# If the signs are writing, which language do they record? · Indus script > Four answers have been proposed. The signs record an early Dravidian language. leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests.… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:43+00:00 --- **0** # If the signs are writing, which language do they record? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the signs record an early Dravidian language** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The signs record an early Dravidian language. leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The language decides which readings can be tested. The Dravidian hypothesis has a method and a few proposed readings; no proposal has read the corpus⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY36RM4PRY/deciphering-the-indus-script). ## Answers 4 [**The signs record an early Dravidian language.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3JQE1E71/the-signs-record-an-early-dravidian-language) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3ME416VC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The signs record a language of another family, or one now extinct, that cannot be identified from texts this…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3KYG46S9/the-signs-record-a-language-of-another-family-or-one-now) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The signs record an Indo-Aryan language such as early Sanskrit.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3KEW1D3K/the-signs-record-an-indo-aryan-language-such-as-early) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1994[Parpola puts forward: the signs record an early Dravidian language.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY36RM4PRY/deciphering-the-indus-script) 1. 1994[Parpola: no whole text has been read in a way others can verify.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY36RM4PRY/deciphering-the-indus-script)Against: The signs record an early Dravidian language. 1. 1994[Parpola: parpola's rebus method yields readings for several frequent signs that cohere with later Indian iconography.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY36RM4PRY/deciphering-the-indus-script)For: The signs record an early Dravidian language. 1. 2004[Farmer et al.: the corpus has far less connected material than any deciphered script had when it was read.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQVFM66A1/the-collapse-of-the-indus-script-thesis-the-myth-of-a)For: The signs record a language of another family, or one now extinct, that cannot be identified from texts this… 1. 2014[Sproat puts forward: the signs record a language of another family, or one now extinct, that cannot be identified from texts this…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1SM3EB0/a-statistical-comparison-of-written-language-and) 1. 2025[INDOLOGY mailing list puts forward: the signs record an Indo-Aryan language such as early Sanskrit.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY39PC1W6M/indology-most-recent-iteration-of-the-same-claim) 1. 2025[INDOLOGY mailing list: recent Indo-Aryan claims circulated online have been dismissed on the Indology list as repetitions of earlier…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY39PC1W6M/indology-most-recent-iteration-of-the-same-claim)Against: The signs record an Indo-Aryan language such as early Sanskrit. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3F28487R/if-the-signs-are-writing-which-language-do-they-record%23add-source) Where it fits Indus script **If the signs are writing, which language do they record?** Key question · you're here [Do the graffiti marks on Tamil Nadu potsherds continue the Indus signs?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3FHW5MFX/do-the-graffiti-marks-on-tamil-nadu-potsherds-continue-the)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]