Corpus frequencies

The total number of compositions included in the counts is 364. To get to the n-gram lists, scroll down, or click here. The complete, tab-delimited lists can be found at the bottom of the page. A few ratios are also included.

Table 1. The 100 most frequent lexemes, words, and signs in the corpus
The numbers after Lexemes:, etc. are lines and items respectively; Freq = raw frequency, 10k = occurrences per 10,000 items, Ra = the number of compositions in which the item occurs.
Lexemes: 31,954/136,048
LexemeFreq10kRa
dug4_V_to#say2582189.8313
ki_N_place2266166.6293
cu_N_hand1822133.9277
gal_V_to#be#big1659121.9262
lu2_N_person1550113.9225
e2_N_household1517111.5200
jar_V_to#place1502110.4254
cag4_N_heart1390102.2274
kur_N_mountain#land1370100.7209
ud_N_daylight126993.3250
en-lil2_N_Enlil125992.5220
lugal_N_king120688.6250
kug_AJ_shining119988.1212
igi_N_eye119087.5247
an_N_heaven114684.2229
saj_N_head109980.8242
e3_V_to#go#out#or#in106778.4239
en_N_lord103676.1218
gub_V_to#stand99172.8200
jen_V_to#go91867.5163
zid_AJ_right90966.8207
nij2_N_thing90866.7212
jal2_V_to#be#located90766.7217
ak_V_to#do86663.7200
mah_V_to#be#majestic86463.5200
de6_V_to#carry86063.2193
iri_N_town85763.0174
gi4_V_to#return84662.2201
inim_N_word80959.5184
dug3_V_to#be#good77657.0225
dijir_N_deity77456.9223
me_V_to#be77056.6172
a_N_water76756.4171
inana_N_Inana73754.2122
dumu_N_child73253.8188
a2_N_arm69851.3183
zu_V_to#know69851.3179
me_N_essence67649.7166
cum2_V_to#give63646.7192
sa2_V_to#equal63546.7191
nam_N_destiny62646.0189
la2_V_to#hang61645.3162
il2_V_to#raise59143.4191
nin_N_lady57542.3142
tar_V_to#cut56841.7178
du3_V_to#erect56141.2151
sag9_V_to#be#good54940.4182
je26_PD_I54139.8128
kalam_N_the#Land53339.2163
an_N_An53239.1159
gu2_N_neck53139.0172
gu3_N_voice52038.2134
mu_N_name48835.9173
gu7_V_to#eat48035.3124
de2_V_to#pour47234.7124
zig3_V_to#rise46934.5152
pad3_V_to#find46634.3159
ama_N_mother46033.8146
tuku_V_to#have45633.5156
te_V_to#approach44332.6130
dab5_V_to#seize44032.3147
du8_V_to#spread43632.0142
sud_V_to#be#distant43532.0172
za_PD_you#sg43431.9136
ur-saj_N_hero43231.8106
en-ki_N_Enki43031.6104
a-a_N_father42931.5149
tud_V_to#give#birth41930.8145
aj2_V_to#measure41930.8172
kur9_V_to#enter41830.7138
si_N_horn41330.4155
ka_N_mouth40729.9156
hul2_V_to#be#happy40029.4157
utu_N_Utu40029.4124
jiri3_N_foot39929.3140
uj3_N_people39629.1131
ni2_N_fearsomeness38928.6130
us2_V_to#be#adjacent37027.2125
nun_N_prince35826.3133
zag_N_side34425.3131
ri_V_to#direct34225.1136
gul_V_to#destroy32824.1 75
jic_N_tree32223.7124
sipad_N_shepherd32123.6118
gud_N_bull31423.1 93
si_V_to#fill30822.6139
ce_N_barley30722.6108
bar_V_to#set#aside30422.3140
KA_X_KA30222.2139
cub_V_to#fall29721.8 98
mu2_V_to#grow29721.8105
tuc_V_to#sit29421.6122
nin-urta_N_Ninurta28621.0 49
sig10_V_to#place28320.8117
dirig_V_to#be#superior27720.4126
nu2_V_to#lie#down27620.3100
gig_V_to#be#ill27520.2 58
du7_V_to#be#perfect27520.2116
a-na_PD_what27420.1 69
ec3_N_shrine269 19.8101
Words: 32,160/138,166
WordFreq10kRa
ki1630118.0271
cu1408101.9260
