G260, but see note ), and extraneous adjectives that describe objects common to all paral-
lel sources (G314 and G317).
Explicating pluses involve glosses (G124, possibly G134 and G143), the clarification of
elements in the narrative by way of the repetition of redundant nouns (G145 and G146),
and the clarification of a subject that is indefinite in a parallel source (G246).
Phraseology in some tablets seems to have been adjusted to suit the preference of the
scribe, whether in a particular source examined here or in its Vorlage. Adverbs may be
added for clarity of expression (G76, G205, G244), or a scribe may prefer the use of sim-
ile as opposed to the use of metaphor (G96). Some variants may reflect the personal pref-
erence of a scribe (G271), or echo phrases familiar to the scribe from the surrounding
context (301).
Stylistic Variants (Type 3)
Changes in the sequence of elements in the narrative are relatively infrequent and minor.
There is a small change in the order of the description of workers assisting in the con-
struction of Ūta-napišti’s boat (G45), and a small variation in the order of listed elements
in a dramatic sequence (G108). There is also a minor change in the syntax of a short
phrase in tablet z which affects the order of the subject and predicate (G303).
Hermeneutic Variants