François Neveu enables the reader to explore the Ramesside age through an understanding of Late Egyptian. This phase corresponds to the language spoken from the 17th to the 24th dynasty, which became a written language – used for private letters, administrative, legal and literary texts, as well as some official inscriptions – during the Amarna period (circa 1364 BC).

The first part of the book covers the basics of the grammar, the morphology, while the second part is devoted to the syntax, covering first the verbal system and then the nominal forms. Two appendices, one devoted to interrogative constructions and another to syllabic writing, complete the work.

The book incorporates the most recent work on the subject and the clarity with which Neveu presents linguistic and grammatical points, and the hundreds of examples used to illustrate the grammatical presentation, makes this the ideal tool for anyone interested in learning Late Egyptian grammar in order to read and understand texts from this period. These texts also introduce the reader to the daily life of the Deir el-Medina workers, the social movements that shook the community, the conspiracies at court, the embezzlement of some priests and other prominent community figures, major historical events, as well as the stories and novels studied and read by the society of the time.

Maria Cannata’s translation makes this key work available in English for the first time.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
  • Aim of the book
  • Late Egyptian
  • General organisation of the book
  • Notes on the transliteration and the passages cited
• Acknowledgments
• Translator’s note
• Bibliographical orientation
• Abbreviations
• Part one: Morphology
  • Chapter 1: Nouns
    • 1.1 Morphology
    • 1.2 Syntax
  • Chapter 2: Articles
    • 2.1 The definite article
    • 2.2 The indefinite article
  • Chapter 3: Demonstratives
    • 3.1 First paradigm
      • 3.1.1 Forms
      • 3.1.2 Usage
      • 3.1.3 Remark
    • 3.2 Second paradigm
      • 3.2.1 Forms
      • 3.2.2 Usage
  • Chapter 4: Possessives
    • 4.1 Forms
    • 4.2 Usage
  • Chapter 5: Numbers
    • 5.1 Cardinal numbers
      • 5.1.1 Number one
      • 5.1.2 Number two
      • 5.1.3 Numbers 3 to 9
      • 5.1.4 Numbers from 10 onward
    • 5.2 Ordinal numbers
      • 5.2.1 ‘First’
      • 5.2.2 From the ‘second’
  • Chapter 6: The indefinites
    • 6.1 nb
    • 6.2 ky
      • 6.2.1 Used as adjective
      • 6.2.2 Used as pronoun
    • 6.3 nkt
  • Chapter 7: Personal pronouns
    • 7.1 Suffix pronouns
      • 7.1.1 Spellings
      • 7.1.2 Usage
    • 7.2 Dependent pronouns
      • 7.2.1 Spellings
      • 7.2.2 Usage
    • 7.3 The new direct object pronouns
      • 7.3.1 Spellings
      • 7.3.2 Origin
      • 7.3.3 Usage
    • 7.4 Independent pronouns
      • 7.4.1 Spellings
      • 7.4.2 Usage
  • Chapter 8: Prepositions
  • Chapter 9: Adverbs
  • Chapter 10: Particles
    • 10.1 hr
    • 10.2 ir
    • 10.3 pзwn
    • 10.4 yз
    • 10.5 mk (old), or ptr (new)
  • Chapter 11: Other common morphemes
    • 11.1 Negative morphemes
    • 11.2 Interrogative morphemes
      • 11.2.1 Interrogative particles
      • 11.2.2 Interrogative pronouns
      • 11.2.3 Interrogative adverb
    • 11.3 Converters
• Part two: syntax
  • Chapter 12: Fundamental notions
    • 12.1 Autonomy
    • 12.2 lnitiality
    • 12.3 The enunciation
      • 12.3.1 Tools of the enunciation: narrative and non-narrative forms
      • 12.3.2 The register of the enunciation: narrative and discourse
        • 12.3.2.1 The narrative
        • 12.3.2.2 The discourse