lu2122488.6206
ud106777.2229
e2104875.9177
nij280358.1194
saj80057.9203
en78456.7182
igi77856.3206
a77656.2168
kug75554.6179
gal74954.2186
cag472752.6215
an68749.7187
dumu56240.7176
me54139.2157
inim54039.1160
a253338.6169
zid52437.9158
nam51737.4173
gu350536.6133
kur49035.5151
lugal47534.4167
mah46633.7159
ni242130.5140
si41930.3154
mu40829.5153
dijir38527.9147
gu236726.6142
{d}inana34925.3 68
an-na34324.8133
ur-saj32323.4 94
nin30622.1101
ce30021.7104
iri29821.6111
{d}en-lil229021.0108
jic28420.6120
{d}utu28220.4 99
kalam-ma27319.8123
kur-ra27219.7 68
ama27019.5113
lugal-ju1026519.2 87
KA25418.4121
a-a24317.6113
uj324117.4107
zag23416.9112
{d}en-lil2-le23216.8107
je26-e23116.7 81
ec322916.6 91
sipad22516.3 94
dug4-ga22316.1117
{d}en-lil2-la222216.1 94
gud21715.7 77
ka21515.6103
pa21315.4118
nun21015.2105
{d}nin-urta21015.2 38
di20715.0 96
jiri320614.9 91
za-e20514.8 90
aj220014.5105
sa219714.3 98
u219414.0 75
dug319213.9 96
ki-a18213.2 95
A18113.1 99
i318013.0 76
kug-ga18013.0 94
cul17913.0 84
{d}en-ki-ke417512.7 52
a-na17312.5 54
{d}nanna17112.4 64
u317012.3 76
{d}inana-ke416912.2 43
an-ne216912.2 71
e-ne16712.1 63
{d}en-ki16111.7 67
he2-me-en16011.6 49
hul15911.5 68
barag15711.4 82
zi15611.3 85
AN15411.1 91
mi215311.1 83
e314710.6 93
er214010.1 39
hur-saj137 9.9 52
jar-ra136 9.8 66
zu2135 9.8 66
gaba133 9.6 75
dam132 9.6 54
e3-a131 9.5 77
gal-gal131 9.5 70
gi129 9.3 54
sag9-ga128 9.3 82
ninda127 9.2 51
kur-kur-ra126 9.1 68
jal2126 9.1 74
NE126 9.1 77
hi-li124 9.0 73
dur2123 8.9 59
Signs: 32,565/350,059
SignFreq10kRa
X23191662.5318
AN14335409.5360
A11390325.4357
MU11014314.6357
NI8036229.6350
E7843224.0343
NA7312208.9351
NE7019200.5345
RA7019200.5345
BA6949198.5335
EN6190176.8342
BI6005171.5342
KI5998171.3337
KA5682162.3346
GA5594159.8341
DA5345152.7342
MA4587131.0342
IM4022114.9305
ZU4017114.8321
UN3881110.9315
ME3838109.6319
DU3776107.9329
IN3706105.9312
KID3586102.4304
ESH2340997.4312
NAM335295.8315
NU326993.4301
GAR312489.2305
LA310288.6327
GA2283981.1287
RI283180.9316
A.AN281680.4277
UD270777.3306
GISH265175.7296
AB262875.1299
GAL262374.9289
E2259574.1265
GAN256473.2277
DIM2253072.3268
GI242069.1298
TA239368.4285
IGI238968.2297
SHU236467.5302
SAG235867.4294
ZI232266.3307
KUR228165.2254
LU2206258.9247
IG197256.3284
MI190354.4266
SAL.TUG2188954.0233
DI188153.7281
SHA3182552.1292
IGI.DIB170248.6260
IB169548.4240
ZA168448.1271
LAL166647.6259
KU3164647.0262
KU159445.5255
LI158945.4279
TUR158345.2257
HI157945.1265
LUGAL153643.9265
SI152543.6263
GI4151343.2234
HA136839.1229
RU131237.5255
UR121134.6206
U_U_U119334.1215
HU118533.9194
MAH114632.7220
TAR113632.5240
UD.DU111731.9238
A2109431.3218
I109131.2209
LU102829.4212
SAR97027.7188
GU296927.7217
BU96127.5216
SUM95527.3223
U_GUD95027.1209
HI_TIMES_ASH294326.9199
AK92926.5202
NUN92926.5219
MUSH391726.2157
USH89525.6205
GABA88025.1199
URU87625.0194
IL286224.6214
PA84824.2224
SU84424.1196
SHE84124.0189
TE82823.7185
NINDA2_TIMES_NE82323.5224
KAL81923.4200
BAR81523.3219
TI81123.2218
HI_TIMES_BAD80723.1233
KAK79622.7170
GA2_TIMES_AN78922.5213
TUM77422.1164

