埃兰语本原音节表 Elamite Root Syllable Table

ElamiteRootSyllableTable

JessicaScottDunn

August2nd,2026

10.5281/zenodo.21764480

SupplementaryreferencetoDOI:10.5281/zenodo.21744989

BasicRootInventoryandLayeredSemanticMeanings

ThefollowingtablepresentstheinventoryofbasicCV(consonant-vowel)rootsunderlyingtheElamitelexicon,organizedaccordingtothefour-stagemodelofsemanticemergence(ScottDunn2026).Eachbasicrootrepresentsaprimordialconceptualoperatorthatprecededphonologyandmorphology;itslayeredmeaningsaccumulateacrossstagesfromiconicshapetomoralintegration.CompoundElamiteroots(showninTable1,column4)areformedbycombiningtwoormoreofthesebasicroots,eachcontributingitsownsemanticlayertothecompositemeaning.ItisconfirmedthatElamitelanguageusesdeep-timerootsandrootstackingtoapplysemanticmeaning.ManyrootsareattestedinIndo-Iranian,Avestan,andSanskritastherootsaredeep-timesubstrate.

©2026JessicaScottDunn.PublishedUnderGlyphPublishing.OpenlylicensedunderCCBYNC-ND4.0International.

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

A

Openmouth;themarkof

breath;thefirstdrawnform

Beingpresent;breathing;

existingasapositiveforce

Purebeing;positiveexistence;the

groundofgoodness

Divinefavor;

holiness;the

sacred"yes"

a-a"good";ak-pi-ip"holy"

AP

Yoke,moon,

grape,physicalemergence

Cause,

beginning,origin,

conceptualcause,origin,emergence,manifestation

moral

responsibility,accountability,

za‑ap‑pan.Yoke.šap.Grape.

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

emergence/rising,interrogative

origin,theforcethatbrings

somethingforth,appearance

truth-seeking,initiative,andcreative

generativepower.

ša‑ap‑pan‑na.

Grape.

pap‑pi.Pig.nap.God.

na‑ap‑pi.God.

na‑ap‑ir.Moon.

na‑ap.God.(onewhocauses

cycles[oftime,seasons,birth,life,anddeath])kap‑pa‑iš.Shut;close.

kappa‑.Shut;close.

hu‑ra‑ap‑na.

Green.

hu‑la‑ap‑na.

Green.

hap‑.Hear.

ha‑ap‑ti.Hear.

ha‑ap‑hu.Hear.ap‑pu‑qa‑na.

First.

ap‑pu‑qa.Early.appi.Oil.

ap‑pi.Oil.

appa.Because.

appa.What?

ap‑pa.Because.

ap‑pa.How?

ap‑pa.What?

AŠ

separation

maš-aš“cut”

BA/PA/PU/

BU

Wall;edge;lip;limb;the

container'srim;thedoor

Stopping;

containing;

limiting;thefootplaceddown

Boundarybetweenselfandother;

insidevs.outside;thedefinedlimit

Law;

prohibition;

thesacred

limit;whatcannotbecrossed

ap-pi"oil";pap-pi"pig";bat

"foot";pur

"circle";puh-"son"

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

DA/

TA

Placedstone;setfoundation;stamped

ground;thefather-figurestandingfirm

Placing;

founding;

sending;

establishing;grounding

Thegroundof

being;theprincipleofstability;whatunderliesallthings

Lawas

establishedorder;the

fatheras

foundation;divinedecree

da/dah

"send/put";at-ta"father";dal-

"sacrifice";te"favor";šat-"priest"

DU

HA

(related

toHu)

Opensky;

dome;the

visiblebreathincoldair;thefeltwind

Breathing;living;beingalivein

openspace

Divinebreath;lifeforce;theinvisibleanimatingprinciple;spirit

Holiness;

divine

sanction;the

sacred

expanse;thebreaththatconsecrates

ha-te-um-me

“east”(therisingsun)

HI/HU/U

Something

risingfrom

below;sunatthehorizon;

sprout

emergingfromearth

Birth;growth;rising;the

upward

movementofnewlife

Creation;

becoming;

manifestation;theprincipleof

emergenceitself

Sacredbirth;divine

creation;

consecration;theholyactofcoming-into-being

hun"light/lamp";hut-"do/make";hur-"fruit";hus-"tree";huš

"radiance"

IR

Twothings

boundtogether;aknot;a

joiningpoint;thelink

between

Tying;binding;connecting;theactofbringingtwothingsintoone

Relationship;

kinship;unionofopposites;the

relationalprincipleitself

Covenant;

oath;social

bond;the

sacred

obligationthatbindspersons

-ir(relational

morpheme);tar-"tojoin";gir-"toswear";tir-"tospeak"

