Some observations on the language of Linear A

Abstract

Abstract Examination of the Linear A texts confirms that - the language of Linear A is probably only one (§ 1); - the alternation a-/ja- in a-sa-sa-ra-me/ja-sa-sa-ra-me etc. is likely due to the presence of a prefix i/j- and not to a laryngeal or a graphic variant (§ 2); - the sequence -i-*301- of a-ta-i-*301-wa-ja and variants is probably a verbal root (§§ 3-4); - (j)a-sa-sa-ra-me probably means ‘gift, homage’ vel. sim. (but not necessarily ‘sacred’) and not ‘offering’ (§ 5); - the prefix i/j- probably has the function of an article and i-na- could be its plural form (§ 6). More generally, convincing arguments have already been put forward which strongly suggest that the language of Linear A is probably neither Indo-European nor Semitic (Afro-Asiatic), nor an ergative language such as Hurro-Urartian (§ 7).