A Rosetta Stone for the Indus script - Rajesh Rao
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I'd<00:00:16.160> like<00:00:16.279> to<00:00:16.440> begin<00:00:16.760> with<00:00:16.920> a<00:00:17.119> thought
I'd like to begin with a thought
I'd like to begin with a thought
experiment<00:00:19.439> imagine<00:00:19.920> that<00:00:20.039> it's<00:00:20.279> 4,000<00:00:20.880> years
experiment imagine that it's 4,000 years
experiment imagine that it's 4,000 years
into<00:00:21.640> the
into the
into the
future<00:00:23.279> civilization<00:00:24.000> as<00:00:24.119> we<00:00:24.279> know<00:00:24.439> it<00:00:24.760> has
future civilization as we know it has
future civilization as we know it has
ceased<00:00:25.199> to
ceased to
ceased to
exist<00:00:27.000> no
exist no
exist no
books<00:00:29.080> no<00:00:29.279> electronic<00:00:29.679> device
books no electronic device
books no electronic device
no<00:00:31.880> Facebook<00:00:32.439> or
no Facebook or
no Facebook or
Twitter<00:00:34.360> all<00:00:34.680> knowledge<00:00:35.520> of<00:00:35.680> the<00:00:35.840> English
Twitter all knowledge of the English
Twitter all knowledge of the English
language<00:00:37.320> and<00:00:37.440> the<00:00:37.520> English<00:00:37.800> alphabet<00:00:38.239> has
language and the English alphabet has
language and the English alphabet has
been
been
been
lost<00:00:40.320> now<00:00:40.480> imagine<00:00:40.920> archaeologists<00:00:41.719> digging
lost now imagine archaeologists digging
lost now imagine archaeologists digging
through<00:00:42.160> the<00:00:42.280> rubble<00:00:42.600> of<00:00:42.719> one<00:00:42.800> of<00:00:42.920> our<00:00:43.320> cities
through the rubble of one of our cities
through the rubble of one of our cities
what<00:00:44.520> might<00:00:44.680> they<00:00:44.920> find<00:00:45.879> well<00:00:46.120> perhaps<00:00:47.079> some
what might they find well perhaps some
what might they find well perhaps some
rectangular<00:00:47.840> pieces<00:00:48.039> of<00:00:48.239> plastic<00:00:49.239> with
rectangular pieces of plastic with
rectangular pieces of plastic with
stange<00:00:49.879> symbols<00:00:50.280> on<00:00:50.480> them<00:00:51.399> perhaps<00:00:51.879> some
stange symbols on them perhaps some
stange symbols on them perhaps some
circular<00:00:52.800> pieces<00:00:53.079> of<00:00:53.320> metal<00:00:54.320> maybe<00:00:54.840> some
circular pieces of metal maybe some
circular pieces of metal maybe some
cylindrical<00:00:55.960> containers<00:00:56.960> with<00:00:57.120> some<00:00:57.280> symbols
cylindrical containers with some symbols
cylindrical containers with some symbols
on<00:00:57.840> them<00:00:58.519> and<00:00:58.719> perhaps<00:00:59.320> one<00:00:59.519> Arch<00:00:59.879> ologist
on them and perhaps one Arch ologist
on them and perhaps one Arch ologist
becomes<00:01:00.719> an<00:01:00.840> instant<00:01:01.160> celebrity<00:01:02.000> when<00:01:02.160> she
becomes an instant celebrity when she
becomes an instant celebrity when she
discovers<00:01:03.239> buried<00:01:03.559> in<00:01:03.680> the<00:01:03.800> Hills<00:01:04.080> somewhere
discovers buried in the Hills somewhere
discovers buried in the Hills somewhere
in<00:01:04.519> North<00:01:05.040> America<00:01:06.040> massive<00:01:06.439> versions<00:01:07.200> of
in North America massive versions of
in North America massive versions of
these<00:01:07.520> same
these same
these same
symbols<00:01:10.840> now<00:01:11.000> let's<00:01:11.240> ask<00:01:11.479> ourselves<00:01:12.400> what
