Editing Elamite language (section)

==Syntax==
Nominal heads are normally followed by their modifiers, but there are occasional inversions. Word order is [[subject–object–verb]] (SOV), with indirect objects preceding direct objects, but it becomes more flexible in Achaemenid Elamite.<ref name=":4">{{Harvnb|Stolper|2004|p=84}}</ref> There are often resumptive pronouns before the verb – often long sequences, especially in Middle Elamite (''ap u in duni-h'' "to-them I it gave").<ref>{{Harvnb|Stolper|2004|p=87}}</ref>

The language uses [[postpositions]] such as ''-ma'' "in" and ''-na'' "of", but spatial and temporal relationships are generally expressed in Middle Elamite by means of "directional words" originating as nouns or verbs. They can precede or follow the governed nouns and tend to exhibit noun class agreement with whatever noun is described by the prepositional phrase: ''i-r pat-r u-r ta-t-ni'' "may you place him under me", lit. "him inferior of-me place-you-may". In Achaemenid Elamite, postpositions become more common and partly displace that type of construction.<ref name=":4" />

A common conjunction is ''ak'' "and, or". Achaemenid Elamite also uses a number of subordinating conjunctions such as ''anka'' "if, when" and ''sap'' "as, when". Subordinate clauses usually precede the verb of the main clause. In Middle Elamite, the most common way to construct a relative clause is to attach a nominal class suffix to the clause-final verb, optionally followed by the relativizing suffix ''-a'': thus, ''lika-me i-r hani-š-r(i)'' "whose reign he loves", or optionally ''lika-me i-r hani-š-r-a''. The alternative construction by means of the relative pronouns ''akka'' "who" and ''appa'' "which" is uncommon in Middle Elamite, but gradually becomes dominant at the expense of the nominal class suffix construction in Achaemenid Elamite.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stolper|2004|p=88}}</ref>

===Language samples===
Middle Elamite (Šutruk-Nahhunte I, 1200–1160 BC; EKI 18, IRS 33):

Transliteration:

{{Blockquote|
(1) ú <sup>DIŠ</sup>šu-ut-ru-uk-<sup>d</sup>nah-hu-un-te ša-ak <sup>DIŠ</sup>hal-lu-du-uš-<sup>d</sup>in-šu-ši-

(2) -na-ak-gi-ik su-un-ki-ik an-za-an šu-šu-un-ka<sub>4</sub> e-ri-en-

(3) -tu<sub>4</sub>-um ti-pu-uh a-ak hi-ya-an <sup>d</sup>in-šu-ši-na-ak na-pír

(4) ú-ri-me a-ha-an ha-li-ih-ma hu-ut-tak ha-li-ku-me

(5) <sup>d</sup>in-šu-ši-na-ak na-pír ú-ri in li-na te-la-ak-ni
}}

Transcription:
{{Blockquote|
{{Transliteration|elx|U Šutruk-Nahhunte, šak Halluduš-Inšušinak-(i)k, sunki-k Anzan Šušun-k(a). Erientum tipu-h ak hiya-n Inšušinak nap-(i)r u-r(i)-me ahan hali-h-ma. hutta-k hali-k u-me Inšušinak nap-(i)r u-r(i) in lina tela-k-ni.}}
}}

Translation:
{{Blockquote|
I, Šutruk-Nahhunte, son of Halluduš-Inšušinak, king of [[Anshan (Persia)|Anshan]] and [[Susa]]. I moulded bricks and made the throne hall of my god [[Inshushinak|Inšušinak]] with them. May my work come as an offering to my god Inšušinak.
}}

Achaemenid Elamite ([[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes I]], 486–465 BC; XPa):

Transliteration:
{{Blockquote|
(01) [sect 01] <sup>d</sup>na-ap ir-šá-ir-ra <sup>d</sup>u-ra-mas-da ak-ka<sub>4</sub> <sup>AŠ</sup>mu-ru-un

(02) hi pè-iš-tá ak-ka<sub>4</sub> <sup>d</sup>ki-ik hu-ip-pè pè-iš-tá ak-ka<sub>4</sub> <sup>DIŠ</sup>

(03) LÚ.MEŠ-ir-ra ir pè-iš-tá ak-ka<sub>4</sub> ši-ia-ti-iš pè-iš-tá <sup>DIŠ</sup>

(04) LÚ.MEŠ-ra-na ak-ka<sub>4</sub> <sup>DIŠ</sup>ik-še-ir-iš-šá <sup>DIŠ</sup>EŠŠANA ir hu-ut-taš-

(05) tá ki-ir ir-še-ki-ip-in-na <sup>DIŠ</sup>EŠŠANA ki-ir ir-še-ki-ip-

(06) in-na pír-ra-ma-ut-tá-ra-na-um
}}

Transcription:
{{Blockquote|
{{Transliteration|elx|Nap irša-r(a) Auramasda, akka muru-n hi pe-š-ta, akka kik hupe pe-š-ta, akka ruh-(i)r(a) ir pe-š-ta, akka šiatiš pe-š-ta ruh-r(a)-na, akka Ikšerša sunki ir hutta-š-ta kir iršeki-p-na sunki, kir iršeki-p-na piramataram.}}
}}

Translation:
{{Blockquote|
A great god is [[Ahura Mazda]], who created this earth, who created that sky, who created man, who created happiness of man, who made [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes]] king, one king of many, one lord of many.
}}