Beginning Hittite
by Warren H. Held, William R. Schmalstieg, Janet E. Gertz

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Book Reviews of Beginning Hittite

Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars

I had hoped for a series of lessons, with vocabulary and exercises. After an introduction to the writing system, the authors launch into a catalogue of declensions ("nominal system", "the pronominal system", "the verbal system", etc.) It looks like a throwback to the phonology - morphology - syntax grammars of the last century.

The only thing that makes this work something more than a dry reference grammar for those who already know some Sumerian and Akkadian is a 40-page or so section of readings in the rear of the book. There are 4 reading selections given in cuneiform, with the transliteration and a literal translation into English underneath. Each selection is then followed by a "real" English translation.

For a true learner's grammar of Hittite, I guess we'll just have to wait. In the last couple of years, we've seen excellent learning aids for ancient languages (Huehnergard's Akkadian, Hayes' Sumerian, Allen's Middle Egyptian, to name a few.)

I'd recommend you wait a little longer for something meant for true beginners. Hopefully, it won't take too long.

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