symbols now let's ask ourselves what
symbols now let's ask ourselves what
could<00:01:12.759> such
could such
could such
artifacts<00:01:14.600> say<00:01:14.880> about<00:01:15.119> us<00:01:15.680> to<00:01:15.960> people<00:01:16.200> 4,000
artifacts say about us to people 4,000
artifacts say about us to people 4,000
years<00:01:17.280> into<00:01:17.520> the<00:01:17.640> future<00:01:18.320> now<00:01:18.439> this<00:01:18.560> is<00:01:18.680> no
years into the future now this is no
years into the future now this is no
hypothetical<00:01:19.479> question<00:01:19.880> in<00:01:20.079> fact<00:01:20.880> this<00:01:21.000> is
hypothetical question in fact this is
hypothetical question in fact this is
exactly<00:01:21.560> the<00:01:21.640> kind<00:01:21.799> of<00:01:21.960> question<00:01:22.200> we're<00:01:22.439> faced
exactly the kind of question we're faced
exactly the kind of question we're faced
with<00:01:23.240> when<00:01:23.320> we<00:01:23.439> try<00:01:23.680> to<00:01:24.200> understand<00:01:24.799> the<00:01:24.960> Indus
with when we try to understand the Indus
with when we try to understand the Indus
Valley<00:01:25.720> Civilization<00:01:26.400> which<00:01:26.600> existed<00:01:27.240> 4,000
Valley Civilization which existed 4,000
Valley Civilization which existed 4,000
years<00:01:28.079> ago<00:01:28.880> now<00:01:29.000> the<00:01:29.119> Indus<00:01:29.400> civilization<00:01:30.240> was
years ago now the Indus civilization was
years ago now the Indus civilization was
roughly<00:01:30.759> contemporaneous<00:01:31.560> with<00:01:31.720> the<00:01:31.920> much
roughly contemporaneous with the much
roughly contemporaneous with the much
better<00:01:32.360> known<00:01:32.560> Egyptian<00:01:33.159> and<00:01:33.320> the
better known Egyptian and the
better known Egyptian and the
Mesopotamian<00:01:34.119> civilizations<00:01:35.040> was<00:01:35.320> actually
Mesopotamian civilizations was actually
Mesopotamian civilizations was actually
much<00:01:35.759> larger<00:01:36.159> than<00:01:36.320> either<00:01:36.520> of<00:01:36.640> these<00:01:36.799> two
much larger than either of these two
much larger than either of these two
civilizations<00:01:38.000> so<00:01:38.119> it<00:01:38.280> occupied<00:01:38.680> an<00:01:38.840> area<00:01:39.360> of
civilizations so it occupied an area of
civilizations so it occupied an area of
approximately<00:01:40.280> 1<00:01:40.479> million<00:01:40.799> square
approximately 1 million square
approximately 1 million square
kilometers<00:01:42.119> covering<00:01:42.520> what<00:01:42.720> is<00:01:42.960> now<00:01:43.399> Pakistan
kilometers covering what is now Pakistan
kilometers covering what is now Pakistan
Northwestern<00:01:44.920> India<00:01:45.719> and<00:01:45.960> parts<00:01:46.159> of
Northwestern India and parts of
Northwestern India and parts of
Afghanistan<00:01:46.920> and<00:01:47.079> Iran<00:01:47.840> now<00:01:47.960> given<00:01:48.200> that<00:01:48.280> it
Afghanistan and Iran now given that it
Afghanistan and Iran now given that it
was<00:01:48.520> such<00:01:48.640> a<00:01:48.719> vast<00:01:48.960> civilization<00:01:49.600> you<00:01:49.719> might
was such a vast civilization you might
was such a vast civilization you might
expect<00:01:50.320> to<00:01:50.560> find<00:01:51.240> really<00:01:51.479> powerful<00:01:51.880> rulers
expect to find really powerful rulers
expect to find really powerful rulers
