Sumerian Language Review 4 - Cuneiform, Nouns, and Adjectives

Review #4

Cuneiform, Nouns, and Adjectives

True or False

Read the following sentences and determine whether they are ‘true’ or ‘false’.

Sumerian sentences are punctuated with slashes.
The adjective always precedes the noun.
Adjectives can be duplicated to indicate plurality or intensity.
Adjectives can be made by suffixing the nominalizing suffix -a 𒀀 to a verb.

Multiple Choice

Read the following sentences and choose the correct answer.

1. Cuneiform began as simple pictographs drawn in clay using:

a) a bronze chisel

b) a pointed writing tool

c) a reed stylus

2. Which of the following does Cuneiform represent:

a) abstract concepts

b) phonetic elements

c) simple objects and concepts

d) all of the above

e) none of the above

3. Cuneiform was originally written:

a) horizontally: top to bottom, left to right

b) horizontally: top to bottom, right to left

c) vertically: top to bottom, left to right

d) vertically: top to bottom, right to left

4. The original vertical pictographic signs were turned:

a) 60 degrees

b) 90 degrees

c) 180 degrees

5. A determinative indicates the words:

a) classification

b) grammatical case

c) proper name

6. An auslaut is:

a) the initial syllable or sound of a suffix

b) the final syllable or sound of a word

c) the reduplicated letter before the nominalizing suffix

One of these Doesn't Belong

Choose the options that DOES NOT apply.

1. Compound Sumerian nouns are commonly made from:

a) adjectives

b) nominalizing suffix

c) nouns

d) reduplication

e) verbs

2. Plural nouns are commonly made from:

a) reduplication of the noun

b) reduplication of the adjective

c) reduplication of the verb

d) suffixing the plural marker (e)ne 𒂊𒉈

e) suffixing the plural marker ḫi-a 𒄭𒀀

Answers

True or False

FALSE—Sumerian sentences have no punctuation.
FALSE—The noun almost always precedes the adjective.
TRUE—Adjectives can be duplicated to indicate plurality or intensity.
TRUE—Adjectives can be made by suffixing the nominalizing suffix -a 𒀀 to a verb.

Choose the Correct Answer

Cuneiform began as simple pictographs drawn in clay using: b) a pointed writing tool
Which of the following does Cuneiform represent: d) all of the above
Cuneiform was originally written: b) horizontally: top to bottom, right to left
The original vertical pictographic signs were turned: b) 90 degrees
A determinative indicates the words: a) classification
An auslaut is: b) the final syllable or sound of a word