Hittite language

IndoEuropeanTree

Hittite language is an ancient language that was spoken by the Hittites, a people who established an empire centered in what is now Turkey during the second millennium BCE. It is notable for being the earliest attested Indo-European language, with records dating from the 20th century BCE to the 13th century BCE. The Hittite language is primarily known from cuneiform texts found in the area of the Hittite capital, Hattusa, and other sites within the empire's territory.

History and Discovery

The discovery of the Hittite language in the early 20th century was a significant milestone in the field of Linguistics and Ancient Near Eastern studies. It was deciphered from cuneiform tablets that were unearthed in the ruins of Hattusa, near modern-day Boğazkale (formerly Boğazköy), Turkey. The decipherment of these tablets revealed that the language used was part of the Indo-European family, which was a surprising discovery at the time, as it extended the geographical range of these languages into Anatolia.

Linguistic Features

Hittite is classified within the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family. It exhibits several archaic features not found in later Indo-European languages, making it a critical source for understanding the development and spread of Indo-European languages.

Phonology

The phonological system of Hittite includes a distinction between aspirated and unaspirated stops, a feature shared with other Indo-European languages. However, it lacks the voiced aspirated stops found in some other branches of the family.

Grammar

Hittite grammar is marked by its use of suffixes for inflection, similar to other Indo-European languages. However, it also shows unique features, such as the use of an ergative case in certain verbal constructions, which is not found in most other Indo-European languages. The language also employs agglutination, a process where multiple morphemes are combined to express grammatical relationships and verb aspects.

Script

The Hittite language was written in a version of the Mesopotamian cuneiform script, adapted to represent the sounds of the Hittite language. This adaptation includes signs for Hittite-specific sounds that are not found in other languages using cuneiform.

Corpus

The corpus of Hittite texts includes a wide range of document types, such as legal codes, treaties, letters, rituals, and myths. These texts provide valuable insights into the culture, religion, and politics of the Hittite Empire, as well as the daily lives of its people.

Legacy

The study of the Hittite language has significantly contributed to our understanding of the Indo-European language family, particularly in reconstructing its proto-language. It has also provided a wealth of information about the history and culture of the Ancient Near East.