Kings<00:01:53.439> and<00:01:53.600> huge<00:01:53.920> monuments<00:01:54.560> glorifying
Kings and huge monuments glorifying
Kings and huge monuments glorifying
these<00:01:55.719> powerful<00:01:56.159> Kings<00:01:57.000> in<00:01:57.200> fact<00:01:58.039> what
these powerful Kings in fact what
these powerful Kings in fact what
archaeologists<00:01:58.799> have<00:01:58.960> found<00:01:59.240> is<00:01:59.360> none<00:01:59.520> of
archaeologists have found is none of
archaeologists have found is none of
that<00:02:00.320> they<00:02:00.520> found<00:02:01.119> small<00:02:01.520> objects<00:02:01.840> such<00:02:02.000> as
that they found small objects such as
that they found small objects such as
these<00:02:03.439> so<00:02:03.600> here's<00:02:03.840> an<00:02:04.320> example<00:02:05.320> of<00:02:05.439> one<00:02:05.560> of
these so here's an example of one of
these so here's an example of one of
these<00:02:05.920> objects<00:02:06.320> well<00:02:06.479> obviously<00:02:06.759> there's<00:02:06.920> a
these objects well obviously there's a
these objects well obviously there's a
replica<00:02:08.399> but<00:02:09.319> who<00:02:09.520> is<00:02:09.720> this<00:02:10.239> person<00:02:11.239> a<00:02:11.640> king<00:02:12.640> a
replica but who is this person a king a
replica but who is this person a king a
god<00:02:14.360> a<00:02:14.920> priest<00:02:15.920> or<00:02:16.080> perhaps<00:02:16.360> an<00:02:16.480> ordinary
god a priest or perhaps an ordinary
god a priest or perhaps an ordinary
person<00:02:17.200> like<00:02:17.400> you<00:02:17.840> or<00:02:18.400> me<00:02:19.400> we<00:02:19.519> don't
person like you or me we don't
person like you or me we don't
know<00:02:21.440> but<00:02:21.599> the<00:02:21.680> Indus<00:02:22.040> people<00:02:22.280> also<00:02:22.480> left
know but the Indus people also left
know but the Indus people also left
behind<00:02:23.160> artifacts<00:02:23.680> with<00:02:23.879> writing<00:02:24.160> on<00:02:24.360> them
behind artifacts with writing on them
behind artifacts with writing on them
well<00:02:25.120> no<00:02:25.319> not<00:02:25.480> pieces<00:02:25.720> of<00:02:25.920> plastic<00:02:26.920> but<00:02:27.080> Stone
well no not pieces of plastic but Stone
well no not pieces of plastic but Stone
seals<00:02:28.519> copper<00:02:28.920> tablets<00:02:29.920> pottery<00:02:30.920> and
seals copper tablets pottery and
seals copper tablets pottery and
surprisingly<00:02:32.480> one<00:02:32.760> large<00:02:33.040> sign<00:02:33.400> board<00:02:34.000> which
surprisingly one large sign board which
surprisingly one large sign board which
was<00:02:34.280> found<00:02:34.560> buried<00:02:34.959> near<00:02:35.120> the<00:02:35.280> Gate<00:02:35.440> of<00:02:35.519> a<00:02:35.640> city
was found buried near the Gate of a city
was found buried near the Gate of a city
now<00:02:36.560> we<00:02:36.640> don't<00:02:36.760> know<00:02:36.879> if<00:02:36.959> it<00:02:37.080> says<00:02:37.360> Hollywood
now we don't know if it says Hollywood
now we don't know if it says Hollywood
or<00:02:38.120> even<00:02:38.319> Bollywood<00:02:38.720> for<00:02:38.840> that<00:02:39.200> matter<00:02:40.200> in
or even Bollywood for that matter in
or even Bollywood for that matter in
fact<00:02:41.120> we<00:02:41.239> don't<00:02:41.400> even<00:02:41.599> know<00:02:41.800> what<00:02:42.040> any<00:02:42.200> of
fact we don't even know what any of
fact we don't even know what any of
