On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.2
On the Origin of the Indian Brāhma Alphabet c8.2
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c8.2
[44]¹ Though the origin of the Kharoṣṭhī alphabet is much easier to explain than the derivation of the Brāhmī and though the general lines for the enquiry have already been settled by others, yet a somewhat fuller review of the whole question, than the narrow compass of my *Grundriss der indischen Palaeographie* permits, will perhaps not be superfluous. The very considerable progress, which has been achieved, is chiefly due to the discussions of the Kharoṣṭhī by Mr. E. Thomas in his edition of *Prinsep's Essays*, vol. II, p. 147 ff., by Dr. Isaac Taylor in *The Alphabet*, vol. II, p. 256 ff., and by Sir A. Cunningham, who has also settled the value of many of its signs, in his book on *The Coins of Ancient India*, p. 31 ff.