Insult in Sumerian Writing: Reconsideration to Two Insult Texts (ETCSL 5.4.11 and 5.4.12)

Abstract

This study is concerned with the analysis of insulting statements in two Sumerian diatribe texts known as “He is a good seed of a dog” and “Engardug the fool”. Insults are frequently mentioned in the Sumerian disputation and diatribe texts. These two texts are dated to the Old Babylonian period and are thought to be school texts. In these texts in question there are a number of insulting statements directed by someone against some­one else. In this study, it will be mentioned that what kind of insults are used and what the insults mean and also will be focused on the relationships between the abusive language used in these texts and some social, cul­tural and individual elements in the ancient Mesopota­mia. And some remarks on the etymology of the insult­ing statements in question will be emphasized. As a mat­ter of fact, the both texts consist of the intense and harsh criticism accompanied by insults that seems to be di­rected to a certain individual from the first lines to the last lines, and that actually targets a more general human ty­pology.

Keywords

• Sumerian Literature,Insulting Statements,Abuse Texts,Diatribes,Lexical Lists

Sumer Yazınında Hakaret: İki Sumer Metninde (ETCSL 5.4.11 VE 5.4.12) Geçen Hakaret İfadeleri Üzerine Bazı Etimolojik Düşünceler

Abstract

Bu çalışma, “O, bir köpeğin kaliteli bir tohumudur” ve “Ahmak Engardug” başlıklarıyla bilinen iki Sumer tartışma metninde geçen hakaret ifadelerinin analiziyle ilgilidir. Ha­karet içerikli söylemlere Sumer tartışma ve diyalog me­tin­lerinde sıklıkla yer verilmiştir. Eski Babil dönemine ta­rih­lendirilen ve büyük olasılıkla okul metinleri olduğu dü­şünülen bu iki metinde, birisinin bir başkasını hedef aldığı çok sayıda hakaret ifadesi geçmektedir. Makalede bu haka­ret ifadelerinin neler olduğu ve ne anlama geldiği üzerinde durulacaktır. Ayrıca bu kötü ifadelerin hangi toplumsal, kül­türel ve bireysel unsurlarla ilişkili oldukları tespit edil­meye çalışılacaktır. Çalışmada büyük oranda söz konusu ifadelerin etimolojilerine dair birtakım düşünceler üzerin­de durulacaktır. Nitekim metinler ilk satırlarından son sa­tır­larına kadar bütünüyle belirli bir insana yöneltilmiş gibi gözüken ve aslında daha genel bir insan tipolojisini hedef alan hakaret içerikli ifadelerle dolu yoğun eleştirilerden oluş­maktadır.  

Keywords

• Sumer Edebiyatı,Hakaret İfadeleri,Tartışma ve Diyalog Metinleri,Sözcük Listeleri

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