The sigmatic forms of the Hittite verb

Abstract

Central to the problem of the Hittite verbal system is the status of the ḫi-conjugation 3 sg. pret. in -š and its relationship to other sigmatic morphemes—the partly overlapping 2–3 sg. ending -šta, the 2 pl. endings -šten(i) and -šdumat, and the synchronically unanalyzable *-s- of ganeš- ‘find, recognize’ and other s-extended verbal roots. The account of these endings given in Jasanoff 2003 is reviewed and, where necessary, revised.