N-grams

Table 2. The 100 most frequent lexeme bi- and trigrams
Bigrams
BigramFreq
si_N_horn sa2_V_to#equal335
nam_N_destiny tar_V_to#cut326
an_N_heaven ki_N_place301
ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure276
gu3_N_voice de2_V_to#pour243
kug_AJ_shining inana_N_Inana206
pa_N_branch e3_V_to#go#out#or#in183
igi_N_eye du8_V_to#spread166
cu_N_hand te_V_to#approach143
cu_N_hand du7_V_to#be#perfect138
kur_N_mountain#land gal_V_to#be#big138
saj_N_head il2_V_to#raise132
ki_N_place jar_V_to#place131
dumu_N_child en-lil2_N_Enlil117
saj_N_head gig2_V_to#be#black114
inim_N_word dug4_V_to#say111
cag4_N_heart hul2_V_to#be#happy110
ud_N_daylight zal_V_to#pass110
e2_N_household en-lil2_N_Enlil110
sa2_V_to#equal dug4_V_to#say105
a2_N_arm aj2_V_to#measure102
dur2_N_rump jar_V_to#place101
igi_N_eye bar_V_to#set#aside100
ud_N_daylight sud_V_to#be#distant98
a-a_N_father en-lil2_N_Enlil96
dijir_N_deity gal_V_to#be#big96
ki_N_place us2_V_to#be#adjacent94
cu_N_hand jal2_V_to#be#located90
mi2_N_loving#care dug4_V_to#say88
saj_N_head rig7_V_to#bestow88
an_N_An en-lil2_N_Enlil85
en3_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb tar_V_to#cut85
u6_N_wonder dug4_V_to#say84
cu_N_hand jar_V_to#place83
muc3_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb de6_V_to#carry81
ni2_N_fearsomeness te_V_to#approach78
sipad_N_shepherd zid_AJ_right77
zid_AJ_right dug4_V_to#say76
igi_N_eye jal2_V_to#be#located75
na_N_advice de5_V_to#collect75
me_N_essence gal_V_to#be#big74
ki_N_place gi4_V_to#return73
ad_N_voice gi4_V_to#return71
ud_N_daylight e3_V_to#go#out#or#in69
igi_N_eye il2_V_to#raise68
ud_N_daylight cu2_V_to#cover67
nij2_N_thing dug3_V_to#be#good65
jiri3_N_foot gub_V_to#stand63
gu2_N_neck la2_V_to#hang63
e2_N_household du3_V_to#erect62
sag2_V_to#scatter dug4_V_to#say62
ceg11_N_loud#noise gi4_V_to#return61
mi2_N_loving#care zid_AJ_right61
gal_V_to#be#big en-lil2_N_Enlil61
cu_N_hand gi4_V_to#return60
mu_N_name pad3_V_to#find60
zu2_N_tooth kece2_V_to#bind60
iri_N_town gul_V_to#destroy60
gu2_N_neck jar_V_to#place59
a2_N_arm mah_V_to#be#majestic57
al_N_desire dug4_V_to#say56
gal_V_to#be#big an_N_heaven54
cu_N_hand tag_V_to#touch54
ne_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb su-ub_V_to#rub52
e3_V_to#go#out#or#in ak_V_to#do52
cu_N_hand bal_V_to#turn#over52
jal2_V_to#open taka4_V_to#leave#behind51
an_N_An kug_AJ_shining51
cu_N_hand gid2_V_to#be#long51
a-a_N_father en-ki_N_Enki51
munus_N_woman zid_AJ_right51
cag4_N_heart pad3_V_to#find50
kur_N_mountain#land ed3_V_to#go#down#or#up50
cu_N_hand la2_V_to#hang50
ki_N_place gal_V_to#be#big50
ni2_N_fearsomeness gal_V_to#be#big49
mu_N_name sa4_V_to#call49
e2_N_household gub_V_to#stand49
cag4_N_heart kuc2_V_to#be#tired49
cul_N_young#man utu_N_Utu49
cu_N_hand bar_V_to#set#aside49
silim_V_to#be#healthy dug4_V_to#say48
dalla_V_to#be#bright e3_V_to#go#out#or#in48
ki_N_place sikil_V_to#be#pure48
en_N_lord gal_V_to#be#big47
hul_V_to#be#bad gig_V_to#be#ill47
lu2_N_person zid_AJ_right47
e2_N_household gul_V_to#destroy46
giri17_N_nose cu_N_hand46
ama_N_mother ugu_V_to#give#birth46
jic_N_tree tuku_V_to#have45
uj3_N_people car2_V_to#be#numerous45
ma2_N_boat an_N_heaven45
mu_N_name dug3_V_to#be#good45
e2_N_household e3_V_to#go#out#or#in45
