The Alleged Elamite-Dravidian Relationship

 

The Alleged Elamite-Dravidian Relationship

Shrikant G. Talageri

  

Someone drew my attention to the increasingly strident claims about the alleged relationship between Elamite and Dravidian being repeatedly bandied around on the internet, and asked for my comments. As I have already referred to this claim in earlier articles, there should have been no need for this article to express my views or comments on the subject. But perhaps a more detailed answer would not be out of place, since, for various reasons, many of those actively propagating this relationship, and touting a “Dravidian Invasion/Migration Theory” into India from the area of the extinct Elamite civilization (southwestern-Iran and adjoining parts of Iraq) are actually opponents of the AIT!

 

Here is what the Wikipedia article on “Elamite Language” has to say about these claims: “Elamite is regarded by the vast majority of linguists as a language isolate,^[29][30] as it has no demonstrable relationship to the neighbouring Semitic languages, Indo-European languages, or to Sumerian, despite having adopted the Sumerian-Akkadian cuneiform script.

An Elamo-Dravidian family connecting Elamite with the Brahui language of Pakistan and Dravidian languages of India was suggested in 1967 by Igor M. Diakonoff^[31] and later, in 1974, defended by David McAlpin and others.^[32][33] In 2012, Southworth proposed that Elamite forms the "Zagrosian family" along with Brahui and, further down the cladogram, the remaining Dravidian languages; this family would have originated in Southwest Asia (southern Iran) and was widely distributed in South Asia and parts of eastern West Asia before the Indo-Aryan migration….” − those opponents of the AIT who support the DIT, of course, postulate this alleged migration from Elam to India during the period of an Indo-Aryan speaking native Indian civilization – but the article starts out with “Elamite is generally thought to have no demonstrable relatives and is usually considered a language isolate”, and concludes with: “None of these ideas [of connections between Elamite and Dravidian or other languages] have been accepted by mainstream historical linguists”. But the efforts are still on from all sides!

 

Strangely, despite determined efforts by these scholars, there is hardly anything in the data to support this alleged connection (and resultant migration from Elam to India).

 

It is notable that very little data about the Elamite vocabulary is available – certainly not enough to make such spurious claims worthy of consideration. Even the number words are not known: a search on google for “Elamite number words” elicits the information: “The Elamite language, spoken in ancient Elam (present-day Iran), utilized a decimal number system, likely derived from finger-counting, but the specific Elamite words for numbers are not recorded”.

 

A specific inquiry about Elamite vocabulary in Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Elamite_word_list) gives us a list of basic words compiled by Blažek:

 

