DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36954#0175
the Domoko oasis (GROPP 1974: 31; THOMAS 1954: 692).
The similarity of the ductus is obvious. Both mss. have knots P/. 261, 262
at the end of their verticals, well-known from the calligraphic
ornate types, as can be seen from the (Sorifuq ms.
v3: Khotanese ms. a3: /4'?MA%). They are written with a
pen that was either pointed or had a small square tip. But the
general appearance should not obscure the differences in details.
The Sor^uq ms. has e.g. the typical Gilgit/Bamiyan (cf. PI.
203 f/?4), round, and curved on the right (3 (PI. 201 r2
while the scribe of the Khotanese ms. wrote a more angular
curved on the left ^ (PI. 202 a5 This
form is common to the North Indian Gupta inscriptions, and the
Proto-Sarada mss., and it is found comparatively seldom in some
Gupta mss. from the northern rim of the Tarim basin (SANDER
1968: 94, T. Ill; 148, T. V; annex: T. 17, 21). The diacritic sign
for marking the long vowel A also differs in the two mss. In the
§or6uq ms. it is a loop added to the end of the vertical ^ (v3
;tt772<3%2), in the Khotanese ms. it is marked by a small hook
added to the middle of the vertical line ^ (a2 %ys&?). Both
features correspond well with the later development of these
%As%n2s in the northern and southern routes respectively. P/. 264
Nevertheless, the differences are slight, and the Brahmi used by
the Tocharians and Sakas at about the fifth century A.D. is
approximately the same^. Another peculiarity common to the
Tocharians and Sakas is the use of the dieresis (first mentioned
HOERNLE 1916/1970: XVI) to indicate a vowel in general
representing /3/ in the Tocharian dialects^ and /e/ and /s/ in
Khotanese, according to R.E. EMMERICK "a result of the
palatalisation of Old Iranian /a/" (1979a: 8; details 1979b:
239—50). Another common feature is the Central Asian -<? and
found in both Tocharian and early Khotanese ms. The point
of the diacritic sign is bent to the upper right side , in contrast
8 SANDER 1968: 4. One folio with text from the 13th chapter of the
"Book of Zambasta" (EMMERICK 1968) in Khotanese language and
written in "Early Turkestan Brahmi" was found in the "Handschriften-
Hohle" at Sorduq. It was published by KONOW 1912.
9 For details see: KRAUSE, THOMAS I960: 39, note l;NORMIER 1980;
ISEBAERT 1983.
113
The similarity of the ductus is obvious. Both mss. have knots P/. 261, 262
at the end of their verticals, well-known from the calligraphic
ornate types, as can be seen from the (Sorifuq ms.
v3: Khotanese ms. a3: /4'?MA%). They are written with a
pen that was either pointed or had a small square tip. But the
general appearance should not obscure the differences in details.
The Sor^uq ms. has e.g. the typical Gilgit/Bamiyan (cf. PI.
203 f/?4), round, and curved on the right (3 (PI. 201 r2
while the scribe of the Khotanese ms. wrote a more angular
curved on the left ^ (PI. 202 a5 This
form is common to the North Indian Gupta inscriptions, and the
Proto-Sarada mss., and it is found comparatively seldom in some
Gupta mss. from the northern rim of the Tarim basin (SANDER
1968: 94, T. Ill; 148, T. V; annex: T. 17, 21). The diacritic sign
for marking the long vowel A also differs in the two mss. In the
§or6uq ms. it is a loop added to the end of the vertical ^ (v3
;tt772<3%2), in the Khotanese ms. it is marked by a small hook
added to the middle of the vertical line ^ (a2 %ys&?). Both
features correspond well with the later development of these
%As%n2s in the northern and southern routes respectively. P/. 264
Nevertheless, the differences are slight, and the Brahmi used by
the Tocharians and Sakas at about the fifth century A.D. is
approximately the same^. Another peculiarity common to the
Tocharians and Sakas is the use of the dieresis (first mentioned
HOERNLE 1916/1970: XVI) to indicate a vowel in general
representing /3/ in the Tocharian dialects^ and /e/ and /s/ in
Khotanese, according to R.E. EMMERICK "a result of the
palatalisation of Old Iranian /a/" (1979a: 8; details 1979b:
239—50). Another common feature is the Central Asian -<? and
found in both Tocharian and early Khotanese ms. The point
of the diacritic sign is bent to the upper right side , in contrast
8 SANDER 1968: 4. One folio with text from the 13th chapter of the
"Book of Zambasta" (EMMERICK 1968) in Khotanese language and
written in "Early Turkestan Brahmi" was found in the "Handschriften-
Hohle" at Sorduq. It was published by KONOW 1912.
9 For details see: KRAUSE, THOMAS I960: 39, note l;NORMIER 1980;
ISEBAERT 1983.
113