The verbal prefix of the dative case is /a/. The form of the nominal case-marker depends on the grammatical gender of the participant: human verbal participants are case-marked with the enclitic =/ra/; while non-human verbal participants are marked with the enclitic =/e/. When the human case-marker is preceded by an open syllable, then the enclitic =/ra/may be reduced to /r/; and the syllable closing /r/of the resulting closed syllable /CVr/will not be written until the end of the 3rd millennium BCE, see, e.g., exx. (269) and (272) below.
The co-occurrence of the noun phrase with a dative case-marker and the dative prefix is very strict: a noun phrase in the dative always occurs together with a corresponding dative prefix in the verbal prefix-chain.
In the verbal prefix-chain the dative is always cross-referenced by a composite adverbial prefix, as its slot (S7) is the nearest to the IPP. The 1st ps.
sg. pronominal prefix is expressed by an allomorph of the ventive prefix in S4, and the composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme MA, see, e.g., ex. (265) below. The 2nd ps. sg. pronominal prefix is the IPP /r/in S6, and the composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme RA, see, e.g., ex. (266) below. The 3rd ps. sg. human pronominal prefix is the IPP /nn/in S6, and the composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme NA, see, e.g., ex. (274) below. The 3rd ps. sg. non-human prefix is expressed with the prefix /b/in S5.
The 3rd ps. sg. non-human composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme BA, see, e.g., ex. (278) below. When, however, preceded by a ventive prefix, the /b/of the 3rd ps. sg. non-human composite prefix assimilates to /m/, and then it is written as a rule with the grapheme MA, see, e.g., ex. (261) below.
The 1st ps. pl. pronominal prefix is the IPP /mē/in S6, and the composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme ME, see, e.g., ex. (259) below. The 3rd ps. pl. pronominal prefix is the IPP /nnē/in S6, and the composite prefix is written as a rule with the grapheme NE, see, e.g., ex. (272) below. Both in 1st and 3rd ps. pl. the long vowel of the IPP and the dative prefix are fused to an /ē/.
When followed by a simple locative2 prefix /e/in the verbal prefix-chain, the dative and the locative2 are fused to /ē/ in the 2nd millennium BCE, see ex.
(277) below.
The three most important functions of the dative case are to denote the indirect object, the beneficiary, or the goal of the verbal event. With verbs of giving the dative denotes the recipient of the verb:
(259) FaoS 19, Gir23 obv. 7–rev. 1 (Lagash, 23rd c.) (P217056)
⸢lugal-ka⸣, ḫe₂-me-šum₂-mu
lugalka=e S1ḫa-S6mē-S7a-S12šum-S14e PN=ERG MOD-1.PL-DAT-give-3.SG.A
“May Lugalka hand it over to us!”
(260) Iri-kagina 5 obv. 1:1–3 (RIME 1.9.9.5) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222618) lu2 ummaki-⸢ke₄⸣, e₂-ki-surₓ(ERIN₂)-ra-ke₄, izi ba-šum₂
lu umma=ak=e ekisurak=e izi=ø S5b-S7a-S11n-S12šum-S14ø man GN=GEN=ERG TN=DAT.NH fire=ABS3.SG.NH-DAT-3.SG.H.A-give-3.SG.P
“The Ummaite set fire (lit. ‘give fire’) to the Ekisura.”
(261) Gudea Cyl. A 11:24 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) kalam-e zi-šag₄-ŋal₂ u₃-ma-šum₂
kalam=e zišagŋal=ø S1u-S4m-S5b-S7a-S11b-S12šum-S14ø land=DAT.NH vigour=ABS ANT-VEN-3.SG.NH-DAT-3.SG.NH.A-give-3.SG.P
“This will give vigour to the Land, ….”
(262) Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta 420 (ETCSL 1.8.2.3)
en-me-er-kara₂-ra den-ki-ke₄ ŋeštug₂ mu-na-an-šum₂
enmerkara=ra enkik=e ŋeštug=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12šum-S14ø PN=DAT.H DN=ERG ear=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-give-3.SG.P
“Enki gave wisdom to Enmerkara.”
With verbs of speaking the dative denotes the addressee of the verb:
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(263) Gudea Cyl. A 2:26–27 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) kug dŋa₂-tum₃-dug₃-ra mu-na-ŋen,
kug ŋatumdug=ra S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12ŋen-S14ø holy DN=DAT.H VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-go-3.SG.S sizkur₂ mu-na-be₂
sizkur=ø S4mu-S6nn-S6a-S11b-S12e-S14e
prayer=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.NH.P-speak.PF-3.SG.A
“He went to holy Gatumdug and prayed to her.”
