Hittite Emotions in Lexical and Semantic Grounds

Abstract

The present research observes and evaluates Hittite lexical sensibility to emotions, therefore it is an examination of Hittite ability or capacity to lexicalize what we nowadays label emotions. After some theoretical backgrounds about emotion researches, and this in particular, the work follows with the identification of the relevant lexical units, the recollection of its previous interpretations and translations into modern languages, the loci of the attestations, text transliterations and translations wherein the attestations occur, and analytical commentaries, encompassing: a descriptive semantics of the general concept under analysis; critical review of previous translations into modern languages; discussion of special semantic contents, including its somatic relevancy; semantic evaluation of Akkadian and Sumerian glosses (occasionally also Phoenician); syntactical and aspectual notes; and the linguistical appraisal of the lexemes derivatives and origin (Proto-Indo- European or not), inter alia. The lexical units fully analyzed are grouped under five emotion clusters: Love, Happiness, Joy, and Contentment, Apprehension, Fear, Panic, and Anxiety, Disgust, Hate, Anger, Rage, and Wrath, and Jealousy and Envy. Additionally, the research comprises the identification of emotion lexemes related with other clusters. The final part encompasses a discussion of the results, leading to conclusions about the great lexical amplitude of Hittite emotions, especially within the cluster of Disgust, Hate, Anger, Rage, and Wrath and Apprehension, Fear, Panic, and Anxiety. It was also possible to conclude that Hittite lexicon of emotions was mainly inherited from PIE.