# Can statistical measures tell whether an unknown symbol system is writing? · Indus script > Three answers have been proposed. Such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:43+00:00 --- **0** # Can statistical measures tell whether an unknown symbol system is writing? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Are the Indus signs a writing system for a spoken language?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3ETE3XCV/are-the-indus-signs-a-writing-system-for-a-spoken-language)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The 2009 to 2014 dispute turned on this. If entropy and n-gram measures can discriminate, the Indus question is answerable from the corpus; if not, only new finds can answer it⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MSPJ858B9/entropic-evidence-for-linguistic-structure-in-the-indus)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1HT76XS/ancient-symbols-computational-linguistics-and-the-reviewing)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1SM3EB0/a-statistical-comparison-of-written-language-and). ## Answers 3 [**Such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3NDC04F9/such-measures-do-not-discriminate-reliably-so-the-indus) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**Conditional and block entropy of sign sequences separate writing from non-linguistic systems, and place the…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3MNY6JC5/conditional-and-block-entropy-of-sign-sequences-separate) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/answers/ANS0CWY3P4T3N62/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2009[Rao et al. puts forward: conditional and block entropy of sign sequences separate writing from non-linguistic systems, and place the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MSPJ858B9/entropic-evidence-for-linguistic-structure-in-the-indus) 1. 2009[Rao et al.: the Indus corpus's conditional entropy sits with linguistic systems and away from the artificial extremes.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MSPJ858B9/entropic-evidence-for-linguistic-structure-in-the-indus)For: Conditional and block entropy of sign sequences separate writing from non-linguistic systems, and place the… 1. 2010[Sproat: the artificial extremes were invented controls, and real non-linguistic systems can show similar values.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1HT76XS/ancient-symbols-computational-linguistics-and-the-reviewing)Against: Conditional and block entropy of sign sequences separate writing from non-linguistic systems, and place the… 1. 2010[Rao et al.: rao et al. argue that the measures were meant to be combined with other evidence, not used alone.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CWY387G3K1X/entropy-the-indus-script-and-language-a-reply-to-r-sproat)Against: Such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus… 1. 2014[Sproat puts forward: such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1SM3EB0/a-statistical-comparison-of-written-language-and) 1. 2014[Sproat: sproat's 2014 comparison across real corpora found the measures do not settle the question.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MT1SM3EB0/a-statistical-comparison-of-written-language-and)For: Such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol%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/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol%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/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol%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/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol%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/QST0CWY3FA22GA4/can-statistical-measures-tell-whether-an-unknown-symbol%23add-source) Where it fits Indus script [**Are the Indus signs a writing system for a spoken language?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/indus-script/questions/QST0CWY3ETE3XCV/are-the-indus-signs-a-writing-system-for-a-spoken-language)Key question · most likely the signs are a logo-syllabic writing system that encodes a spoken language **Can statistical measures tell whether an unknown symbol system is writing?** You're here · such measures do not discriminate reliably, so the Indus question cannot be settled from the corpus… [ Ask a question under this one ]