these<00:02:42.599> objects<00:02:43.000> say<00:02:43.680> and<00:02:43.800> that's<00:02:44.000> because<00:02:44.239> the
these objects say and that's because the
these objects say and that's because the
IND<00:02:44.720> script<00:02:45.080> is<00:02:45.360> undeciphered<00:02:46.360> we<00:02:46.480> don't<00:02:46.680> know
IND script is undeciphered we don't know
IND script is undeciphered we don't know
what<00:02:47.040> any<00:02:47.159> of<00:02:47.280> these<00:02:47.440> symbols<00:02:47.800> mean<00:02:48.480> now<00:02:48.640> the
what any of these symbols mean now the
what any of these symbols mean now the
symbols<00:02:49.120> are<00:02:49.280> most<00:02:49.440> commonly<00:02:49.879> found<00:02:50.319> on<00:02:50.599> seals
symbols are most commonly found on seals
symbols are most commonly found on seals
so<00:02:51.640> you'll<00:02:51.840> see<00:02:52.040> up<00:02:52.280> there<00:02:52.840> one<00:02:53.080> such<00:02:53.440> object
so you'll see up there one such object
so you'll see up there one such object
it's<00:02:54.200> the<00:02:54.560> square<00:02:54.959> object<00:02:55.280> with<00:02:55.440> the<00:02:55.560> Unicorn
it's the square object with the Unicorn
it's the square object with the Unicorn
like<00:02:56.319> animal<00:02:56.640> on<00:02:56.760> it<00:02:57.319> now<00:02:57.480> that's<00:02:57.640> a
like animal on it now that's a
like animal on it now that's a
magnificent<00:02:58.280> piece<00:02:58.440> of<00:02:58.560> art<00:02:58.800> so<00:02:59.000> how<00:02:59.360> big<00:02:59.560> do
magnificent piece of art so how big do
magnificent piece of art so how big do
you<00:02:59.800> you<00:02:59.920> think<00:03:00.080> that<00:03:00.280> is<00:03:01.159> perhaps<00:03:01.680> that<00:03:01.920> big
you you think that is perhaps that big
you you think that is perhaps that big
or<00:03:03.080> maybe<00:03:03.400> that<00:03:03.560> big<00:03:04.440> well<00:03:04.599> let<00:03:04.680> me<00:03:04.799> show
or maybe that big well let me show
or maybe that big well let me show
you<00:03:07.599> so<00:03:07.879> here's<00:03:08.400> a<00:03:08.599> replica<00:03:09.000> of<00:03:09.120> one<00:03:09.319> such<00:03:09.560> seal
you so here's a replica of one such seal
you so here's a replica of one such seal
it's<00:03:10.280> only<00:03:10.599> about<00:03:11.280> 1<00:03:11.560> in<00:03:12.080> by<00:03:12.239> 1<00:03:12.400> in<00:03:12.640> in<00:03:12.879> size
it's only about 1 in by 1 in in size
it's only about 1 in by 1 in in size
pretty<00:03:14.159> tiny<00:03:14.840> so<00:03:15.000> what<00:03:15.080> were<00:03:15.280> these<00:03:15.400> used<00:03:15.760> for
pretty tiny so what were these used for
pretty tiny so what were these used for
we<00:03:16.760> know<00:03:17.040> that<00:03:17.239> these<00:03:17.400> were<00:03:17.640> used<00:03:18.120> for
we know that these were used for
we know that these were used for
stamping<00:03:19.080> clay<00:03:19.400> tags<00:03:19.680> that<00:03:19.799> were<00:03:19.959> attached<00:03:20.239> to
stamping clay tags that were attached to
stamping clay tags that were attached to
bundles<00:03:20.720> of<00:03:20.879> goods<00:03:21.159> that<00:03:21.239> were<00:03:21.400> sent<00:03:21.720> from<00:03:21.879> one
bundles of goods that were sent from one
bundles of goods that were sent from one
place<00:03:22.280> to<00:03:22.480> the<00:03:22.560> other<00:03:22.760> so<00:03:22.879> you<00:03:22.959> know<00:03:23.120> those
place to the other so you know those
