Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian

by Joshua Bowen, Megan Lewis

Overview

Sumerian is the world's oldest written language, but the ability to read it is restricted to the lucky few - until now! Learn to Read Ancient Sumerian: An Introduction for Complete Beginners is written specifically for people with no training in ancient languages, letting the reader learn Sumerian without having to learn grammatical jargon first. Any grammatical terms that are used are explained in clear language, and a handy index provides definitions just in case you need a reminder! Each of the 11 chapters introduce and explain important grammatical features, building upon previous chapters to provide and in-depth understanding of the language without being overwhelming. Every chapter includes a list of vocabulary and cuneiform signs for the student to master, as well as exercises to help solidify the reader's understanding of grammatical concepts. Exercises written in cuneiform mean that you start reading authentic Sumerian right from the start, building up to translating ancient cuneiform inscriptions from drawings and photographs! This book will: Teach you the fundamentals of Sumerian grammar in language you can understand. Give you exercises so you can test and consolidate your new-found knowledge. Let you read actual cuneiform inscriptions from 4,000 years ago!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781734358605
Publisher:	Digital Hammurabi Press
Publication date:	10/15/2020
Pages:	274
Sales rank:	490,385
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Dr. Joshua Bowen graduated from the Johns Hopkins University in 2017, with a Ph.D. in Assyriology, specializing in the Sumerian language. He wrote his dissertation on the (unorthographic) Sumerian lamentational liturgies that were excavated from the Old Babylonian city of Kis. Joshua completed a Th.M. in Old Testament studies from Capital Bible Seminary, where he wrote his thesis on the meaning of the divine title "El Shaddai." He also holds an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, and graduated with a B.S. in Religion from Liberty University. He is host of the HeBANE podcast, and co-host of the Digital Hammurabi YouTube channel and podcast. Megan Lewis is an Assyriologist and YouTuber with a B.A. in Ancient History and an M.Phil. in Assyriology from the University of Birmingham (U.K.), and an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from The Johns Hopkins University. She attained ABD status in the Ph.D. program at The Johns Hopkins University before deciding that her energy was better spent elsewhere, but hopes to achieve her doctorate at a later date. She is President and co-founder of the nonprofit, Humans Against Poor Scholarship, and co-host of the Digital Hammurabi YouTube channel and podcast.

Table of Contents

Preface - Why a Sumerian Grammar?, Thanks and Acknowledgements, Introduction, Chapter One Cuneiform Sights and Sounds, Chapter Two Introduction to Verbs and the Genitive, Chapter Three Case Endings, Chapter Four The Verbal "Chain" Part One - Case Element, Chapter Five Verbal Inflection, Chapter Six Possession Independent Pronouns and Intransitive Verbs, Chapter Seven Transitive Verbs - Hamtu, Chapter Eight Transitive Verbs - Maru, Chapter Nine Remaining Verbal Prefixes, Chapter Ten Compound and Auxiliary Verbs, Chapter Eleven Imperatives and Several Non-Finite Forms, Conclusion, Appendix A Additional Exercises, Appendix B Answer Key, Appendix C Glossary of Sumerian Words, Appendix D Glossary of Proper Nouns, Appendix E Glossary of Common Irregular Verbs, Appendix F Cuneiform Sign List, Appendix G Glossary of Grammatical Terms, Appendix H Index to Cuneiform Sources, Bibliography