KA/

GA

Drawnoutline;thevesselform;

theshaped

container;theboundedcircle

Theshaped

thing;formed

material;the

vesselthatholds

Idealform;essenceasshape;formasthedefinitionofathing

Sacredshape;canonical

form;divineimage;theholyvessel

kap-"shut";kar-"old";kass-

"forge";kir-"hand";gug-"peace";kam"sea"

KI/IK

Ground

surface;flatearth;the

Boundary/limitoutside

Boundary/limit/threshold

.MoralclarityEdges=cleardistinctions

zikki/zik‑ki—thin

Basic

Root

Stage1:Iconic

Stage2:

Stage3:

Stage4:

Elamite

Shape

PhysicalEffect

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Moral

Offshoots

Attestations

place-marker;thefoot's

restingpoint,anedge,a

boundary,thinnessorfineness,

pointedness

behind

heaven(upperboundary)

pasture(boundedland)

2.Pointedness/sharpness

arrow

goathornshand/fingers

Theconceptual

“edge”ofadomain.

2.Singularity/

unity

Theabstractideaof“one,”“unit,”

“uniqueidentity.”

3.Fineness/

subtlety

Thinnessbecomesconceptual

refinement.

4.Pointedness/

betweenrightandwrong.

2.Precision/exactness

Price→fairness,accuracy,honesty.

3.Integrityofidentity

“One”→

unityof

character,

consistency.

hi‑iš‑ki—arrow(pointededge)

ki‑mal‑tam—spoon(thin,edged

implement)

har‑ki‑an‑na—iron(hard

edge‑bearingmetal)

hal‑ki/halki—sweet(thin,finetaste)

3.Thinness/fineness

thindimensionsweet(finetaste)

honey(finetexture)

focus

Adirectedpointofattentionor

meaning.

5.Apex/highestpoint

King,heaven→conceptualtop,

4.Leadership/authority

King→apexmoral

responsibility.

5.Refinement/subtlevirtue

hal‑la‑ki—honey(fine,viscous

substance)

ki‑du/ki‑du‑ur/ki‑du‑um‑ma—outside

4.Singularity/unitidentity

one

summit,peak.

6.Distinction/separation

Thinness→delicacy,

refinement,cultivated

(boundary)

ki‑ik—behind(positional

price(exact

quantifiedvalue)

5.Edge‑basedfunction

spoon

Edgescreateconceptual

differentiation.

7.Precision

Price→exactness,definedvalue.

virtue.

6.

Discernment

Boundary→abilityto

distinguish

boundary)

ki‑ir/ki—one(singularunit)

ki‑ti—livestock(boundedgroup)

carpenter(edgetools)

iron(edgemetal)

6.Highstatus/apex

king(topofhierarchy)

Stage3Summary:

KI=theabstractprincipleof

boundary,

singularity,

fineness,

pointedness,andapexidentity.

truthfromfalsehood.

7.Focus/purpose

Pointedness

→directed

moralintent.

ki‑bat—pasture(boundedgrazingarea)

kipšu/ki‑ip‑šu/ki‑ip‑ši—goat(sharphorns,

pointedness)

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

heaven(topofcosmos)

kir‑/ki‑ir‑pi—hand(fingers=pointeddigits)

KU

Crookedness,pointedness,heap,mound,bent,

heap/mound,tree,branch,wood,home,fort,covering

bendability/

pliability(lead,wood)

curvedenclosure(stove,roastingvessel,mouth,

home,hut,fort)

tapering/

pointing(spear,roastingskewer)

interlacing/

crossing(weave)

crooked

movement

(animalbodies,curvedgait)

hooking/

grasping

(hand/fingers)

angular

construction(timber,posts)

separation,division

cleavedor

injured(viaaxe)covering

conceptual

crookedness+

curvature+

pointedness+

tapering+flexibledeviation,

protection,speech,tocryout,

preserving,

protecting

Indirectness/subtlety

Curved

thinking;non‑linearreasoning;strategic

indirection.

Flexibility/adaptabilityAbilityto

bendwithoutbreaking;

moral

pliability.

Sharpness/acuity

Pointednessbecomes

mental

sharpness,incisiveness.

Complexity/nuance

Interlaced

moral

reasoning;

layeredtruth.

Hiddenness/enclosure

Truththatiscontained,notobvious;

inward

curvature.

