On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.59

c8.59

The device for expressing the lingualisation in *ṭa* (No 20, Col. IV, b—c) and *ṇa* (No 13, Col. IV, a) is very similar to that sometimes used in the Brāhma alphabet, in order to indicate the change of the Varga or class of the letter. A straight stroke, added originally on the right, serves this purpose in the Bhaṭṭiprolu *ḷa*, in the Brāhma *ṇa*, *ña* and *ṅa*.² The case of the Kharosthī *ṭa* has been stated above in the remarks on the representatives of *Taw*. With respect to *ṇa* it is sufficient to point out that it has been developed from the *na* No 13, Col. III, b, by a slight prolongation of the right hand stroke. The case of the lingual *ḍa* (No 4, Col. IV, b) is doubtful. Possibly it may be derived from an older dental *da*, like that [62] in No 4, Col. I, a, by the addition of a short vertical straight line on the right, which coalesced with the vertical of the *da* and thus formed the sign with the open square at the head. But it is also possible that the Aramaic alphabet, imported into India, possessed several variants for *Daleth*, and that the heavier one (No 4, Col. I, b) was chosen by the Hindus to express the heavier lingual *ḍa*, while the lighter or more cursive one was utilised for the dental *da*.