The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c10.s81.4

c10.s81.4

A word may now be said regarding cases where the same sign is repeated. The signs found repeated are 𐀀, 0, 𐀁, U, 𐀂, 𐀃, 𐀄, 𐀅, 𐀆, 𐀇, 𐀈, 𐀉, 𐀊, 𐀋, 𐀌 and 𐀍 (with its variants). If read phonetically we must assume that we have here cases of the repetition of the same syllable. Now to this there seems to be a marked objection in Proto-Indian on euphonic grounds (see Analysis of Table XIII). Another objection to a phonetic reading is the anomalies in sequence that this would produce, e.g. we should have to read 𐀅 as initial, and it is never initial. It is probable then that these repetitions are to be read ideographically. This conclusion is supported by 𐀎 which is clearly 𐀏 𐀏 written as a compound. Now the most naturally ideographic explanation of this repetition is to read them as the plural of the simple sign when they are repeated three times, as in the case with 𐀀 and 𐀋, and as the dual when only two come together, as is the case with the remainder. Of course it does not follow that a plural or dual meaning is necessarily implied. In many cases the word or syllable for which the doubled or trebled sign stands may be merely a homophone of the dual or plural of the sign.