Optative Mood - Sumerian Language

Sumerian Language

In Sumerian, the optative of the 1st person is formed differently than the other persons:

Person Designation Example (Sumerian) Translation
1. Cohortative/hortative ga-na-b-dug I want to say it to him/her
2./3. Precative ḫe-mu-ù-zu You should experience it

Thereby, take note that the „normal“ indicator of the 1st person in the cohortative (would be a suffix -en) is mostly omited, as with the cohortative prefix, the 1st person is already expressed. In the case of the precative, the personal indicator has to be used to differentiate between the 2nd and 3rd person.

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