    • 12.4 The strategy of the enunciation
      • 12.4.1 The theory of the three points of view
      • 12.4.2 The strategic or enunciative point of view
        • Terminology
        • Marked and unmarked utterances
• The verbal system
  • Chapter 13: The infinitive
    • 13.1 Morphology
    • 13.2 Syntax
    • 13.3 Aspectual value
    • 13.4 Usage
      • 13.4.1 Predicative usage
        • 13.4.1.1 Perfective
        • 13.4.1.2 imperfect
      • 13.4.2 Non-predicative usage
        • 13.4.2.1 Noun phrase
          • 13.4.2.1.1 Perfective
          • 13.4.2.1.2 Imperfect
        • 13.4.2.2 Prepositional phrase
  • Chapter 14: The pseudo-participle
    • 14.1 Morphology
    • 14.2 Values
    • 14.3 Usage
      • 14.3.1 With a proper subject, in grammaticalised verbal forms
      • 14.3.2 With a subject already playing a role in a preceding clause
    • 14.4 Remarks
• Independent verbal forms
  • Chapter 15: The perfective sdm.f
    • 15.1 The active perfective sdm.f
      • 15.1.1 Usage
      • 15.1.2 Negation
        • 15.1.2.1 Origin
        • 15.1.2.2 Morphology
        • 15.1.2.3 Usage
    • 15.2 The perfective sdm.f called ‘passive’
      • 15.2.1 Affirmative Forms
      • 15.2.2 Negation
  • Chapter 16: The First Present
    • 16.1 Introduction
      • 16.1.1 Subject
      • 16.1.2 Predicate
    • 16.2 The predicate is an adverb
    • 16.3 The predicate is a prepositional phrase
    • 16.4 The predicate is the hr + infinitive form
      • 16.4.1 The immediate present
      • 16.4.2 The habitual present
      • 16.4.3 The general present
      • 16.4.4 Negation
    • 16.5 The predicate is the m + infinitive form
      • 16.5.1 Excursus: the first future
    • 16.6 The predicate is a pseudo-participle
      • 16.6.1 Transitive verbs (except rh)
      • 16.6.2 Intransitive verbs
        • 16.6.2.1 Verbs of motion
        • 16.6.2.2 Other intransitive verbs
    • 16.7 Special case: the verb rh
      • 16.7.1 rh + noun (or pronoun)
      • 16.7.2 rh + infinitive
    • 16.8 Summary: the main forms of the First Present
  • Chapter 17: The negative aorist
    • 17.1 Introduction
    • 17.2 Values
    • 17.3 bw sdm.n.f
    • 17.4 bw sdm.f
    • 17.5 bw iri.f sdm
    • 17.6 Excursus: the hr-sdm.f form
  • Chapter 18: The expression ‘not yet’
    • 18.1 Active voice
    • 18.2 Passive voice
  • Chapter 19: The Third Future
    • 19.1 Introduction
    • 19.2 Pronominal subject
    • 19.3 Nominal subject
    • 19.4 Remarks
  • Chapter 20: The independent prospective sdm.f
  • Chapter 21: The imperative
    • 21.1 Affirmative forms
    • 21.2 Negative forms
      • 21.2.1 General case
      • 21.2.2 Special case: the verb rdi
  • Chapter 22: The existential predication
    • 22.1 Affirmative Forms
    • 22.2 Negative Forms
    • 22.3 Remarks
  • Chapter 23: Second tenses
    • 23.1 Introduction
    • 23.2 How second tenses work
    • 23.3 How to translate second tenses
    • 23.4 The second tenses periphrased
      • 23.4.1 Affirmative Forms
      • 23.4.2 Negative Forms
    • 23.5 Modal second tenses (non-periphrased)
    • 23.6 Other second tenses
  • Chapter 24: Independent forms: recapitulation
    • 24.1 Table of the main independent forms
    • 24.2 Conjugation of transitive verbs
    • 24.3 Conjugation of intransitive verbs
      • 24.3.1 Verbs of motion
      • 24.3.2 Other intransitive verbs
    • 24.4 Final remarks
• Non-independent verbal forms
  • Chapter 25: The continuative forms
    • 25.1 Introduction
    • 25.2 The sequential
      • 25.2.1 Leaning onto an independent form
      • 25.2.2 Leaning onto an adverbial clause
