What was the Kassite language, and can it be classified from a 48-entry vocabulary and a few hundred names?
Five answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.
Where it stands
Five answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Five are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.
Why it matters
Kassite survives in one vocabulary of 48 entries, a list of 19 translated names, about 60 loanwords and about 200 elements extracted from names; no sentence exists and no grammar can be written[1][2][3]. Indo-Aryan, Elamite and Hurro-Urartian affiliations have been proposed on a few words each, and the standard assessment is that no relationship is demonstrable[4][5][3].
Answers 5
History
- Theophilus G. Pinches: kassite survives as one 48-entry vocabulary, 19 translated names, about 60 loanwords and about 200 name elements, with…For: Kassite cannot be classified from what survives: it is an unclassified language, probably an isolate, until a text is…
- Kemal Balkan: the Indo-Iranian words are confined to a handful of names, while the common nouns of the vocabulary show no…Against: Kassite is an Indo-Aryan (Indo-Iranian) language.
- Kemal Balkan: kassite survives as one 48-entry vocabulary, 19 translated names, about 60 loanwords and about 200 name elements, with…For: Kassite cannot be classified from what survives: it is an unclassified language, probably an isolate, until a text is…
- Augusto Ancillotti: a few Kassite divine and personal names contain Indo-Iranian words, such as šuriaš, sun god, and Abirattaš, with the…For: Kassite is an Indo-Aryan (Indo-Iranian) language.
- Thomas Schneider: schneider lists possible lexical isoglosses between Kassite and Hurro-Urartian.For: Kassite is related to Hurrian and Urartian.
- Gernot L. Windfuhr: a few Kassite divine and personal names contain Indo-Iranian words, such as šuriaš, sun god, and Abirattaš, with the…For: Kassite is an Indo-Aryan (Indo-Iranian) language.
- Ran Zadok: zadok's survey of the Kassite lexical remains finds no demonstrable genetic relationship to any language, Hurrian…Against: Kassite is related to Hurrian and Urartian.
- Ran Zadok: the Indo-Iranian words are confined to a handful of names, while the common nouns of the vocabulary show no…Against: Kassite is an Indo-Aryan (Indo-Iranian) language.
- Ran Zadok: zadok describes Eilers's suggested Elamite relationship as unlikely.Against: Kassite is related to Elamite.
- Ran Zadok: kassite survives as one 48-entry vocabulary, 19 translated names, about 60 loanwords and about 200 name elements, with…For: Kassite cannot be classified from what survives: it is an unclassified language, probably an isolate, until a text is…
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