ki-en-gi_N_Sumer ki-uri_N_Akkad45
su_N_flesh zig3_V_to#rise45
barag_N_dais dur2_N_rump44
nam_N_destiny dug3_V_to#be#good44
en-lil2_N_Enlil nam_N_destiny44
Trigrams
TrigramFreq
pa_N_branch e3_V_to#go#out#or#in ak_V_to#do52
mi2_N_loving#care zid_AJ_right dug4_V_to#say48
kur_N_mountain#land gal_V_to#be#big en-lil2_N_Enlil46
barag_N_dais dur2_N_rump jar_V_to#place44
muc3_N_flat#space e2_N_household gub_V_to#stand41
gub_V_to#stand barag_N_dais dur2_N_rump41
giri17_N_nose cu_N_hand jal2_V_to#be#located41
e2_N_household gub_V_to#stand barag_N_dais41
nam_N_destiny dug3_V_to#be#good tar_V_to#cut37
nin-urta_N_Ninurta dumu_N_child en-lil2_N_Enlil37
igi_N_eye zid_AJ_right bar_V_to#set#aside35
er2_N_tear gig_V_to#be#ill cec2_V_to#weep34
muc3_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb de6_V_to#carry amac_N_sheepfold34
de6_V_to#carry amac_N_sheepfold lil2_N_ghost34
gu3_N_voice nun_N_prince dug4_V_to#say32
uj3_N_people saj_N_head gig2_V_to#be#black28
kug_AJ_shining inana_N_Inana igi_N_eye26
a-nun-na_N_Anuna dijir_N_deity gal_V_to#be#big26
ki_N_place nam_N_destiny tar_V_to#cut26
en-lil2_N_Enlil nam_N_destiny tar_V_to#cut25
uj3_N_people ce_N_groan ca4_V_to#make#noise25
urud_N_copper nij2_N_thing kalag_V_to#be#strong24
en_N_lord nam_N_destiny tar_V_to#cut23
gul_V_to#destroy e2_N_household gul_V_to#destroy22
inana_N_Inana igi_N_eye dib_V_to#pass22
saj_N_head an_N_heaven il2_V_to#raise22
i3-du8_N_doorkeeper e2_N_household jal2_V_to#open21
iri_N_town gul_V_to#destroy e2_N_household21
nunuz_N_egg ki_N_place tag_V_to#touch21
gu3_N_voice zid_AJ_right de2_V_to#pour20
i-lu_N_sad#song za_PD_you#sg i-lu_N_sad#song20
cul-gi_N_SZulgi sipad_N_shepherd zid_AJ_right20
mu_N_name dug3_V_to#be#good sa4_V_to#call20
a_I_soothing#expression iri_N_town gul_V_to#destroy20
sukkal_N_minister isimud_N_Isimud gu3_N_voice19
jiri3_N_foot kur2_V_to#be#different dab5_V_to#seize19
e2_N_household gul_V_to#destroy gig_V_to#be#ill19
a-ba_PD_who igi_N_eye du8_V_to#spread19
isimud_N_Isimud gu3_N_voice de2_V_to#pour19
sipad_N_shepherd zid_AJ_right ki-en-gi_N_Sumer19
cag4_N_heart kug_AJ_shining pad3_V_to#find19
saj_N_head jic_N_tree ra_V_to#beat19
gul_V_to#destroy gig_V_to#be#ill dug4_V_to#say19
e2-kur_N_E-kur e2_N_household en-lil2_N_Enlil19
dumu_N_child ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure19
du8_V_to#spread igi_N_eye du8_V_to#spread18
nanna-suen_N_Nanna-Suen e2_N_household en-lil2_N_Enlil18
cum2_V_to#give urim2_N_Urim jen_V_to#go18
gu2_N_neck an_N_heaven zig3_V_to#rise18
igi_N_eye du8_V_to#spread a-na-gin7_AV_how18
du8_V_to#spread a-na-gin7_AV_how ak_V_to#do18
en-lil2_N_Enlil lugal_N_king kur_N_mountain#land18
en-lil2_N_Enlil i3-du8_N_doorkeeper e2_N_household17
mu_N_name dug3_V_to#be#good an_N_heaven17
ac-im2-babbar2_N_Aszimbabbar e2_N_household en-lil2_N_Enlil17
cu_N_hand gal_V_to#be#big du7_V_to#be#perfect17
e2_N_household en-lil2_N_Enlil i3-du8_N_doorkeeper17
kug_AJ_shining inana_N_Inana gi4_V_to#return17
gig_V_to#be#ill a-nir_N_lament jar_V_to#place17
igi_N_eye du8_V_to#spread igi_N_eye17
a-nir_N_lament gig_V_to#be#ill a-nir_N_lament17
ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure an_N_An16
inana_N_Inana gu3_N_voice de2_V_to#pour16
en-me-er-kar2_N_Enmerkar dumu_N_child utu_N_Utu16
