L1.4: Status Constructus - Part 1
Contents
L1.4: Status Constructus - Part 1#
The status constructus is the form of a noun with none or a reduced case flexion. It can be definite or indefinite. It is used:
Good-to-know 🤓
The status constructus is found in every semitic language. In Hebrew it is known als סמיכות.
before a noun in genitive - Part 1
before a possessive suffixe - Part 2
before a asyndetic relative sentence - Part 3
Status Constructus: Before a Noun in Genitive#
Before a noun in Genitiv the noun loses the ending with the exeption of the masculine plural. There is therefore only one form for the singular and plural in all cases.
Status Rectus |
Status Constructus |
Example |
Translation |
---|---|---|---|
bēlum |
bēl |
bēl aššatim |
Lord of the wife |
šarrum |
šar |
šar mišārim |
King of the Justice |
aššatum |
aššat |
aššat awīlim |
Wife of the man |
Note
The status constructus can be dismatled by the determinative pronoun ša
Forms of the Singular Noun in Status Constructus#
The nouns in singular can have different forms in status constructus:
Some nouns add a -i at the end
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
abum masc.
abi
father
ṭuppum masc.
ṭuppi
(clay) tablet
napištum fem.
napišti
life
Final long consonants of the stem are shortened
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
šarrum
šar
king
kunukkum
kunuk
seal
Nouns with double consonants in end position of the model PaRS, PiRS and PuRS copy the initial vowel and insert it betwen the consonants
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
kalbum (PaRS)
kalab (PaRaS)
dog
šiprum (PiRS)
šipir (PiRiS)
sending
Feminine nouns can add the vowel -i or the vowel a from the feminine ending -at- reappears. If it is a feminine with -e- the a becomes e.
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
qištum (<qiš-at-u)
qišti
wood, forest
šubtum (<šub-at-u)
šubat
dwelling
bēltum
bēlet
lady
Note
Sometime both forms are attested for a single word:
napištum (<napiš-at-u): st.const. = napišti or napišat
Forms of the Plural Noun in Status Constructus#
Nouns in Plural have the following forms:
Masculine nouns in plural have the same ending as in the status rectus:
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
kalbū
kalbū
dogs
šiprī
šiprī
sendings
inān
inā
eyes
Masculine adjectives in plural loses the ending:
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
dannūtum
dannūt
mighty, strength
šiprī
šiprī
sending
Feminine nouns in plural lose their ending
Status Rectus
Status Constructus
Example
Translation
kalbātum
kalbāt
she-dogs
šarrātum
šarrāt
queens
Note
The same for femenine with -e-
belētum > belēt = ladies.