu ‘a type of beer and/or wine’ (cf. CAD M2:148f.). The interpretation would fit well within the context in KARKAMIŠ A2+3, §§16-21, because the relevant clauses list a group of functionaries whom the author of the inscription wants to see protected from harm by including them in the lengthy protasis of a curse formula.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The lexeme is a formation in /-alla-/, which mostly builds agent nouns (Sasseville 2014-2015a), and the stem is derived from an unattested base such as */mizzina-/, very likely featuring the Luw. nominal suffix /-i-na-/ (cf. Simon 2019d:117). Still, only additional evidence can shed further light on the exact nature of the formation.
[AH.B.]
1.1.6Origin
For a possible foreign origin see under Meaning.
[AH.B.]