      • 25.2.3 Leaning onto a non-verbal circonstant
      • 25.2.4 Excursus: other continuative-narrative forms
    • 25.3 The conjunctive
  • Chapter 26: The non-independent prospective sdm.f
    • 26.1 In complement clauses following all forms of the verb rdi
    • 26.2 In purpose clauses
    • 26.3 In subordinate clauses introduced by a preposition or a conjunction
  • Chapter 27: The participles
    • 27.1 Active participles
      • 27.1.1 Morphology
      • 27.1.2 Syntax
      • 27.1.3 Values
      • 27.1.4 Usage
    • 27.2 Passive participles
      • 27.2.1 Morphology
      • 27.2.2 Syntax
      • 27.2.3 Usage
  • Chapter 28: The relative forms
    • 28.1 Morphology
    • 28.2 Syntax
    • 28.3 Values
    • 28.4 Usage
      • 28.4.1 As attributive adjective
      • 28.4.2 As noun
  • Chapter 29: Relative clauses introduced by nty
    • 29.1 Syntax
    • 29.2 Temporal values
    • 29.3 Usage
    • 29.4 nty + First Present, affirmative forms
      • 29.4.1 The antecedent is the same as the subject of the relative clause
      • 29.4.2 The antecedent is different from the subject of the relative clause
    • 29.5 nty + First Present, negative forms
    • 29.6 nty + Third Future
    • 29.7 nty + bwpwy.f sdm
    • 29.8 nty + varia
  • Chapter 30: Relative clauses introduced by (i).wn or (i).wn.f
    • 30.1 Introduction
    • 30.2 Relative clauses introduced by the participle (i).wn
    • 30.3 Relative clauses introduced by the relative form (i).wn.f.
  • Chapter 31: Table of relative clauses (defined antecedent)
  • Chapter 32: Adverbial clauses introduced by iw
    • 32.1 Introduction
    • 32.2 Used as adverbial clauses
      • 32.2.1 The circumstantial is placed after the main clause (unmarked order)
        • 32.2.1.1 General case
        • 32.2.1.2 Special cases
          • 32.2.1.2.1 The adverbial clause is focalised by a second tense
          • 32.2.1.2.2 The adverbial clause is marked by the particle hr
      • 32.2.2 The adverbial clause is placed before the main clause (marked order)
    • 32.3 Used in place of a relative clause
    • 32.4 Used in place of a complement clause
    • 32.5 Excursus: the construction of verbs called ‘operators’
      • 32.5.1 Verb + direct object pronoun + pseudo-verbal predicate
      • 32.5.2 Verb + direct object pronoun + adverbial clause
      • 32.5.3 Verb + adverbial clause (without direct object pronoun)
      • 32.5.4 Verb + r-dd + independent form
    • 32.6 Remarks
  • Chapter 33: Adverbial clauses introduced by ir
    • 33.1 The particle ir
    • 33.2 Correlative systems introduced by ir
      • 33.2.1 The protasis incorporates ir + independent verbal form
        • 33.2.1.1 The protasis incorporates ir + First Present
          • 33.2.1.1.1 The predicate of the First Present is a prepositional phrase
          • 33.2.1.1.2 The predicate of the First Present is (hr) + infinitive
          • 33.2.1.1.3 The predicate of the First Present is m + infinitive
          • 33.2.1.1.4 The predicate of the First Present is a stative
        • 33.2.1.2 The protasis incorporates ir + sdm.f
          • 33.2.1.2.1 ir + perfective sdm.f.
          • 33.2.1.2.2 ir + prospective sdm.f
        • 33.2.1.3 The protasis incorporates a Third Future
        • 33.2.1.4 The protasis incorporates an existential sentence
      • 33.2.2 The protasis incorporates ir + non-independent verbal form
        • 33.2.2.1 The protasis incorporates a sequential
        • 33.2.2.2 The protasis incorporates a circumstantial First Present
        • 33.2.2.3 The protasis incorporates m-dr sdm.f or m-ht sdm.f.