List

No.	English gloss	Elamite
1.212	earth=ground, soil	muru-; mu-ru-it; mu-ru-un
1.213	dust	su-uk-ma
1.220	mountain, hill	am-ni
1.270	shore	šà-ri-ut
1.280	cave	du-ráš
1.310	water	zul; zu-ul
1.320	sea	kam
1.370	spring, well	zu-ul.la-li
1.420	tree	husa; hu-sa; hu-sa-a
1.430	wood	hu-h-qat; hu-uk; ma-lu
1.440	stone, rock	har; ú-h-um-ma
1.520	sun	na-h-hu-un-te; na-hi-ti; na-hu-te
1.530	moon	na-ap-ir; na-pir
1.540	star	mar-du
1.550	lightning	luk; lu-uk
1.590	rainbow	ma-an-za-at
1.610	light (noun)	hun; hu-un; hu-ni-in
1.630	shade, shadow	šad-da-ku
1.710	air	si-me-in
1.750	rain (noun)	te-ip
1.810	fire	lim; li-im
1.852	burn (vb intrans)	lim-; lum-; li-im-ma-áš-pi; li-im-ma-ak; lu-mu-un-ra
2.210	man (vs. woman)	bali; ba-li-be; ru-h; ru-ú
2.230	male	ba-li-na
2.240	female	mu-h-ti-ir-ri; mu-h-ti-be; mu-tur
2.251	young man (adolescent)	pu-hu
2.261	young woman (adolescent)	pu-h
2.270	child	pu-hi-e; ma-ul; ma-ul-li
2.280	infant, baby	zin; zí-in
2.320	wife	ir-ti-ri; ri-tu; ri-ti; ru-tu; ru-tú; mu-tar; mu-ti
2.350	father	atta; ad-da; at-ta
2.360	mother	amma; am-ma
2.410	son	pu-hu; ru-hu; šak; ša-ak; šá-ak; šá-ag-gi
2.420	daughter	pak; pa-ak
2.430	offspring (son or daughter)	puhu; pu-hu
2.440	brother	i-gi
2.450	sister	šutu; šu-tú
2.480	grandson	ru-hu.šá-ak-ri
2.510	uncle	eri; e-ri-ri
2.550	cousin	iza; i-za
2.631	son-in-law (of a woman)	iš-ti-ri
2.810	relatives, kinsmen	a-a-ni-ip; a-a-ni-ri
2.910	I	u; ù
2.920	you (singular)	ni; nu
2.942	we (exclusive)	ni-ka; nu-ku
2.950	you (plural)	nu-mi
3.110	animal	kun; ku-un
3.150	livestock	áš; ki-ti
3.160	pasture	ahiš; a-h-iš; ki-bat
3.180	herdsman	ba-at -ir; ku-dúr
3.200	cattle (bovine)	kutu; ku-tu
3.220	ox	pu-up-hi-in
3.240	calf	tila; ti-la
3.250	sheep	hidu; hi-du
3.260	ram	ráp-du; ráp-tam
3.290	lamb	kari; qa-ri; qa-ri-ri
3.350	pig	pap-pi
3.360	goat	kipšu; kupši; ki-ip-ši; ki-ip-šu; ku-ip-šu; šá-h-ši-ik-me-me
3.370	he-goat	kumaš; ku-maš
3.380	kid	pitu; pi-tú; pi-tu
3.410	horse (equine)	lakpilan; lak-pi-la-an
3.450	foal, colt	dudu; du-du; du-ud-du
3.460	ass, donkey	du-ip; tranku; it-ra-an-ku; ši-ši
3.470	mule	paha; pa-ha
3.500	fowl	zamama; za-ma-ma
3.540	hen	rum; ru-um
3.560	goose	hi-pu-ur; ip-pu-ur
3.570	duck	šu-da-ba
3.580	nest	hu-pi-e
3.581	bird	ti-ut
3.584	eagle	ba-zi-zi; ba-iz-zí-zí
3.592	parrot	qa-iš-ba-h
3.610	dog	hal-ki-ni
3.710	wolf	duma; du-ma
3.780	camel	zibbaru; zib-ba-ru
3.815	scorpion	lahi; la-hi
3.840	worm	za-na-bu-na
3.850	snake	šin; ši-in-pi; šim-bi
4.120	skin, hide	ha-te-en
4.130	flesh	i-iš-ti
4.140	hair (head)	*ku-na; še-e
4.150	blood	san; sa-an
