The Reconstruction of the Proto-Semitic Genitive Ending and a Suggestion on its Origin

The Proto-Semitic genitive ending on triptotic nouns is commonly reconstructed as *-im (unbound state)/*-i (bound state). In Akkadian, however, this case long -ī- before pronominal suffixes. Since the length of vowel unexplained, I argue that it original and Akkadian bound state -i should also be *-ī, explaining its retention in word-final position. This form seems more than Proto-West-Semitic *-i. Hence, *-ī. Through internal reconstruction supported by parallel kinship terms like *ʔab-um ‘father’, arrive at a pre-Proto-Semitic *-ī-m (unbound), *-ī (bound). paper then explores hypothetical scenario where derived from adjectivizing ‘nisbe’ suffix through reanalysis adjectival constructions *bayt-u śarr-ī ‘the/a royal house’ construct chains with meanings king’s house’; addition mimation resultant shortening, yielded construction genitive, śarr-im. failed to develop diptotic because they did not take dual plural nisbe adjective was uninflected (singular) noun stem; hence, these categories all retain contrast between nominative an undifferentiated oblique case.