On the issue of the dative mark in ancient iberian

Abstract

Beginning with a critical review of the previously published on the proposal of attributing to the suffix -e a Dative meaning (originally proposed by Untermann 1984), the available evidence it’s revised and analyzed. It’s concluded that it’s is very plausible to attribute a Benefactive meaning, and probably also a Dative one, not only to the -e suffix, but also to -er, that would be its allophone as proposed by Orduña with little success. It’s also claimed that the suffixes -en and -ar (and its allomorph -a) besides their known function as possessor’s mark (Genitive) can also be used as Benefactives and perhaps as Dative too. According to the typological and diachronic models of syncretisms and the phonetic phenomena known in Iberian, it’s proposed that at least some of these suffixes derive from -er.

Keywords

• morfología de la lengua íbera
• marcas de genitivo/dativo/benefactivo en íbero
• inscripciones votivas íberas