4.170	horn	kassu; qa-as-su; kás-su
4.200	head	ukku; uk-ku; uk-gi; ukku.e
4.210	eye	el; el-ti
4.220	ear	siri; si-ri
4.230	nose	ši-um-me; šim.e
4.260	tongue	tit; ti-ut
4.270	tooth	sihhan; si-h-ha
4.280	neck	ti-pi
4.330	hand	kir-; kur-; ki-ir-pi; kur-pi
4.344	fingernail	pur; pu-ur
4.370	foot	pat; ba-at; pa-at
4.393	feather	putmaš; pu-ut-ma-áš
4.440	heart	buni; bu-ni
4.450	liver	ru-el-pa-mín
4.490	testicle	ruku; ru-ku
4.720	born (to be)	kuši-; ku-ši-in; ku-ši-iš
4.732	conceive	du-; du-h; du-iš; duk
4.740	live, living, life	ta-ak-me; da-ak-ki-me; ta-ak-ki-me
4.750	die, dead	halpi-; hal-pi-ik; hal-pi-ip; la-ha-an
4.810	strong, mighty, powerful	ib-ba-ak; šilha-; šil-ha-h; ši-il-ha-ak; ši-il-me
4.820	weak	iš-tuk-ra
4.852	bruise	ha-pi
4.860	cure, heal	si-it-ti; si-it-me
4.880	medicine, drug	qa-pu-ur
5.120	food	ab-be-be
5.230	roast, fry	kura-; ku-ra-at; ku-ra-ak
5.340	pitcher, jug	piti; pi-ti
5.370	spoon	ki-mal-tam
5.380	knife (2)	du-šu-um-ya; du-ši-um; du-ši-um-ir-ra
5.510	bread	ši-ip-ru-um; ši-ip-ri-um
5.550	meal, flour	e-ul; u-ma-ma
5.710	fruit	hurpi; hu-ur-pi; zib-ba
5.750	fig	pi-ut-
5.760	grape	šá-ap-pan-na; šap
5.790	oil	appi; ap-pi
5.791	grease, fat	abba; ab-ba
5.810	salt	anzi; an-zí
5.840	honey	hal -la -ki
5.860	milk (noun)	sir-na
5.880	cheese	pa
5.940	fermented drink	an-na-in
6.130	tailor	šá-h-ši-ik-ra
6.210	cloth	tam-ši-um; ik-tin
6.220	wool	tuk-ki-me; tuk-na; im-na
6.230	linen, flax	zali; za-li
6.240	cotton	qa-li-tam
6.270	felt	da-bar-ri-um
6.290	leather	šá-ir-šá-at-ti
6.330	weave	kurza-; kur-za-iš; kur-za-qa
6.410	cloak	uk-ku-la-ki
6.430	coat	hu-el-ip
6.510	shoe	ha-šá-ir
6.550	hat, cap	uk-ku.ba-ti
6.580	glove	kur-ip
6.710	ornament, adornment	qa-ar-ra-h; qa-ar-ra-ha
6.730	ring (for finger)	šà-mi; si-mi-it-tum
6.910	comb	ah-hu-um; a-h-hu-im
6.940	ointment	hasu; ha-su-ip; mi-ir-ri-h
6.960	mirror	šu-ha; šu-ha.zi-la
7.120	house	a-a-in; a-hi-in; ha-a-in; a-i-in; a-a-ni
7.150	yard, court	tu-uš; ulhi; ul-hi
7.220	door, gate	hu-el; hi-el; el; e-el; e-ul; ú-el; lu-gu-ú
7.221	doorpost, jamb	hal-ti; ha-al-te-te
7.250	window	ku-un-nir
7.270	wall	te-ip-ta; hu-hu-un
7.320	stove	ku-ra-am-ma; ku-ra-na
7.422	blanket	gi-ut-máš-te; gi-ut-máš-ti
7.450	lamp, torch	hun; hu-ni-ir; hu-un-pu
7.510	roof	a-ri; ku-uk; me-nu-me
7.550	beam	te-ti
7.560	post, pole	šali; ša-li
7.570	board	šil-tur
7.620	brick	e-ri-en-tum; ú-ri-en-tu; hu-us-si-ip; ú-pa-at
8.120	field (for cultivation)	hal-la
8.130	garden	ya-ad-da
8.210	plow	āpi-; a-a-pi-h
8.240	shovel	atti; at-ti; šullu; šu-ul-lu
8.250	hoe	at-ti
8.311	seed	par; pa-ar