place to the other so you know those
packing<00:03:23.720> slips<00:03:24.000> you<00:03:24.120> get<00:03:24.280> on<00:03:24.400> your<00:03:24.599> FedEx
packing slips you get on your FedEx
packing slips you get on your FedEx
boxes<00:03:25.959> so<00:03:26.159> these<00:03:26.280> were<00:03:26.480> used<00:03:26.760> to<00:03:26.920> make<00:03:27.120> those
boxes so these were used to make those
boxes so these were used to make those
kinds<00:03:27.519> of<00:03:27.799> packing<00:03:28.080> slips<00:03:28.840> now<00:03:29.080> you<00:03:29.239> might
kinds of packing slips now you might
kinds of packing slips now you might
wonder<00:03:29.920> what<00:03:30.159> these<00:03:31.000> objects<00:03:31.360> contain<00:03:31.720> in
wonder what these objects contain in
wonder what these objects contain in
terms<00:03:32.080> of<00:03:32.239> their<00:03:32.720> text<00:03:33.680> so<00:03:33.840> perhaps<00:03:34.159> they<00:03:34.400> the
terms of their text so perhaps they the
terms of their text so perhaps they the
name<00:03:34.799> of<00:03:35.000> the<00:03:35.200> the<00:03:35.280> sender<00:03:35.760> or<00:03:36.080> some
name of the the sender or some
name of the the sender or some
information<00:03:36.720> about<00:03:36.920> the<00:03:37.040> goods<00:03:37.319> that<00:03:37.400> are
information about the goods that are
information about the goods that are
being<00:03:37.720> send<00:03:38.040> from<00:03:38.159> one<00:03:38.319> place<00:03:38.439> to<00:03:38.599> the<00:03:38.720> other
being send from one place to the other
being send from one place to the other
we<00:03:39.200> don't<00:03:39.519> know<00:03:40.519> we<00:03:40.640> would<00:03:40.720> need<00:03:40.840> to<00:03:40.959> decipher
we don't know we would need to decipher
we don't know we would need to decipher
the<00:03:41.519> script<00:03:41.760> to<00:03:41.920> answer<00:03:42.200> that<00:03:42.400> question<00:03:43.360> now
the script to answer that question now
the script to answer that question now
deciphering<00:03:44.040> the<00:03:44.200> script<00:03:44.760> is<00:03:44.920> not<00:03:45.080> just<00:03:45.200> an
deciphering the script is not just an
deciphering the script is not just an
intellectual<00:03:45.920> puzzle<00:03:46.640> it's<00:03:46.879> actually<00:03:47.120> become
intellectual puzzle it's actually become
intellectual puzzle it's actually become
a<00:03:47.599> question<00:03:48.000> that's<00:03:48.400> become<00:03:48.720> deeply
a question that's become deeply
a question that's become deeply
intertwined<00:03:50.280> with<00:03:50.560> the<00:03:50.840> politics<00:03:51.439> and<00:03:51.640> the
intertwined with the politics and the
intertwined with the politics and the
cultural<00:03:52.680> history<00:03:53.000> of<00:03:53.159> South<00:03:53.400> Asia<00:03:54.200> in<00:03:54.439> fact
cultural history of South Asia in fact
cultural history of South Asia in fact
the<00:03:55.239> script<00:03:55.560> has<00:03:55.720> become<00:03:56.079> a<00:03:56.239> battleground<00:03:56.760> of
the script has become a battleground of
the script has become a battleground of
sorts<00:03:57.239> between<00:03:57.560> three<00:03:57.720> different<00:03:58.000> groups<00:03:58.280> of
sorts between three different groups of
sorts between three different groups of
people<00:03:59.000> so<00:03:59.239> first
people so first
people so first
there's<00:04:00.400> a<00:04:00.519> group<00:04:00.720> of<00:04:00.840> people<00:04:01.120> who<00:04:01.239> are<00:04:01.439> very