Ambiguity/moral

grayness

kull-"call";kum-"he-goat";kun

"animal";kuš-"build/beborn";kut-"carry"

kud.Wood.

kut.Timber.

kudhi.Hewnwood.

kuthi.Post;pillar.

kaudi.Pillar;

uprightsupport.ri‑kur.Lead.

kurpi.Hand.

kur‑za‑qa.

Weave.

kur‑za‑iš.Weave.kun.Animal.

ku‑un.Animal.kura-.Roast;fry.ku‑ra‑ak.Roast;fry.

ku‑ra‑at.Roast;fry.

ku‑ra‑na.Stove.ku‑ra‑am‑ma.

Stove.

šu‑kur‑ru‑um.

Spear.

a‑na‑ku.Tin;tinplate.

ku‑ti‑na.Carry;bear.

ku‑ul‑la‑h.Call;summon.

ku‑un‑nir.

Window.

uk‑ku‑la‑ki.

Cloak.

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

Crookedpathsratherthan

straightones—morally

ambiguousorcomplex.

Potentialdeviation

LA/LI/LU

Brilliance,

brightness,lightflame;

lightning,

metals(whenhotor

reflectinglight)

Flowing;

burning;movingextending

outward

Theprincipleof

giving;languageasflow;fireasthe

transformingforce

Generosity;

sacredfire;thegiftof

language;theflowing

covenant

al"city";lan-

"silver";lim

"fire";luk

"lightning";li/lih"togive";lib-

"servant"(togiveservice)

MA

Fullbreast;

pregnantbelly;theearth

mound;the

roundedorigin-shape,thefirstworduttered

fromaninfant,physicalform(viabirth),

measuringorvalueofform

Nursing;

generating;

containinglife;thesourcethatfeeds

Thematrixofall

things;thesourceofbeing;generativityascosmicprinciple

Thesacred

mother;earthgoddess;

divine

generatrix;thewombofthe

world

am/amm-

"mother";mar

"star";maul

"child";me-

"need/command";mur-"earth"

MI

ME

Thehorizon

lineatsunset;therimofa

vessel;thefinalstrokeofa

glyph,thetip(end)ofan

object,concept,amount,or

event

Thelastlightofday;thecoolingafterheat;the

cessationofflow,finalstate

Fulfillment,closure,therealizedformofbeing,finalstate

“Need,”

“command,”“obligation,”“themoralendofaction,anamountof

time,an

amountof

space/distance

me-šá“late”

me-ul-li“alongtime”

me-ni“behind”hal-te-me

“harvest(theendofacrop’slifecycle)

si-it-me“heal”(theendofaninjury)

Me-nu-me“roof”(endtoend)

na-an-me“day”šu-ut-me“night”

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

MU

Emptyspace;exhaledbreath;thevoidbeforeform;invisibleair

Thewind;

movingair;theinvisibleforcethatactswithoutbeingseen

Voidaspotential;theunmanifest;primordial

emptinessthatprecedesshape

Thesacred

void;divine

silence;the

mysteryof

non-being

mur-

"earth/ground";muš-"bad"

NA

Thedrawn

circle;thefullmoon;thesundisc;theday-cycle;

emptinessenclosed,fullness

enclosed;acycle

Theday/nightcycle;the

recurringround;thefulland

emptymoonphases

Circleas

completion;

emptinessas

potential;fullnessasrealization;thelawofreturn

Thecosmic

cycle;divinelawofreturn;sacredtime;

thecalendarasmoralorder

na/nan-"day";nap-

"god/moon";

naik-

"good/elevated";an"if";an-zi

"salt"

na-ap-ir–

“moon”(literally“therisingcirclethatiscaused,theonethatis”)

NE

NI

Theinterior

point;theself-containedone;theeyeseenfromwithin

Identity;the

personalself;theaddressedone;theinnerfeeling

Consciousness;

innerbeing;theselfasdistinctfrom

other;interiority

Personal

accountability;theaddressedself;moral

personhood;theinner

witness

ni/nu"you(sg.)";

nu-mi"you(pl.)";

PA

Theedgeof

something;thefootatthe

ground;the

wing-tip;the

boundarymark,

boundary

preventing

passingoranaction

Thestopping

point;thefoot

placeddown;thelimitreachedandheld;protecting,guarding,

preventinganactionfromcompleting;demarcation;covering

Boundaryas

definitionofself;thelimitasthe

structurethatenablesform

The

prohibition;

thesacred

limit;thelawofwhatcannotbecrossed

app-"because";

ap-pi"oil";ib-"strong";ip-"inside/skin";ipš-"fear"

PE

PI

PU

early,young,child,small,

light,delicate,newly‑emerged

incipientstage

beginningofacycleearlydevelopment

innocence

(child,youth)

ap-pu-qa.Early.

ap-pu-qa-na.