        • 33.2.2.4 Remarks
      • 33.2.3 The protasis incorporates the ambiguous syntagma iw.f (?) sdm
    • 33.3 Conclusion
    • 33.4 Excursus A: thematisations with ir
      • 33.4.1 Thematisation of the subject
      • 33.4.2 Thematisation of the direct object pronoun
      • 33.4.3 Thematisation of a noun (or equivalent) object of a preposition
      • 33.4.4 Thematisation of the subject of a complement clause
    • 33.5 Excursus B: ir + adverb / verbal form
    • 33.6 Excursus C: ir + prepositional phrase / verbal form
  • Chapter 34: Adverbial clauses introduced by wnn
    • 34.1 Introduction
    • 34.2 Examples
    • 34.3 Remark: another use of wnn
  • Chapter 35: Adverbial clauses introduced by inn
    • 35.1 Introduction
    • 35.2 Usage
  • Chapter 36: Adverbial clauses introduced by hn, bsi and hl (hnr)
    • 36.1 Introduction
    • 36.2 The conditional introduced by hn
    • 36.3 The conditional introduced by bsi
    • 36.4 The conditional introduced by hl (hnr)
  • Chapter 37: The i.iri.t.f sdm form
    • 37.1 Introduction
    • 37.2 Examples
    • 37.3 Remarks
  • Chapter 38: Recapitulation
    • 38.1 The morpheme iw in the synchrony of Late Egyptian
    • 38.2 The different values of sdm.f.
    • 38.3 Uses of the prosthetic yod
    • 38.4 The morphemes wnn and wn
    • 38.5 The negative morphemes
• Nominal forms
  • Chapter 39: The nominal sentence with nominal predicate
    • 39.1 Introduction
    • 39.2 Classification predication
      • 39.2.1 Examples in the first two persons
        • 39.2.1.1 General case: the predicate is a noun
        • 39.2.1.2 Special case: the predicate is an interrogative pronoun
      • 39.2.2 Examples in the third person
        • 39.2.2.1 Examples of the form B Ø
        • 39.2.2.2 Examples of the form B pзy
        • 39.2.2.3 Extensions of previous constructions
          • 39.2.2.3.1 Examples of the form B Ø pЗ A
          • 39.2.2.3.2 Examples of the form ir pЗ A B pзy and variants
    • 39.3 Identification predication
      • 39.3.1 Examples in the first two persons
      • 39.3.2 Examples in the third person
        • 39.3.2.1 Examples of the unmarked paradigm
          • 39.3.2.1.1 Examples of the form pз B Ø
          • 39.3.2.1.2 Examples of the form pз B pзy
          • 39.3.2.1.3 Examples of the form ir pз A pз B Ø
          • 39.3.2.1.4 Example of the form pз A pз B Ø
        • 39.3.2.2 Examples belonging to the marked paradigm
    • 39.4 Important remark
  • Chapter 40: The nominal sentence with adjectival predicate
    • 40.1 Introduction
    • 40.2 nfr Ø
    • 40.3 nfr Ø se
    • 40.4 nfr Ø (pз) A
    • 40.5 Special case
  • Chapter 41: Expressing possession
    • 41.1 The possessor is represented by a name (or an interrogative pronoun)
    • 41.2 The possessor is represented by a personal pronoun
      • 41.2.1 Examples with the new independent pronoun
      • 41.2.2 Examples with the traditional independent pronoun
    • 41.3 Examples using both modes of expressing possession
    • 41.4 Remark: the independent pronoun used as an attribute
  • Chapter 42: Cleft sentences
    • 42.1 Introduction
      • 42.1.1 What is a cleft sentence?