there's a group of people who are very
there's a group of people who are very
passionate<00:04:02.079> in<00:04:02.200> their<00:04:02.400> belief<00:04:03.159> that<00:04:03.360> the
passionate in their belief that the
passionate in their belief that the
indis<00:04:04.079> script<00:04:04.560> does<00:04:04.760> not<00:04:04.959> represent<00:04:05.319> a
indis script does not represent a
indis script does not represent a
language<00:04:05.799> at<00:04:05.879> all<00:04:06.840> these<00:04:07.000> people<00:04:07.239> believe
language at all these people believe
language at all these people believe
that<00:04:07.879> the<00:04:08.079> symbols<00:04:08.519> are<00:04:08.799> very<00:04:09.040> similar<00:04:09.400> to<00:04:09.640> the
that the symbols are very similar to the
that the symbols are very similar to the
kind<00:04:09.920> of<00:04:10.040> symbols<00:04:10.400> you<00:04:10.560> find<00:04:10.879> on<00:04:11.120> traffic
kind of symbols you find on traffic
kind of symbols you find on traffic
signs<00:04:11.959> or<00:04:12.239> the<00:04:12.360> emblems<00:04:12.760> you<00:04:12.920> find<00:04:13.280> on<00:04:13.519> Shields
signs or the emblems you find on Shields
signs or the emblems you find on Shields
now<00:04:14.720> there's<00:04:14.879> a<00:04:15.000> second<00:04:15.239> group<00:04:15.439> of<00:04:15.519> people<00:04:15.959> who
now there's a second group of people who
now there's a second group of people who
believe<00:04:16.560> that<00:04:16.799> the<00:04:17.199> indos<00:04:17.639> script<00:04:17.919> represents
believe that the indos script represents
believe that the indos script represents
an<00:04:18.479> Indo-European<00:04:19.280> language<00:04:19.720> so<00:04:19.840> if<00:04:19.880> you<00:04:20.000> look
an Indo-European language so if you look
an Indo-European language so if you look
at<00:04:20.199> a<00:04:20.359> map<00:04:20.560> of<00:04:20.720> India<00:04:21.000> today<00:04:21.919> you'll<00:04:22.120> see<00:04:22.479> that
at a map of India today you'll see that
at a map of India today you'll see that
most<00:04:22.840> of<00:04:22.960> the<00:04:23.120> languages<00:04:23.639> spoken<00:04:23.880> in<00:04:24.000> North
most of the languages spoken in North
most of the languages spoken in North
India<00:04:25.000> belong<00:04:25.320> to<00:04:25.479> the<00:04:25.600> Indo<00:04:25.880> European
India belong to the Indo European
India belong to the Indo European
language<00:04:26.720> family<00:04:27.240> so<00:04:27.440> some<00:04:27.639> people<00:04:27.919> believe
language family so some people believe
language family so some people believe
that<00:04:28.520> the<00:04:28.639> indos<00:04:29.080> script<00:04:29.680> represents<00:04:30.080> an
that the indos script represents an
that the indos script represents an
ancient<00:04:30.639> Indo-European<00:04:31.360> language<00:04:31.759> such<00:04:31.960> as
ancient Indo-European language such as
ancient Indo-European language such as
Sanskrit<00:04:33.199> now<00:04:33.400> there's<00:04:33.600> a<00:04:34.000> last<00:04:34.280> group<00:04:34.479> of
Sanskrit now there's a last group of
Sanskrit now there's a last group of
people<00:04:34.880> who<00:04:35.039> believe<00:04:35.800> that<00:04:36.000> the<00:04:36.160> Indus<00:04:36.759> people
people who believe that the Indus people
people who believe that the Indus people
were<00:04:37.639> the<00:04:37.840> ancestors<00:04:38.360> of<00:04:38.560> people<00:04:38.800> living<00:04:39.039> in
