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Document Details : Title: Between the Written and Spoken Subtitle: Dictation, Scribal Practice and Tablet Catalogues Author(s): CAMPBELL, Dennis R.M. Journal: Ancient Near Eastern Studies Volume: 52 Date: 2015 Pages: 69-105 DOI: 10.2143/ANES.52.0.3082866 Abstract : This paper demonstrates the use of dictation in the creation of two Hittite tablets from the capital site of Hattuša. Parallel tablet lists, listing the same texts in the same order, are studied for the numerous orthographic and phrasal differences between them. The conclusion is that the lists were created independently of one another, and that they are not slavish copies of incipits or colophons, but rather contain different descriptive information for a number of entries. The most compelling explanation for these parallel lists and the many differences between them is that they were both created through dictation. A study of the proper nouns within these two lists, as well as across all the tablet catalogues, demonstrates that these words show a strong tendency towards variable orthographies. Unlike common nouns, which receive conventional spelling through scribal training, proper nouns show more variation. This range of spellings of proper nouns within the tablet catalogues is likely further evidence for dictation. |
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