The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c10.s1.10

c10.s1.10

With regard to the sign 𓂝 and its variant form 𓂜 , the latter is probably original, and may be taken to represent a pair of arms with hands. This is one of the signs that shows affinity with Egyptian. See Gardiner, E.G. p. 445.D.28. The sign 𓂞 , which as we have shown is but 𓂝 articulated with a different vowel, is morphographically so akin to 𓂝 that it may well have arisen from it. This would imply the deliberate differentiation of signs to supply cognate phonetic symbols. There is abundant evidence of this elsewhere, as will be noted in the analysis of other Tables. In the present instance this differentiation will have been made by adding to 𐀀 a horizontal stroke in each half,¹ producing 𐀁 The further modification to 𐀂, 𐀃 is probably of the gunu order, and without effect on sense or sound.² The deliberate modification of a given sign to provide a symbol for a cognate phonetic value would presumably arise first in the case of syllables which, not forming a complete word in the language, or forming a word that was difficult or cumbersome to express ideographically, could not be written otherwise. It is an intelligent device that the cuneiform users seem never to have taken, being content to the end to represent e.g. ah, ih, uh by a single symbol. As far as we know Proto-Indian would appear to have been the first script to adopt this device. It is not without interest to observe that Ethiopic and Brahmi have the same traits. With regard to the shape of 𐀄, it probably represents a vase or jar with two handles, the upper horizontal elements representing the lips of the vase, the lower its handles. For the variety of its shapes and its Sumerian and Egyptian affinities see the Comparative Table.