were the ancestors of people living in
were the ancestors of people living in
South<00:04:39.479> India<00:04:39.759> today<00:04:40.479> now<00:04:40.720> these<00:04:40.919> people
South India today now these people
South India today now these people
believe<00:04:41.520> that<00:04:41.680> the<00:04:41.800> indos<00:04:42.199> script<00:04:43.000> represents
believe that the indos script represents
believe that the indos script represents
an<00:04:43.520> ancient<00:04:43.919> form<00:04:44.320> of<00:04:44.560> the<00:04:44.720> dravidian
an ancient form of the dravidian
an ancient form of the dravidian
language<00:04:45.880> family<00:04:46.680> which<00:04:46.840> is<00:04:47.000> the<00:04:47.160> language
language family which is the language
language family which is the language
family<00:04:47.800> spoken<00:04:48.199> in<00:04:48.360> much<00:04:48.479> of<00:04:48.680> South<00:04:48.919> India
family spoken in much of South India
family spoken in much of South India
today<00:04:50.280> and<00:04:50.560> the<00:04:50.720> proponents<00:04:51.120> of<00:04:51.240> this<00:04:51.360> Theory
today and the proponents of this Theory
today and the proponents of this Theory
point<00:04:51.919> to<00:04:52.120> that<00:04:52.360> small<00:04:52.759> pocket<00:04:53.120> of<00:04:53.320> dravidian
point to that small pocket of dravidian
point to that small pocket of dravidian
speaking<00:04:54.080> people<00:04:54.240> in<00:04:54.360> the<00:04:54.479> north<00:04:54.800> actually
speaking people in the north actually
speaking people in the north actually
near<00:04:55.800> Afghanistan<00:04:56.800> and<00:04:57.080> they<00:04:57.440> say<00:04:57.759> that
near Afghanistan and they say that
near Afghanistan and they say that
perhaps<00:04:58.880> sometime<00:04:59.199> in<00:04:59.280> the<00:04:59.400> past<00:04:59.680> past
perhaps sometime in the past past
perhaps sometime in the past past
dravidian<00:05:00.639> languages<00:05:01.080> were<00:05:01.240> spoken<00:05:01.639> all<00:05:01.840> over
dravidian languages were spoken all over
dravidian languages were spoken all over
India<00:05:02.960> and<00:05:03.199> that<00:05:03.600> this<00:05:04.039> suggests<00:05:04.520> that<00:05:04.680> the
India and that this suggests that the
India and that this suggests that the
Indus<00:05:05.600> civilizations<00:05:06.400> perhaps<00:05:07.039> also
Indus civilizations perhaps also
Indus civilizations perhaps also
dravidian<00:05:08.039> now<00:05:08.199> which<00:05:08.360> of<00:05:08.479> these<00:05:08.720> hypotheses
dravidian now which of these hypotheses
dravidian now which of these hypotheses
can<00:05:09.880> be<00:05:10.039> true<00:05:10.800> we<00:05:10.919> don't<00:05:11.080> know<00:05:11.280> but<00:05:11.440> perhaps<00:05:11.800> if
can be true we don't know but perhaps if
can be true we don't know but perhaps if
you<00:05:12.080> decipher<00:05:12.560> the<00:05:12.639> script<00:05:12.880> you<00:05:12.960> would<00:05:13.080> be
you decipher the script you would be
you decipher the script you would be
able<00:05:13.320> to<00:05:13.479> answer<00:05:13.759> this<00:05:13.919> question<00:05:14.600> but
able to answer this question but
able to answer this question but
deciphering<00:05:15.199> the<00:05:15.320> script<00:05:15.919> is<00:05:16.400> a<00:05:16.520> very
deciphering the script is a very
deciphering the script is a very
challenging<00:05:17.160> Tex<00:05:17.520> first<00:05:17.680> there's<00:05:17.880> no<00:05:18.000> Rosetta