      • 42.1.2 Cleft sentences in Late Egyptian
        • 42.1.2.1 The (true) cleft sentence (type I)
        • 42.1.2.2 The pseudo-cleft sentence (type II)
    • 42.2 Rhematisation the subject of the predicative plain verbal sentence
      • 42.2.1 The phrase is in the active voice (type I or II)
        • 42.2.1.1 Past (type I)
        • 42.2.1.2 Present (type II)
        • 42.2.1.3 Imperfect (type II)
        • 42.2.1.4 Aorist (type I)
        • 42.2.1.5 Future (type I)
      • 42.2.2 The sentence is in the passive voice (type II)
    • 42.3 Rhematisation of the direct objet of the predicative plain sentence (type II)
      • 42.3.1 Past
      • 42.3.2 Present
      • 42.3.3 Future
    • 42.4 Rhematisation of the verb of the predicative plain sentence (type II)
      • 42.4.1 Past
      • 42.4.2 Imperfect
      • 42.4.3 Future
    • 42.5 Special cases
      • 42.5.1 The relative clause of the second member is strictly verbal
      • 42.5.2 The relative clause of the second member is non verbal
    • 42.6 Conclusion
• Part Three: appendices
  • Chapter 43: Appendix one: interrogative syntagmas
    • 43.1 Introduction
    • 43.2 Syntagmas introduced by an interrogative particle
      • 43.2.1 Syntagmas introduced by in
        • 43.2.1.1 in + sdm.f
          • 43.2.1.1.1 in + perfective sdm.f.
          • 43.2.1.1.2 in + prospective sdm.f
        • 43.2.1.2 in + bwpwy.f sdm
        • 43.2.1.3 in + Third Future
        • 43.2.1.4 in + First Present
        • 43.2.1.5 in + bw iri.f sdm (negative aorist)
        • 43.2.1.6 in + Second Tense
        • 43.2.1.7 in + existential predication
        • 43.2.1.8 in + nominal sentence with substantival predicate
        • 43.2.1.9 in + nominal sentence with adjectival predicate
        • 43.2.1.10 in + cleft sentence
        • 43.2.1.11 Special case
        • 43.2.1.12 Remarks
      • 43.2.2 Sentences introduced by ist
        • 43.2.2.1 ist + bw iri.s sdm (negative aorist)
        • 43.2.2.2 ist + First Present
        • 43.2.2.3 ist + Second Tense
        • 43.2.2.4 ist + nominal sentence with substantival predicate
        • 43.2.2.5 ist + nominal sentence with adjectival predicate
      • 43.2.3 Syntagmas introduced by is-bn
        • 43.2.3.1 Possible examples
        • 43.2.3.2 Probable examples
        • 43.2.3.3 Examples certain
    • 43.3 Syntagmas incorporating an interrogative pronoun
      • 43.3.1 Syntagmas with ih
        • 43.3.1.1 Nominal sentences
        • 43.3.1.2 Cleft sentences
          • 43.3.1.2.1 Past
          • 43.3.1.2.2 Present
          • 43.3.1.2.3 Future
        • 43.3.1.3 Verbal sentences
          • 43.3.1.3.1 ih subject
          • 43.3.1.3.2 ih direct object
          • 43.3.1.3.3 ih object of a preposition
      • 43.3.2 Syntagmas with nim
        • 43.3.2.1 Nominal sentences
        • 43.3.2.2 Cleft sentences
          • 43.3.2.2.1 Past
          • 43.3.2.2.2 Future
        • 43.3.2.3 Verbal sentences
          • 43.3.2.3.1 nim subject
          • 43.3.2.3.2 nim genitive
          • 43.3.2.3.3 nim object of a preposition
      • 43.3.3 Syntagmas with it
      • 43.3.4 Syntagmas with wr
      • 43.3.5 Remarks
    • 43.4 Syntagmas incorporating an interrogative adverb
    • 43.5 Questions without interrogative morphemes
  • Chapter 44: Appendix two: Syllabic Writing
    • 44.1 Introduction
    • 44.2 Usage
      • 44.2.1 Writing foreign words
      • 44.2.2 Writing words of foreign origin (loan words)
      • 44.2.3 Writing Egyptian words
• List of figures