Elements of South-Indian Palæography, from the Fourth to the Seventeenth Century A.D. c5.s1.t5.2

c5.s1.t5.2

The next stage in the development of the northern Dravidian alphabets is the Haḷakannaḍa and old Telugu, between which it is impossible at present to establish any distinction. This alphabet dates from the end of the thirteenth century, and the distinction between it and the character I have termed transitional consists merely: 1) in the disuse of the few remaining older forms which I have described in the last section as being found in that alphabet, and the exclusive use of the new forms; 2) in the absence of distinction between **ḍ** and **ḍh**, **p** and **ph** and some other aspirates; 3) in the absence of marks to distinguish **i** and **ī**[^2). Between this alphabet and the modern forms the differences are but trivial.