H273 LH xxviiib
87
KA-šu OV – The noun pê, “mouth, com-
e mand,” is written syllabically in e.
1 rev. ii 6 pi-i-šu
H274 LH xxviiib
88
ut-ta-ak-ka-ru OV(l) – Difference in grammatical
e forms.^492
1 rev. ii 7 na-ak-ri-im
H275 LH xxviiib 89 li-ru-ur-šu-ma OV(l) – Possible difference in pro-nunciation. (^493)
e 1 rev. ii 8 [ ]ru-šu-ma
Discussion of Variants
Orthographic Variants
Orthographic variants are the most common category of variation between the sources.
The most frequently occurring orthographic variations are the exchange of like-valued
signs, in particular regarding the conjunctions, as well as the use of fewer signs for writ-
ing syllables (usually CVC for CV-VC).^494
The representation of long vowels is also frequently at variance between the sources.
Some sources, such as tablet B, frequently (but not always) write long vowels with an
extra vowel sign against the short spelling in LH. See, for example, H12, H28, H50, H75
and H85. The opposite case occurs in H20. Other sources, such as J and N, have a ten-
(^492) The stele has the II/2 present future of (^) √nakāru, “to be hostile, countermand” against the stative (verbal
adjective), in e. In the context the sense is very similar between the sources. LH reads: ša la uttakkanu,
“which will not be over-ruled,” while e reads: 493 ša la nakrim, “which (is) without over-ruling.”
494 The subject, Enlil, is certainly singular in e, so the vowel is best read as an anaptyctic addition.
For the increased use of CVC signs as a feature of Standard Babylonian see J. Huehnergard, Grammar,
596.