/aliya-/, (“*476.*311”)a-li-ia-
‘to other, treat as an outsider (?)’
- Language
- Hieroglyphic Luwian
- Grammar
- verb
- ID
- 3212
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Hieroglyphic Luwian
/aliya-/, (“*476.*311”)a-li-ia-
‘to other, treat as an outsider (?)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is attested once in a late 8th century BCE letter found in Assur, but likely originating elsewhere.
[A.P.]
1.1.2Forms
| 2sg.? pret. act. | /aliyatta/ | (“*476.*311”)a-li-ia-ta | ASSUR letter a, §9 |
The analysis of the form attested in ASSUR letter a, §9 as 2sg. pret. act. rests wholly on the context; see the discussion of the meaning below.
[AH.B.] [A.P.]
1.1.3Graphic Features
1.1.3.1Phonological Interpretation
The phonological interpretation of this lexeme is somewhat tentative, because it is attested only once. Rieken & Yakubovich 2022a:269 suggest that the word belongs to the family around */al-/ ‘other’, which is phonologically possible. It should be mentioned, however, that the spelling of the word in ASSUR letter a, §9 can easily be interpreted to represent /alliya-/ vel sim., voiding the connection with the root /al-/ ‘other’. In fact, a similar looking form is attested in KULULU 4, §16, viz. 〈(“*476”)TERRA-li-ia-ta〉, which may be etymologically related to /allV(n)t-/ ‘place’, but see the discussion of the meaning below.
The interpretation of the logograms used has sparked some discussion among scholars, also because the present lexeme is not alone in featuring the combination *476.*311 as a determinative; it can also be found with /hirud-/ ‘curse’. Payne 2019b:92, 94 tentatively suggests that *476.*311 could be a cursive version of *478 (on which see Payne 2018a:109f.), i.e. representing a flame above an altar. The sign *476 is found with yet another set of lexemes, and it is not clear how the words may be related.
[AH.B.] [A.P.]
1.1.4Meaning
The meaning is based mainly on the contextual interpretation of the verb as well as the putative etymological connection suggested by Rieken & Yakubovich 2022a:269. They link the word to the family around */al-/ ‘other’ and suggest a meaning such as ‘to treat as an outsider’ vel sim., which is possible in the context. In ASSUR letter a, §9, the clause is brief and somewhat unclear as is most of the letter: wa/i-mu-u u-za+ra/i-i (“*476.*311”)a-li-ia-ta, approx. /wa=mu unzadi aliyatta/, possibly meaning ‘(As if I’d died), you’ve treated me as an outsider at yours (i.e. your place)’. Within the context, the situation described in the first clause of this complex sentence appears to be hypothetical (thus also Morpurgo Davies 1980b:99 and Carruba 1984a:61f.), because it is followed by a demand for what appear to be provisions, cf. Hawkins 2000a:534.The tentative translation offered by Hawkins 2000a:534, 543 as ‘to neglect, slight’ is outdated, as is the earlier suggestion ‘to prepare’ by Kalaç 1986b:256.
However, the meaning of the verb is by no means obvious or forced by the context. In fact, if the etymological link with */al-/ ‘other’ should turn out to be incorrect, a connection with /allV(n)t-/ ‘place’ (for which see Yakubovich 2017c) is possible instead, and the attestation would be assigned to the same paradigm as 〈(“*476”)TERRA-li-ia-ta〉 from KULULU 4, §16, /alliya-/ ‘to place(?), to bury(?)’. In that case, the meaning in the context of ASSUR letter a, §9 would have to be reassessed, and it could be along the lines of ‘(As if I’d died), you’ve buried me at yours (i.e. your place)’, which could be a colloquial expression for no longer taking someone into consideration.
[AH.B.]
1.1.5Stem
The morphological analysis of the present word is hypothetical for the moment. If the etymological link proposed by Rieken & Yakubovich 2022a:269 should prove correct, the verb /aliya-/ would, following Sasseville (pers. comm. to the authors), probably represent a factitive in /-a-(ti)/.
If, however, the etymological link should be with /allV(n)t-/ ‘place’ (cf. Yakubovich 2017c), the derivational base would be */arl(a)-/ vel sim., see /alliya-/ ‘to place(?), to bury(?)’.
[AH.B.]