(264) Gudea Cyl. A 2:13 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) ur-saŋ ⸢ma⸣-a-dug₄
ursaŋ=ø S4m-S7a-S11e-S12dug-S14ø hero=ABS VEN-DAT-2.SG.A-speak-3.SG.P
“Hero, you have commanded me.”
(265) Gudea Cyl. A 4:20 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
e₂-a-ne₂ du₃-da ma-an-dug₄
e=ane=ø du-ed=ʾa S4m-S7a-S11n-S12dug-S14ø house=3.SG.H.POSS=ABSbuild-PF=L2.NH VEN-DAT-3.SG.H.A-speak-3.SG.P
“He ordered me to build his temple.”
(266) Gudea Cyl. A 5: 18 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
eš₃ e₂-ninnu-na du₃-ba
eš eninnu=ane=ak du=be=ʾa
shrine TN=3SG.H.POSS=GEN build=3.SG.NH.POSS=L2.NH
za-ra ma-ra-an-dug₄
za=ra S4ma-S6r-S7a-S11n-S12dug-S14ø you=DAT.H VEN-2.SG-DAT-3.SG.H.A-speak-3.SG.P
“He spoke to you about the building of his shrine, the E-ninnu.”
(267) The victory of Utu-hegal 28 (ETCSL 2.1.6)
dumu iri-na-ke₄-ne gu₃ mu-ne-de₂-e
dumu iri=ane=ak=enē=ra gu=ø S4mu-S6nnē-S7a-S12de-S14e child city=3.SG.H.POSS=GEN=PL=DAT.Hvoice=ABS VEN-3.PL-DAT-pour-3.SG.A
“He addressed a speech to the citizens of his city: ‘…’.”
(268) Inana’s descent to the netherworld 332 (ETCSL 1.4.1) gal₅-la₂-ne kug dinana-ra gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e
galla=enē=e kug inana=ra gu=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12de-S14e demon=PL=ERG holy DN=DAT.H voice=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-pour-3.SG.A
“The demons say to holy Inana: ‘…’.”
The dative and the comitative case
The dative may denote the participant affected by the event either benefactively or adversatively, for the latter, see ex. (273) below:
(269) Gudea 2 1–8 (RIME 3/1.1.7.2) (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P431937)
dba-u₂, dumu an-na, nin-a-ne₂, gu₃-de₂-a, ensi₂
bau dumu an=ak nin=ane=ra gudea ensik
DN₁ child DN₂=GEN lady=3.SG.H.POSS=DAT.H RN ruler lagaški-ke₄, e₂ iri-kug-ga-ka-ne₂, mu-na-du₃
lagaš=ak=e e irikug=ak=ane=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12du-S14ø GN₁=GEN=ERG house GN₂=GEN=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-build-3.SG.P
“For Bau, the child of An, his lady, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, built her temple in Iri-kug.”
(270) Gudea Statue A 2:1–2 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232274)
dub-šen kug-ga-ne₂, mu-na-dim₂
dubšen kug=ø=ane=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12dim-S14ø treasury.chest holy=TL=3.SG.H.POSS=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-create-3.SG.P
“He (= Gudea) manufactured her holy treasury chest for her (= Inana).”
(271) Gudea Cyl. B 2:21 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
dnin-ŋir₂-su e₂-zu mu-ra-du₃
ninŋirsuk=ø e=zu=ø S4mu-S6r-S7a-S11ʾ-S12du-S14ø DN=ABS house=2.SG.POSS=ABS VEN-2.SG-DAT-1.SG.A-build-3.SG.P
“Ningirsu, I have built you your temple!”
(272) Gudea Statue I 3:4–6 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (P232282) diŋir gal-gal lagaški-ke₄-ne,
“He built all the great gods of Lagash their temples.”
(273) NG 51 rev. 3 (Umma, 21st c. BCE) (P131780)
lu₂ inim-ma saŋ sa₁₀-a-še₃ mu-ne-ra-e₃
lu inim=ak saŋ=ø sa-ʾa=ak=še S4mu-S6nnē-S8a-S9ta-S12e-S14ø man word=GEN head=ABS buy-PT=GEN=TERM VEN-3.PL-DAT-ABL-leave-3.SG.S
“(Two persons) came forward as witnesses against them that the slave had been bought.”
