Sumerian language
Introduction
The Sumerian language was spoken in Sumer, the southern part of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), during the 3rd millennium BC. It is one of the earliest known written languages, with the first texts dating back to around 3300 BC. The language is not related to any other known language and is considered a language isolate.
History
The Sumerian language is one of the oldest recorded languages. The earliest texts in Sumerian, found at the site of Uruk, date from the late 4th millennium BC. These early texts are not yet fully deciphered, but they are believed to represent a form of Sumerian. The language continued to be used throughout the 3rd millennium BC, even as the political dominance of the Sumerians waned.
Writing System
Sumerian was written in cuneiform, a script that was originally developed for the Sumerian language. Cuneiform is a logo-syllabic script, meaning it uses signs to represent both sounds and words. The script was adapted for use in other languages, such as Akkadian and Urartian, and continued to be used for many centuries after the Sumerian language had ceased to be spoken.
Grammar
Sumerian is an agglutinative language, meaning that words are formed by stringing together morphemes, each of which carries its own meaning. This is in contrast to inflected languages, where a single morpheme can carry several meanings. Sumerian has a complex system of verb tenses, moods, and aspects, and it uses a large number of nominal and verbal prefixes and suffixes.
Vocabulary
The Sumerian vocabulary is rich and varied. It includes a large number of loanwords from other languages, particularly Semitic languages such as Akkadian. The Sumerians had a complex system of numerals, and they developed a wide range of technical terms for use in administration, law, and religion.
Influence
Despite its isolation, the Sumerian language had a significant influence on other languages of the ancient Near East. The cuneiform writing system was adopted by many other cultures, and Sumerian loanwords can be found in a number of other languages. In addition, many Sumerian texts, particularly religious and literary texts, were translated into other languages, helping to spread Sumerian culture and ideas.
Extinction and Revival
The Sumerian language gradually fell out of use during the 2nd millennium BC, replaced by Akkadian and later by Aramaic. However, it continued to be studied and used for religious and scholarly purposes for many centuries. In the modern era, the language has been the subject of intensive study, and efforts have been made to reconstruct and understand its grammar and vocabulary.