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Deciphering the Indus Script: Computational Linguistic Techniques and Positional n-Gram Analysis

by R. Geetha Ramani, Keerthi Kumar E.N.
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International Journal of Computer Applications
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Volume 186 - Number 30
Year of Publication: 2024
Authors: R. Geetha Ramani, Keerthi Kumar E.N.
10.5120/ijca2024923832

R. Geetha Ramani, Keerthi Kumar E.N. . Deciphering the Indus Script: Computational Linguistic Techniques and Positional n-Gram Analysis. International Journal of Computer Applications. 186, 30 ( Jul 2024), 53-73. DOI=10.5120/ijca2024923832

@article{ 10.5120/ijca2024923832,
author = { R. Geetha Ramani, Keerthi Kumar E.N. },
title = { Deciphering the Indus Script: Computational Linguistic Techniques and Positional n-Gram Analysis },
journal = { International Journal of Computer Applications },
issue_date = { Jul 2024 },
volume = { 186 },
number = { 30 },
month = { Jul },
year = { 2024 },
issn = { 0975-8887 },
pages = { 53-73 },
numpages = {9},
url = { https://ijcaonline.org/archives/volume186/number30/deciphering-the-indus-script-computational-linguistic-techniques-and-positional-n-gram-analysis/ },
doi = { 10.5120/ijca2024923832 },
publisher = {Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA},
address = {New York, USA}
}
%0 Journal Article
%1 2024-07-31T01:20:01.357762+05:30
%A R. Geetha Ramani
%A Keerthi Kumar E.N.
%T Deciphering the Indus Script: Computational Linguistic Techniques and Positional n-Gram Analysis
%J International Journal of Computer Applications
%@ 0975-8887
%V 186
%N 30
%P 53-73
%D 2024
%I Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Abstract

This study introduces a pioneering methodology aimed at deciphering the enigmatic Indus script, leveraging advanced computational linguistic techniques in conjunction with the Interactive Corpus of Indus Texts (ICIT). This approach centers on positional n-gram analysis, delving into both the structural and symbolic intricacies embedded within the script. Through meticulous examination, we uncover nuanced insights into the distribution, significance, and syntactic relationships of symbols, with a particular focus on frequently occurring combinations and their positional patterns. Notably, this investigation reveals the presence of circular symbols, potentially linked to celestial phenomena or serving as rudimentary punctuation marks. Moreover, we confront prevalent challenges in decipherment, including the scarcity of bilingual inscriptions for comparative analysis and the absence of a Rosetta Stone equivalent. Furthermore, we explore the network properties of symbols, elucidating their centrality and contextual versatility within the script's semantic framework. Utilizing probabilistic models, we investigate the predictive potential of positional n-grams in reconstructing missing symbols, thus offering promising avenues for future decryption endeavors. Expanding this inquiry, we employ multi-sequence alignment to identify underlying grammar patterns within the language. Additionally, we employ clustering techniques, such as Variational Autoencoders (VAE) and K-means, to group symbols based on their structural similarities, thereby unveiling latent grammar rules. A comparison is also made with alchemical symbols. Through this innovative approach and substantive findings, we contribute significantly to ongoing decipherment endeavors, shedding new light on one of humanity's oldest linguistic mysteries.

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Index Terms

Computer Science
Information Sciences

Keywords

Indus script Decipherment Computational linguistics Symbolic analysis Probabilistic models Grammar patterns

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