First.

halpu-.Strike;hit;beat.

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

,first-gained,first-part

smallorlightform

delicateorthin

structure

minimalgeometryfirstacquisition

initialforce

purity

(lightness,feather,nail)

humility

(smallness)

gentleness(lightstrike)

hope/promise(early,first)

freshness

(young,early)

new

beginnings(first

acquisition,earlytime)

lightguidance(lamp)

hal-pu-h.Strike;hit;beat.

hi-pu-ur.Goose.hu-un-pu.Lamp;torch.

ip-pu-ur.Goose.pu-h.Young

woman

(adolescent).

pu-hi-e.Child.

pu-hu.Young

man(adolescent).pu-hu.Son.

pu-hu.Offspring(sonordaughter).puhu.Offspring(sonordaughter).pu-hu-na.Young.

puhu.na.Young

.pur.Fingernail.

pur.Circle.

putmaš.Feather.pu-uk-ri-ir.

Booty;spoils.

pu-u-na.Young.

pu-un-na.Young.pu-up-hi-in.Ox.pu-ur.Fingernail.pu-ur.Circle.

pu-ut-ma-aš.

Feather.

qa-pu-ur.

Medicine;drug.urpu-.Early.

ur-pu-ub-ba.

Early.

RA

Fire,raysof

light(fromthesun,jewelry,orfire),physicalheat,warmth,sharpness,

weight

directionalforce,extension,

intensity,

relational

linkage,force

theabstractsenseoftowardness,abstractconnectionor

counter-connection,abstractextensionofaproperty,

abstractorientationofastructure,

abstractdirectionof

moral

right‑direction,proper

orientation,

choosingthecorrectpath,integrity,

uprightness,consistencyof

character,

ab-ba-ra.Heavy.a-ti-ra.Inside;in.be-ip-ra-an-ti.

Read.

be-ip-rák.Read.be-it-ra.Enemy.be-la-ti-ra.

Carpenter.bera-.Read.

be-ra-an.Read.

Basic

Root

Stage1:Iconic

Stage2:

Stage3:

Stage4:

Elamite

Shape

PhysicalEffect

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Moral

Offshoots

Attestations

processorintensity,passion

loyalty

toward,

rightful

opposition

against,

ethical

relational

force,

authority,

command,

moral

leadership,

zeal,passion,moral

intensity,

forcefulnessofconviction,

purityofintent,

straightnessofpurpose,

moralclarity.

du-ráš.Cave.

du-šá-ra-ma.

Deep.

du-ši-um-ir-ra.

Knife.

hu-ra-ap-na.

Green.

iš-tuk-ra.Weak.iš-tur-rák-qa.

Straight.

it-ra-an-ku.Ass;donkey.

kán-ir-ra.Friend;companion.

kara.Old.

káš-zí-ra.Smith;blacksmith.

ki-in-na-ra.

Evening.

kura-.Roast;fry.ku-ra-ak.Roast;fry.

ku-ra-am-ma.

Stove.

ku-ra-at.Roast;fry.

ku-ra-na.Stove.lu-mu-un-ra.

Burn

(intransitive).mar-ra.Two.

pera-.Read.qa-ar-ra-h.Ornament;adornment.qa-ar-ra-ha.Ornament;adornment.qa-ra.Old.

ra-ab-ba-h.Tie;bind.

rabba-.Tie;bind.ráb-ba-qa.Tie;

bind.

ráp-du.Ram.

ráp-tam.Ram.

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

šá-h-ši-ik-ra.

Tailor.

šá-ra.Under.

šera-.Command;order.

še-ra-h.

Command;order.še-ra-h-ši.

Command;order.tranku.Ass;

donkey.

un-ra.Every;all.

RI

Shape,outline,form,

configuration.