With verbs of motion the dative denotes the goal of the motion without, however, implying contact:
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(274) Gudea Cyl. A 2:26 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7) kug dŋa₂-tum₃-dug₃-ra mu-na-ŋen
kug ŋatumdug=ra S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12ŋen-S14ø holy DN=DAT.H VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-go-3.SG.S
“He (= Gudea) went to holy Gatumdug.”
(275) Gudea Cyl. A 18:8 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
e₂-e im-ma-ŋen
e=e S2i-S4m-S5b-S7a-S12ŋen-S14ø house=DAT.NH FIN-VEN-3.SG.NH-DAT-go-3.SG.S
“He went to the temple.”
(276) Gudea Cyl. A 15:6 (Lagash, 22nd c.) (ETCSL 2.1.7)
elam elam-ta mu-na-ŋen
elam=ø elam=ta S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12ŋen-S14ø elamite=ABS GN=ABL VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-go-3.SG.S
“The Elamites came to him (= Gudea) from Elam.”
The dative may denote the participant who is considered to be the cause of a situation:
(277) Iddin-Dagan B 56 (ETCSL 2.5.3.2)
kur-kur u₂-sal-la mu-e-re-nu₂
kur~kur=ø usal=ʾa S4mu-S6r-S7a-S10e-S12nu-S14ø land~PL=ABS meadow=L2.NH VEN-2.SG-DAT-L2-lie-3.SG.S
“All the foreign lands rest on the meadows thanks to you.”
The dative may denote the participant that experiences a sensation or feeling:
(278) Iddin-Dagan B 53 (ETCSL 2.5.3.2)
nam-lugal-zu uŋ₃-e ba-sag₉
namlugal=zu=ø uŋ=e S5b-S7a-S12sag-S14ø kingship=2.SG.POSS=ABS people=DAT.NH 3.SG.NH-DAT-good-3.SG.S
“Your kingship is good for the people.” = “The people like your kingship.”
(279) Enki and Ninhursaga 262 (ETCSL 1.1.1)
šeš-ŋu₁₀ a-na-zu a-ra-gig
šeš=ŋu=ø ana=zu=ø S2a-S6r-S7a-S12gig-S14ø brother=1.SG.POSS=ABSwhat=2.SG.POSS=ABS FIN-2.SG-DAT-sick-3.SG.S
ka-ŋu₁₀ ma-gig
kag=ŋu=ø S4m-S7a-S12gig-S14ø mouth=1.SG.POSS=ABS VEN-DAT-sick-3.SG.S
“‘My brother, what part of you hurts?’ ‘My mouth hurts.’”
The dative and the comitative case
(280) Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta 30 (ETCSL 1.8.2.3) en kul-aba₄ki-a-gen₇ nu-mu-na-sag₉
en kulaba=ak=gen S1nu-S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S12sag-S14ø lord GN=GEN=EQU NEG-VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-good-3.SG.S
“(The lord of Aratta placed on his head the golden crown for Inana.) But he did not please her (= Inana) like the lord of Kulaba.”
The semantic object of the frequently attested compound verb ki “place”— aŋ₂
“to measure”=“to love”, i.e., the verbal participant loved, is in the dative:
(281) Shulgi A 23 (ETCSL 2.4.2.01)
niŋ₂-si-sa₂-e ki ḫa-ba-aŋ₂-ŋa₂-am₃
niŋsisa=e ki=ø S1ḫa-S5b-S6a-S11ʾ-S12aŋ-S14ø-S15ʾa=ø=am-ø
justice=DAT.NHplace=ABS MOD-3.SG.NH-DAT-1.SG.A-measure-3.SG.P-SUB=ABS=COP-3.SG.S
“I do like righteousness.”
(282) Iri-kagina 14p 1–2 (RIME 1.9.9.14p) (Lagash, 24th c.) (P222652)
dba-u₂ barag iri-kug-ga-ka ⸢tum₂⸣-ma, bau barag irikug=ak=ʾa tum-ʾa=e DN dais GN=GEN=L2 worthy-PT=ERG
iri-⸢ka⸣-gi-na-ra ⸢ki⸣ mu-na-aŋ₂
irikaginak=ra ki=ø S4mu-S6nn-S7a-S11n-S12aŋ-S14ø PN=DAT.H place=ABS VEN-3.SG.H-DAT-3.SG.H.A-measure-3.SG.P
“Bau, who is worthy of the dais of Irikug, loves Iri-kagina.”