wam̃ãt(i)-
‘unknown)’
- Language
- Lycian A
- Grammar
- subst, c.
- ID
- 975
1. Individual Anatolian Languages
1.1 Lycian A
wam̃ãt(i)-
‘(unknown)’1.1.1Transmission
This lexeme is found in a non-datable grave inscription.
[D.S.]
1.1.2Forms
| dat. pl. | wam̃ãṭe | N 317.2 (Limyra) |
1.1.3Graphic Features
Neumann 1979a:41 does not restore any letter and reads wamã[.]e, although the letter ṭ is the best option considering the previous nasalized vowel ã, contra Carruba 1979b:86 n. 21, who restores j̣. The letter 〈m̃〉 (wrongly transliterated by Neumann) between two vowels is not possible in Lycian phonotactics, which is why it could be emended here to m!, i.e. wam!ãṭe. Alternatively, the letter m in front of m̃ could be restored, i.e. wa〈m〉m̃ãṭe. Until a second attestation appears, no safe emendation is possible.
[D.S.]
1.1.4Meaning
Based on the context, wam̃ãt(i)- should refer to a kinship term (Neumann 2007a:417). Carruba 1979b:87 suggests the translation ‘creature’, which would refer to the children of the family. He adduces as comparison CLuw. wayam(ma)n-, translating it as ‘baby’, but this semantic assignment is not adequate. To equate the two potential cognates, one would need to assume that Lycian has dropped the glide intervocalically at a later stage, i.e. *waja-mn- > *wa-mn-, but this cannot be convincingly supported based on the currently available data.
[D.S.]
1.1.5Origin
No reconstruction possible.
[D.S.]