kuli- or mali-

This word appears only in a NS treaty of king Tudḫalija IV with an unknown partner.

[A.B.]

1sg. pres. ind. act.

˹˺ku/ma!-li-wi5

KBo 4.14 rev. iv 34’

(CTH 123, NS)

The attestation follows Laroche 1959a:56 (see also CLL:32, CHD L–N:129, HEG K–S:106, HED M:25, Ünal 2007a:420, Ünal 2016a:332f., cf. Friedrich 1947a:6, Rosenkranz 1950a:193, Güterbock 1956a:121, EDHIL:546). The transliteration has been checked against the photo of the Mainzer Fotoarchiv. For the different interpretations of the first sign cf. below.

[A.B.]

The first sign is unclear. Laroche 1959a:56 reads it as ku (cf. Friedrich 1947a:6, Rosenkranz 1950a:193, Stefanini 1965a:49, Fuscagni 2014a) assuming a Luwian verb kuli- (or sim.). Friedrich 1947a:6 connected this form with ku-wa-li-i-ti in KUB 17.12 obv. ii 25 (cf. Beal 1988b:179) but this form rather belongs to another verb: kuwal(a)i- ‘to turn’ (cf. under the respective lemma).

According to the photo of the Konkordanz (cf. the hand copy) the text shows the sign ku but CHD L–N:129 (cf. CLL:32, HEG K–S:103, HED M:25, EDHIL:546, Ünal 2007a:420 and Ünal 2016a:332f.) emends it to ma^! assuming that it belongs to the Glossenkeilwort mali-/malāi- (cf. under the respective lemma). Melchert 2005a:451 lists two Glossenkeilwörter probably connected with this form: kuli(ya)- (without meaning) and mali(ya)- ‘think, suppose’ (cf. Zorman 2016a:580, 583 without indication of meaning). This reading was first suggested by Starke 1979a:251 (with n.18), who assumed that the unusual narrow sign form of ma^! resulted from the lack of space on the tablet pointing out that the word is written on the edge of the column and even crosses the column divider.

[A.B.]

The context of KBo 4.14 rev. iv 32’–34’ shows the following (the transliteration is based on the photo of the Mainzer Fotoarchiv, furthermore, the hand copy as well as the transliterations and translations of Friedrich 1947a:6, Stefanini 1965a:49, 74, Fuscagni 2014a and CHD L–N:129 have been taken account of):

^(32’)[... n]a^?-aš-ma-wa-mu-za ^(33’)[...] ú-uk-ma-wa-‹ra-›an ^(34’)[... ]x ul ˹˺ku/ma^!-li-wi₅

‘^(32’)“[... o]r (to) me ^{(33’–34’)}[...] but I […] did not ku/mali him”’

For the translation of the Glossenkeilwort Fuscagni 2014a refers to the suggestion of van den Hout 1989b:300 (non vidi) “] … nicht besonders behandeln(?)”. Differently, CHD L–N:129 translates “contemplate” assuming that the Glossenkeilwort belongs to mal(ā)i- (with the same verb, but different meaning cf. HED M:25 “I am not in favor, for a discussion of the semantics of mal(ā)i- cf. under the respective lemma). As a transitive verb it would fit in this passage but unfortunately the context of col. iv is too fragmentary to prove this hypothesis. The only thing that is clear is that we are dealing with a transitive verb with Luwian inflection in Hittite context (cf. already Friedrich 1947a:6, Güterbock 1956a:121, Laroche 1959a:56, Stefanini 1965a:75, Starke 1979a:251, CLL:32, CHD L–N:129, HEG K–S:103, EDHIL:546, HED M:25 and the lists of Luwianisms of van den Hout 2007a:244, as “mal(a)i-”, and Melchert 2005a:451 who marked it as genuinely Luwian).

It is, however, noteworthy to mention that the verb mal(ā)i- (also of Luwian origin, cf. under the respective lemma) appears in obv. ii 78 of the same tablet in a context in which the addressee is instructed not to consider or think of (mališi) joining other lords that are defecting from the king. The context of KBo 4.14 obv. ii 78–81 shows the following (the transliteration is based on the photo of the Mainzer Fotoarchiv, furthermore, the hand copy as well as the transliterations and translations of Stefanini 1965a:43f., 74, Fuscagni 2014a and CHD L–N:129 have been taken account of):

⁽⁷⁸⁾na-aš-ma-at zi-˹ig-ga˺ ma-li-ši a-ši-ma-an-wa-kán zag[-aš ...] ⁽⁷⁹⁾ni-ia-ri na-aš-ma-an-wa-kán u-ni-uš en^meš al-la[- ...] ⁽⁸⁰⁾pa-a-an-zi ú-uk-ka₄-ma-an-wa pé-e-ḫu-da-an-zi ⁽⁸¹⁾˹na˺-at le-e ša-na-aḫ-ti úš-an-ta zag-aš e-eš[-du ...]

^‘(78)Or if you, yourself, consider this: “If this bord[er ...] ^(79–80)turns or if those lords there could go to de[fect…], could they bring me away (with them)” ⁽⁸¹⁾You shall not seek this, death shall b[e..] the boundary for you!’

It is possible that the proposal of Starke 1979a:251 (cf. under Graphic features) applies and the Glossenkeilwort in rev. iv 32’ belongs to mal(ā)i-. The sequence ^(33’)[...] ú-uk-ma-wa-‹ra-›an ^(34’)[... ]x ul ˹˺ma^!(ku)-li-wi₅ which could tentatively be translated as ^{(33’–34’)}“[...] but I [...] did not consider/think of him”’ probably refers to something the addressee shall not say to the king.

But without further evidence and context this interpretation remains uncertain. The form could also belong to an otherwise unknown Glossenkeilwort kuli- or mali-.

[A.B.]