On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c7.s3.11

c7.s3.11

The sign for medial *e*, a straight or slanting line to the left of the consonant, I take to be the remnant of a triangular initial *E*, the outlines of which have been indicated by dots in the *ke*, figured under No 16, Col. VI, a, upper row. I may add that in the Edicts forms like [Figure:] are occasionally used for *ge*, where the vowel sign seems to consist not of a line, but of a hook put on the top of the letter. Such forms are perhaps ancient survivals, dating from a time when the vowel was represented by an angle, to which the triangle probably was reduced in the first instance. The position of the *e*-stroke is abnormal, as it stands to the left of, or before, the letter, after which it is pronounced. The cause is no doubt, that, if it had been placed to the right, it would have been undistinguishable from medial long *ā*.