nam_N_destiny gal_V_to#be#big tar_V_to#cut16
gi_N_reed sumun_V_to#be#old gi_N_reed16
dumu_N_child en-lil2_N_Enlil nam_N_destiny16
cag4_N_heart ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure16
saj_N_head en3_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb tar_V_to#cut16
za_PD_you#sg i-lu_N_sad#song dug4_V_to#say15
di_N_lawsuit si_N_horn sa2_V_to#equal15
cu_N_hand si_N_horn sa2_V_to#equal15
e3_V_to#go#out#or#in e2_N_household e3_V_to#go#out#or#in15
inana_N_Inana nin_N_lady me_N_essence15
gu3_N_voice tec2_N_unity sig10_V_to#place15
nitalam_N_spouse ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure15
kug_AJ_shining inana_N_Inana gu3_N_voice15
sumun_V_to#be#old gi_N_reed henbur_N_shoot15
gal_V_to#be#big an_N_heaven ki_N_place15
an_N_An lugal_N_king dijir_N_deity15
me_N_essence cu_N_hand du7_V_to#be#perfect15
mah_V_to#be#majestic an_N_heaven ki_N_place15
iri_N_town ki_N_place aj2_V_to#measure15
u6_N_wonder dug4_V_to#say gub_V_to#stand15
e2_N_household e3_V_to#go#out#or#in e2_N_household15
ama_N_mother ugu_V_to#give#birth nin-sumun2_N_Ninsumun14
ni2_N_fearsomeness gal_V_to#be#big guru3_V_to#bear14
pu2-kiri6_N_orchard lal3_N_honey jectin_N_grape#wine14
kur_N_mountain#land me_N_essence sikil_V_to#be#pure14
nin_N_lady me_N_essence car2_V_to#be#numerous14
jic3_N_penis dug4_V_to#say kur_N_mountain#land14
kur_N_mountain#land gal_V_to#be#big a-a_N_father14
dumu_N_child gal_V_to#be#big suen_N_Suen14
nu2_V_to#lie#down hur_AV_ever zig3_V_to#rise14
bal_V_to#turn#over erin_N_cedar cag4_N_heart14
lu2_N_person jic3_N_penis dug4_V_to#say14
iri_N_town nam_N_destiny kud_V_to#cut14
cu_N_hand bal_V_to#turn#over ak_V_to#do13
dug4_V_to#say ne_N_noun#part#of#multiword#verb su-ub_V_to#rub13
ki-ur3_N_foundation jal2_V_to#be#located nam-mah_N_majesty13

Basic ratios

A note of caution about type-token ratios: "Hence, despite the frequency with which they occur in studies of natural language texts, type-token ratios are both meaningless and pointless statistics, and it is preferable to plot the number of types in a passage directly against the number of tokens" (Youmans, Gilbert: Measuring lexical style and competence. The type-token vocabulary curve. http://web.missouri.edu/~youmansc/vmp/help/Youmans-TypeToken.pdf)

If we, instead of relying on the type-token ratio, plot a type-token vocabulary curve for an arbitrary selection of compositions (see Youmans' article), it will look like this:
Vocabulary curve

Apart from c.1.4.1, all these compositions contain more than 2,000 words (tokens). What the curves show is that the rate with which new vocabulary is introduced is fairly similar for most of the compositions in the sample. However, c.1.3.1 (Inana and Enki) and c.1.4.1 (Inana's descent to the nether world) stand out as being more repetitive. This can, of course, be due to damaged and supplied text in the form of Xs. Similar curves can be produced for lexemes and signs or sign sequences hyphenated to immitate Sumerian words. To compare such vocabulary curves, the compositions need to be long (> 1,000 words(?)). Arguably, it may not be defensible to perform such counts on composites.


Downloadable files


Sumerian scribe

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