Re: Origin of the Sumerian language

--- In Nostratica@yahoogroups.com, "Gerry" <waluk@...> wrote:

> --- In Nostratica@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Wordingham"
> <richard.wordingham@...> wrote:
> > --- In Nostratica@yahoogroups.com,
> > "Gerry" <waluk@...> wrote:
> > > 3) Did Sumerian ever exist?
> > Why do you think it might not have
> > existed? We have writing that
> > modern people label as Sumerian.
> > .
> > Richard.
>
> Yes, I know. Apparently my question arose when certain facts

about

> Sumerian came to light. And the poster clearly indicates "no" (in
> answer to my query).

The continuation of the 'no' removed the clarity. To me it
immediately flagged the reply as a witticism.

> Further, Sumerian could have been a "made up"
> category to keep others from assuming that Assyrian and its

relatives

> were the oldest of languages.

Aha! You suspect it was an Akkadian con-lang? Inspired by Elamite
or even Meluhhan? >:) I believe we actually have Sumerian grammars
written in Akkadian, or at least fragmentary grammars. (Patrick
Ryan's given them an unfavourable review! - He thinks they wrongly
force Sumerian into a Semitic mould.) I'm pretty sure we've got
Akkadian-Sumerian word lists.

Richard.