The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c10.s81.5

c10.s81.5

The analysis of these Tables also puts us in a position to determine in what cases two or more successive signs constitute a single word. There are many cases when at first sight one is tempted to consider as a single word signs which upon further analysis are seen to be separate words, their occurrence together being due to the fact that they form a single phrase or formula oft repeated: e.g. 𐀁𐀂. Since we know that 𐀁 is suffixed to a very large number of signs there is no reason to suppose that it is other than a suffix in this case. In deciding that two or more signs form a single word I have rigidly observed the following principles: (1) that the combination is found in a number of cases relatively larger in proportion to the total occurrences of one of its members. (2) That the first member of the combination is demonstrably independent of any signs found preceding the combination, (3) that the last member is demonstrably independent of any signs found following the combination. Observing these principles we find that the following are probably single words. I say probably, since it is always possible that what we take for a single word may really be two separate words forming a common phrase or formula.