8.410	crop, harvest	hal-te-me; šu-lu-um
8.420	grain (barley, oats etc)	tarmi; tarmu; tar-mi; tar-mu; mu-ša-al-lu
8.430	wheat	ši-man
8.440	barley	kur-ru-sa; nu
8.570	flower	mi-ik-ki-ma
8.760	sap	in-na-in; mu-ul-li; mi-el; mi-ul
9.110	do, make	huta-; hu-ud-da; hu-taš; hu-tan-ki; hu-ut-táh; hu-ut-te-eš
9.160	tie, bind	rabba-; ra-ab-ba-h; ráb-ba-qa
9.190	rope, cord	šá-am
9.210	strike (hit, beat)	halpi-; halpu-; hal-pu-h; hal-pi-ya
9.220	cut	máš-áš; šahši-; šá-h-ši-qa
9.250	ax	ipiš; i-pi-iš; hi-pi-is
9.330	pull	sa-; sa-h
9.430	carpenter	be-la-ti-ra; kiš-ki-ip-man-na
9.440	build	kuši-; ku-ši-ha; ku-si-iš; ku-ši-ik
9.460	bore	du-li-ib-be
9.480	saw	el-pi
9.490	hammer	sa-el
9.500	nail	sikti; zikti; si-ik-ti; zik-ti-ip
9.600	smith, blacksmith	kás-zí-ra
9.610	forge	kassa-; kassi-; kazza-; kazzi-; qa-as-si-it-ri; qa-az-za-ak
9.630	cast (metals)	šari-; ša-ri-h
9.640	gold	la-an-si-ti-e; la-áš-da
9.650	silver	lani; la-a-ni
9.660	copper, bronze	e-ri-ni; sa-h; sa-hi-i; si-hi-kak
9.670	iron	har-gi; har-ki-an-na
9.680	lead (noun)	ri-kur
9.690	tin, tinplate	a-na-ku
9.730	clay	halat; ha-la-at
9.760	basket	še-ri-it
9.771	rug	za-ba-ar
9.890	paint (vb)	karsu-; kar-su-iš-da; kar-su-qa
10.252	catch (ball)	mari-; ma-ri-h; ma-ri-en-t
10.450	walk	pari-; uzzu-; uz-zu-un; uz-zu-un-ta
10.480	come	izzi-; iz-zí-iš; šinni-; šinnu-; ši-in-nu-ik; ši-in-nu
10.610	carry (bear)	kuti-; ku-ti-na; ku-ti-šá
10.620	bring	tela-; te-la-ak-ni; te-la-ni-li
10.630	send	da-; da-an-da; da-h
10.660	ride	te-li-nu-ip
10.710	road	ba-u; bar-du; hu-te
10.780	yoke	za-ap-pan
11.130	take	duma; du-ma; du-ma-iš
11.210	give	duna-; duni-; du-ni-h; du-ni-ha; du-na-áš; du-na-qa; li-; li-h; li-ik
11.240	preserve, look after	kutu-; ku-tu-un; ku-tu-uš-li
11.270	destroy	sari-; sa-ri-h; sa-ri-in-ti
11.320	find	bakka-; ba-ak-qa-h
11.510	rich	sir
11.640	debt	a-h-da-a
11.650	pay (vb)	un-sa-ha; un-sa-iš; za-ag-gi-iš
11.780	wages	te-um-be; ha-nu
11.870	price	šá-ak-ki-me; šá-ak-ki-mi; šá-gi-me
12.11	behind	ki-ik; me-mi; me-ni
12.110	place	kate; qa-te; qa-te-ma
12.120	put	bela-; pela-; be-la; be-ip-la; da-; ta-; ta-at; da-h
12.220	join, unite	ta-rí-ir; ta-ri-ip
12.240	open	te-iš; tu-um-ba-h
12.250	shut, close	kappa-; kap-pa-iš
12.40	before	tibbe; ti-ib-ba
12.41	front	ti-ib-ba; si-ma
12.440	far (adv)	šá-da-ni-qa
12.450	east	ha-tin; ha-te-um-me
12.460	west	šu-tin
12.50	inside, in	a-ti-in; a-ti-ra; ha-ti
12.550	large, big	azza-; hazza-; az-za-qa; ha-iz-za-ik-qa; ha-za-qa; rša-; ir-šá-na; ri-ša-ar
12.560	small, little	tila; ti-la
12.60	outside	ki-du-ú-ya; ki-du-ur; ki-du-um-ma; ki-du
