Simplified Akkadian Grammar

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Simplified Akkadian Grammar

Writing & Pronounciation

Akkadian uses a complex writing mixing ideograms, determinatives and phonetic (syllabic) signs. The spelling is flexible, allowing words to be written in several different ways, sometimes using exclusively syllabic signs. The form of the writing is due to the means of writing, a small cane with an angular, sharp edge, on tablets made of humid clay that is later dried.

Nouns

Gender

As usual in Afroasiatic languages, Akkadian nouns are divided in two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. Usually, nouns with an ending ending in -t are feminine, but that's not an absolute rule, as there are some masculine nouns ending in -t, as well as feminine nouns without that ending. However, the ending -t is present in the feminine form of adjectives.

Noun gender is reflected in the form of agreement in pronouns, adjectives and verbs. I.e., every pronoun or adjective associated with a noun must agree in gender with it, and a verb must also agree in gender with its subject.

Number

Akkadian nouns have three numbers: the usual sigular and plural, as well as a dual. The dual number indicates a pair, i.e., exactly two items.

• singular: 1 item
• dual: 2 items
• plural: 3 or more items

The dual number is commonly found in things that occur naturally in pairs, for instance: eyes, ears, hands &c. It can be used for anything else, though.

Pronouns, adjectives and verbs must agree with the noun in number. Usually, the plural form of these words is used with a noun in the dual, i.e., the dual form of pronouns, adjectives and verbs is not used.

Case

Akkadian nouns have three cases: nominative, accusative and genitive.

• nominative indicates the subject of a sentence, as well as a predicative in a nominal sentence.
• accusative primarily idicates the direct object of a sentence, but it has several other functions, such as forming adverbial expressions.
• genitive primarily indicates possession, but it has also other functions, such as indicating origin, partitive, as well as being used after prepositions.

Definiteness

Akkadian has no articles. Besides, nouns don't have any special forms for indicating whether they are definite or indefinite. There are cases, however, in which a noun is definite by nature, such as proper nouns or a genitive construction.