On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.41
On the Origin of the Indian Brāhma Alphabet c8.41
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c8.41
No 9. The derivation of *ya* (Col. III) from the Aramaic *Yod* has been generally assumed, and it has been noticed that the Kharoṣṭhī sign is identical with the late Palmyrenian and Pehlevi forms (Euting, Cols. 21—25, 30—32, 35—39, 58), which of course are independent analogous developments, as well as that it resembles the *Yod* of the Papyri (Col. II, c and Euting, Cols. 14—17), where however the centre of the letter is mostly filled in with ink. Still closer comes the first sign (Col. II, b of the Babylonian *Kaph* in Col. I, b, which was turned round in order to avoid a collision with *la* and further received the little bar at the top for the sake of clearer distinction from *pa*. The sign in Col. I, a, which likewise comes from Babylon, has been added in order to show the development of that in Col. I, b, from the oldest form.