Module: General Practice
Q27: Consider the following statements regarding the characteristics of the enigmatic Harappan script:
1. The Harappan script was distinctly alphabetical, with each sign systematically representing a single consonant or vowel.
2. Archaeologists have cataloged a massive variety of symbols, estimating that there are between 375 and 400 distinct signs used in the writing system.
3. The script was predominantly written from right to left, as evidenced by the wider spacing on the right and cramping of signs on the left side of seal inscriptions.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. Archaeologists have cataloged a massive variety of symbols, estimating that there are between 375 and 400 distinct signs used in the writing system.
3. The script was predominantly written from right to left, as evidenced by the wider spacing on the right and cramping of signs on the left side of seal inscriptions.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: B
🎯 Quick Answer:
Option B is the correct answer because statement 1 is factually incorrect regarding the typological nature of the script.Structural Breakdown: The script consists of a very large number of signs—between 375 and 400.
Most inscriptions are extremely short, averaging about five signs.
The writing direction is definitively established as right-to-left.
Historical/Related Context: Epigraphers determined the right-to-left direction by observing how the engraver worked.
The engraver would start on the right side with ample space, but as they approached the left edge of the seal, they often ran out of room, forcing them to cram or squeeze the final symbols together.
Causal Reasoning: Statement 1 is false because a true alphabetical system (like English or Latin) only requires around 20 to 30 signs to represent sounds.
The massive quantity of 375 to 400 distinct signs strongly indicates that the Harappan script was not alphabetical, but rather logo-syllabic or pictographic, where each sign likely represented an entire word, syllable, or specific concept.