Answering the King. Context and Tone of Communication in Neo-Assyrian Letters

Тhe aim of this article is to examine and analyze the tone of communication in selected examples from the Neo-Assyrian state archive, published in the State Archives of Assyria series, through the lens of Searle's Speech Act Theory. Participants in this communication include Assyrian kings who reigned during the 8th–7th centuries BCE, high-ranking officials and administrators, as well as members of the scribal elite, also known as scholars, at the royal court. The period of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (10th–7th centuries BCE) marks a turning point in world history due to a number of significant innovations in administration and social regulation introduced by the Assyrian monarchs. The study of written communication sheds light on a more specific aspect of state governance, revealing essential elements of the hierarchical relationships between the ruler and his subordinates. These communications define the boundaries of what is permitted, but they also delve into issues such as professional conflicts and competition. Last but not least, they have the potential to reveal typical patterns of response in specific situations that remain hidden in more concise types of sources, such as Assyrian royal inscriptions.