Arrangement,

pattern,structure.

role‑form(wife,uncle,son‑in‑law,kinsmen)

identity‑form(female,lamb,relatives)

structuralform

(roof,brick,basket)

conceptualform

(truth,belief,time,quantity)

linguisticform(speechforms,wordforms)

materialform

(bronze,lead,castmetal)

action‑form

(destroy,join,walk,catch)

propriety,

rightaction,

behaving

accordingtotheproper

form.integrity—holdingtoone’sproperform.fairness—giving

thingstheirproperform.

moral

harmony—

proper

arrangementof

relationships.moderation—thecorrect

measureor

amount.

reliability—consistent

formovertime.

ri‑tu,ri‑ti=wife→theformofthemaritalrole

eri,e‑ri‑ri=uncle→theformof

thekinshipposition

iš‑ti‑ri=

son‑in‑law→theformofaffinal

relation

a‑a‑ni‑ri=

relatives→theformofthe

kin‑group

mu‑h‑ti‑ir‑ri=female→theformofsex

identity

si-ri=truth

da-la-ri=time=formofdurationrit-"wife"

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

RU

production;

generative,

productive,

fertility,

life-continuingforce

Reaching;

projecting;goingoutward;

extendingpowerbeyondtheself

lineage‑continuation(kinship)

productivesubstrate(earth)

biological

generation(organs)

productiveidentity(hen,camel)

seed‑result(barley)

resultofgoodevents(luck)

utterance‑generation(speech)

craft‑generation(spear)

fruitfulness,

prosperity,

blessing,

rightful

continuation,abundance,

skillful

creation,

ethical

productivitymorality

(productionofrightaction)

ruh

“man/grandson";muru-.Earth;

ground;soil.

mu-ru-it.Earth;ground;soil.

mu-ru-un.Earth;ground;soil.

ru-h.Man(vs.woman).

ru-ú.Man(vs.woman).

ru-tu.Wife.

ru-tú.Wife.

ru-hu.Son.

ru-hu.šá-ak-ri.

Grandson.

rum.Hen.

ru-um.Hen.

zib-ba-ru.Camel.ru-el-pa-mín.

Liver.

ruku.Testicle.

ru-ku.Testicle.ši-ip-ru-um.

Bread.

kur-ru-sa.Barley.šu-ru.Good

fortune;luck.

turu-.Speak;

talk.tu-ru-nu-un-ki.Speak;talk.tu-ru-h.Speak;talk.

tu-ru-uk.Say.

tu-ru-un.Say.

šu-kur-ru-um.

Spear.

šA

Ashapethatjoinsorlinks;rope;grape

Attachmentin

matterormotion.

Relationality—theprinciplethatthingsaredefinedbytheirconnections

Obligation,

praise,

fortune,status—themoralbondsbetweenpeopleand

actions.

ša-ak—son(kinship

attachment)ša-am—rope(material

attachment)

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

ša-ra—under(spatial

attachment)

ša-da—luck(value

attachment)

ša-u-lu-be—slave(social

attachment)

ša-lu-ur—

freeman(statusattachment)

ša-h-ši-ik-ra—tailor(materialjoining)

ša-ir-ša-at-ti—leather(boundhide)

ha-ša-ir—shoe(footattachment)ša-ap-pan-na—grape(cluster

attachment)

me-ša–“late”(attachedtotheendbeyondthetimeperiod)

ma-aš-šá“late”(measuredtime–cut–motion)

SI

Theupright

line;the

straightarrow;theverticallife-principle

Standingstraight;living;breathingdirectlyupward;thevitalforce

Lifeastheverticalprinciple;thesoulasthestraightforce;uprightnessas

existence

Justiceas

straightness;thestraightpath;divine

rectitude;thelawofthe

upright

SU/SHU

TA/TE

Theplacedstone;theset

Placing;

founding;

Thegroundof

being;theprinciple

Lawas

established

at/att-"father"“patriarch”

Basic

Root

Stage1:IconicShape

Stage2:

PhysicalEffect

Stage3:

PhilosophicalAbstraction

Stage4:Moral

Offshoots

Elamite

Attestations

foundation;thefather;the

establishedpost

establishing;theactofmaking

somethingstay

ofstability;whatallthingsrestupon,

placingsomethingdown

order;the

fatheras

foundation;

divinedecree;thecovenantofplace

“elder”;tal-/dall-"write";tar-

"join/finish";te-"favor/open";

TI

Theliving

spark;the

movingtongue;thearrowof

directedspeech

Speaking;living;pointing;

directing;thetongueshapingreality

Speechaslifeforce;thetongueas

creatorofreality;thewordbeforethething

Oath-speech;sacred

language;thewordasmoralforce;the

powerofnaming

tit"tongue/lie";til-"small/calf";tir-/tur-

"speak/say";turna-"know"

TU/

DU

Thecarryingfigure;the

pregnantform;thebearerbentunderweight,female

Carrying;

conceiving;

givingbirth;

transportingwhatisprecious

Creativebearing;generationasthecosmicact;thecarrierassacredvessel

Thesacred

birth;the

covenantofbearing;

divine