12.650	thin (in dimension)	zikki; zik-ki
12.670	deep	du-šá-ra-ma
12.70	under	šá-ra
12.710	flat	ma-šu-um
12.730	straight	iš-tur-rák-qa
12.810	round	irpi; ir-pi
12.820	circle	pur; pu-ur
12.830	sphere, ball	še-be
13.10	one	ki; ki-ik; ki-ir
13.140	every, all	un-ra
13.150	much, many	ir-še-ik-ki
13.170	little (quantity), few	ha-ri-ik-ki
13.20	two	mar; ma-ir; mar-ra
13.210	full	huh; hu-úh
13.230	part, piece	áš
13.240	half	pír-ni; pír-nu-šu; pír-nu-ba
13.30	three	ziti; zí-ti
13.340	first	ap-pu-qa-na
13.370	pair	tuk
13.50	five	*tu-ku
14.110	time	da-la-ri; dalar.e
14.140	young	puhu.na; pu-hu-na; pu-u-na; pu-un-na
14.150	old	kara; qa-ra
14.160	early	irpi; urpu-; ir-pi; ur-pu-ub-ba; ap-pu-qa
14.170	late	maš-šá; me-šá
14.180	now	a-am; am
14.260	end (temporal)	mur
14.270	finish	tar-ma; tar-maš
14.310	always	a-ka-da
14.332	long-time (for a)	me-ul-li
14.350	again	ki-qa
14.410	day	na; nan:; na-an-me; na-an-na
14.420	night	ši-ut-ma-na; šu-ut-me; šu-ut-ti-me
14.460	evening	te-man; ki-in-na-ra
14.710	month	na-na-me-na; si-in
14.730	year	pi-el; be-ul
15.350	sweet	tena; te-na; hal-ki; halki
15.380	acid, sour	lu-lu-ki; lu-lu-qa
15.410	hear	hap-; ha-ap-hu; ha-ap-ti
15.460	quiet, silence	šà-na
15.510	see	siya-; ziya-; si-ya-nu-un; si-ya-h; si-ya-áš-na; zí-ya
15.550	show	šammi-; ša-am-me-iš; ša-am-mi-iš-ta
15.640	white	ši-mi-ut
15.670	blue	da-ban-ti-na
15.680	green	hu-la-ap-na; hu-ra-ap-na
15.690	yellow	šu-un-ti-na
15.810	heavy	ab-ba-ra
15.840	dry	zí-ti-qa
16.180	good fortune, luck	šá-da; šá-ud-da; ši-ri; šu-ru; šu-ri-na
16.230	joyful, glad, happy	tan-na-am-me
16.270	love	hani-; ha-ni-eš; ha-ni-ik; ha-ni-in; ha-ni-me
16.510	dare	qa-du-uk-qa
16.530	fear, fright	ipši; ip-ši-ip; ip-ši-iš
16.650	faithful	ha-mi-ti; ha-mi-it
16.660	true	siri; si-ri
16.670	lie, tell lies	tit-; ti-ti-ip; ti-ut-ki-um-me
16.710	good	a-a; ba-ha
16.720	bad	muš-nu-ik
16.790	praise	hi-šá
16.810	beautiful	ši-iš-ni
17.130	think (= reflect)	lma-; el-ma; el-man-da; el-man-ti; ul-ma
17.150	believe	uri-; u-ri-iš
17.170	know	turna-; tur-nah; tur-na-u-ut
17.450	need, necessity	me-en
17.510	and	ayak; a-ak; ya-ak
17.520	because	appa; ap-pa
17.530	if	an-ka; an-qa
17.560	no, negative	in-gi; in-na; im-ma; in-ni
17.610	how?	ap-pa
17.640	what?	appa; ap-pa
17.660	where?	mur; mu-ur
17.670	which?	akka; ag-ga; ak-ka; ak-qa
18.210	speak, talk	turi; turu-; tu-ru-nu-un-ki; tu-ru-h; tur-ri-qa
18.220	say	tiri-; turu-; ti-ri-in-ri; ti-ri; tu-ru-uk; tu-ru-un
18.260	word	šukkit; šu-uk-ki-it
18.280	name	hiš; hi-iš
18.360	promise	kulla-; ku-ul-la-h
18.410	call (=summon)	kulla-; ku-ul-la-h; ku-ul-la-hu
