Akkadian Grammars
Jonathan Bailey
jonathan.bailey at gmx.de
Mon Nov 8 18:01:37 EST 1999
I know this seems quite a bit off the topic of Hebrew, particularly biblical Hebrew, but I
am looking for recommendations for an Akkadian Grammar or Lehrbuch. I am getting
into Paleohebrew Epigraphy, and the more I nose around in Reichsaramaic, Ugaritic,
Paleohebrew, and the real theoretical areas of the origins and relations of the oldest
semitic scripts, the more I find that Akkadian comes into play.
So I am wondering if any of you semitists know about a good grammar. All I can find in
the stores here is Von Soden's book, and will have to rely on Amazon.com or some
other sort of mail order, so won't be able to do my own shopping. I will have to trust
what I am recommended. As complete a description of whatever grammars you are
working with would be appreciated. I am absolutely not prepared at this point to make
a heavy study of the langauge or actually learn it to fluency, but am more interested in
being able to take a look at the various morphological patterns and concepts within
the language so that I can see where all these suppositions about Hebrew and
Aramaic are coming from. Preferably a book that has a strong latinized rendition, so I
would not have to learn the many cuneiform signs to use the book, though I would like
one that has cuneiform signs, so I would not have to buy another grammar if I really
fall in love with the language and/or find the time to really learn it fluently. I would prefer
more of a "Lehrbuch" with a gradiated introduction to concepts, with example
sentences, perhaps excercises to do, and a glossary if possible, but if I must buy a
reference grammar, I would be willing to do that too. Lastly, I would be interested in
something modern, and printed with the latest technology. Some of these lexicons,
grammars, etc, which are reprints of works from early in the century or earlier, with
the various vocalizations, alphabets, and signs scribbled in by hand are hardly legible. I
can imagine the situation with Akkadian could get horrible.
I know this is not the best place to go hunting for this sort of info, but I am betting on
the chance that maybe someone here will have some information or be able to refer
me further. I notice a list of books on amazon.com, but they provide virtually no
information about them. Also, though I am aware of the most basic aspects of
Akkadian history (old middle and late assyrian and babylonian dialects) I am not too
aware of exactly which archaeological finds correspond to which dialect, and therefore
cannot pick a dialect with the best literary corpus.
I can read English, German, and Modern Hebrew. Any recommendation for a grammar
in Hebrew would require an ISBN, as I am not aware of how to order Israeli books from
the internet.
Thanks for the help.
Jon
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