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Can anything of Gutian and Lullubian be recovered from names alone?

Asked 31 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

Gutian is known from the names of about twenty rulers in the Sumerian King List, with a recurring ending that may be a case marker, and one divine name; Lullubian from personal names in the same region⁠[1]⁠[2]. Henning's reading of the Gutian names as Tocharian is the only classification ever proposed, and most scholars rejected it as a comparison across more than two millennia⁠[3]⁠[4].

Answers 3

None of these.
Not tested yet
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible

History

  1. Walter B. Henning: henning noted recurring endings on the Gutian king names that resemble Tocharian case endings, and a likeness between…For: The Gutian king names show Tocharian case endings, so Gutian was an early Indo-European language related to Tocharian.
  2. Mallory & Mair: most scholars rejected Henning's comparison because it links names of about 2100 BC with a language first written in…Against: The Gutian king names show Tocharian case endings, so Gutian was an early Indo-European language related to Tocharian.
  3. Marc Van De Mieroop: most scholars rejected Henning's comparison because it links names of about 2100 BC with a language first written in…Against: The Gutian king names show Tocharian case endings, so Gutian was an early Indo-European language related to Tocharian.
  4. Marc Van De Mieroop: gutian is known from about twenty royal names and one divine name, and Lullubian from personal names only.For: Nothing beyond the sound shape of a few names can be recovered; Gutian and Lullubian are unclassifiable without a text.
  5. Piotr Michalowski: gutian is known from about twenty royal names and one divine name, and Lullubian from personal names only.For: Nothing beyond the sound shape of a few names can be recovered; Gutian and Lullubian are unclassifiable without a text.
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