18.510	write	dallu-; tallu-; ta-al-lu-h; da-al-lu-ha; ta-al-lu-h-šu
18.520	read	bera-; pera-; be-ra-an; be-ip-ra-an-ti; be-ip-rák
19.110	country	hal; ha-al
19.150	city, town	a-al
19.210	people (populace)	taš-šu-up; taš-šu-íp; hu-úr-du
19.230	tribe, clan	ah-pi; a-h-pi
19.320	king, ruler	sunki; zunki; su-gìr; su-kip; su-un-gìr; su-un-ki-ir; su-un-ki-ip; su-un-ki-kip
19.410	master	ðimpti; si-im-it; te-im-ti; te-ip-ti; mu-uk-ti
19.420	slave	li-ba-um-me; šá-u-lu-be
19.430	servant	liba-; li-ba-ir
19.440	freeman	šalu.r; šá-lu-ur
19.450	command, order	me-el; gi-il; šera-; še-ra-h; še-ra-h-ši
19.510	friend, companion	duk-ti-ir; kán-ir-ra
19.520	enemy	beti; bi-ti-ir; pi-ti-ir; be-ti; be-it-ra
19.580	help, aid	ta-; taš; táh-ha-an-ta; táh-ha-an-te
20.110	fight (vb)	be-ut
20.140	peace	gugu; gu-gu
20.150	army	hi-it
20.210	weapons, arms	ul-ki-na
20.220	club	šá-li-mi
20.240	bow	qa-am-ban
20.250	arrow	ti-ut-ti-um; hi-iš-ki; sa-h
20.260	spear	šu-kur-ru-um
20.330	helmet	kar-ik
20.410	victory	me-te
20.480	booty, spoils	pu-uk-ri-ir
21.110	law	šu-du-ur; šu-tur
21.230	witness	gini; ginu; gi-ni-ip; gi-ni-pi; gi-nu-ip
21.240	swear	gi-ri-ip; gi-ri
21.520	thief	tu-uš-šu-íp
22.120	God	nap; nab; na-ap; na-ab-ba; na-ap-pi; na-bí-ip
22.150	sacrifice, offering	dala; da-la
22.180	priest	šà-ti; šá-tin; šá-tan
22.190	holy, sacred	ak-pi; ak-pi-ip
22.310	heaven	kik; ki-ki-in; ki-ki-ip; ki-ik

 

 

I, for one, totally fail to understand how any honest scholar, examining the above list, can possibly feel that there is any scope of connections between any of the basic Elamite words in the above list with their Dravidian counterparts, let alone any scope for claiming that Elamite and Dravidian belong to one language family and that the Dravidian languages migrated from Elam to India at any conceivable time in the past. However many “similarities” anyone may be capable of trying to drum up between the two, can two languages allegedly related to each other as members of one language family develop such totally unconnectable lists of basic words as Elamite in the above list and Proto-Dravidian in any reconstructed list of words with the same meanings, both languages being more or less contemporaneous ones in the ancient past? Simple common sense should give the answer.

[For those who would notice that the Elamite and Dravidian words for “you” are both ni, it may be pointed out that the Chinese and the Navajo (American Indian) words for “you” are also ni. Such coincidences do not prove relationships within a language family].