challenging Tex first there's no Rosetta
challenging Tex first there's no Rosetta
Stone<00:05:19.120> well<00:05:19.240> I<00:05:19.319> don't<00:05:19.479> mean<00:05:19.680> the<00:05:19.840> software<00:05:20.280> I
Stone well I don't mean the software I
Stone well I don't mean the software I
mean<00:05:20.639> an<00:05:20.800> ancient<00:05:21.479> artifact<00:05:22.479> that<00:05:22.840> contains
mean an ancient artifact that contains
mean an ancient artifact that contains
the<00:05:24.000> same<00:05:24.319> text<00:05:24.639> in<00:05:24.840> both<00:05:25.680> a<00:05:25.880> known<00:05:26.199> text<00:05:26.639> and
the same text in both a known text and
the same text in both a known text and
in<00:05:26.840> an<00:05:27.000> unknown<00:05:27.400> text<00:05:28.080> so<00:05:28.199> we<00:05:28.319> don't<00:05:28.520> have<00:05:28.680> such
in an unknown text so we don't have such
in an unknown text so we don't have such
an<00:05:28.960> artifact<00:05:29.560> for<00:05:29.680> the<00:05:29.880> indos<00:05:30.240> script<00:05:30.680> and
an artifact for the indos script and
an artifact for the indos script and
furthermore<00:05:31.319> we<00:05:31.400> don't<00:05:31.560> even<00:05:31.759> know<00:05:31.960> what
furthermore we don't even know what
furthermore we don't even know what
language<00:05:32.479> they<00:05:32.639> spoke<00:05:33.360> and<00:05:33.520> to<00:05:33.639> make<00:05:33.800> matters
language they spoke and to make matters
language they spoke and to make matters
even<00:05:34.400> worse<00:05:35.120> most<00:05:35.319> of<00:05:35.520> the<00:05:35.800> texts<00:05:36.080> that<00:05:36.240> we
even worse most of the texts that we
even worse most of the texts that we
have<00:05:36.560> are<00:05:36.759> extremely<00:05:37.120> short<00:05:37.440> so<00:05:37.600> as<00:05:37.720> I<00:05:37.800> showed
have are extremely short so as I showed
have are extremely short so as I showed
you<00:05:38.280> they're<00:05:38.680> usually<00:05:38.960> found<00:05:39.199> on<00:05:39.360> these<00:05:39.520> seals
you they're usually found on these seals
you they're usually found on these seals
that<00:05:40.000> are<00:05:40.160> very<00:05:40.319> very<00:05:40.560> tiny<00:05:41.440> and<00:05:41.560> so<00:05:41.759> given
that are very very tiny and so given
that are very very tiny and so given
these<00:05:42.560> formidable<00:05:43.120> obstacles<00:05:43.600> one<00:05:43.759> might
these formidable obstacles one might
these formidable obstacles one might
wonder<00:05:44.919> and<00:05:45.120> worry<00:05:46.080> whether<00:05:46.319> one<00:05:46.479> will<00:05:46.680> ever
wonder and worry whether one will ever
wonder and worry whether one will ever
be<00:05:47.039> able<00:05:47.199> to<00:05:47.360> decipher<00:05:47.759> the<00:05:47.840> IND<00:05:48.000> the<00:05:48.160> script
be able to decipher the IND the script
be able to decipher the IND the script
so<00:05:49.039> in<00:05:49.160> the<00:05:49.360> rest<00:05:49.560> of<00:05:49.720> my<00:05:49.840> talk<00:05:50.039> I'd<00:05:50.160> like<00:05:50.280> to
so in the rest of my talk I'd like to
so in the rest of my talk I'd like to
tell<00:05:50.520> you<00:05:50.680> about<00:05:50.880> how<00:05:51.039> I<00:05:51.199> learned<00:05:51.479> to<00:05:51.639> stop
tell you about how I learned to stop
tell you about how I learned to stop
worrying<00:05:52.600> and<00:05:52.720> love<00:05:52.960> the<00:05:53.080> challenge<00:05:53.560> posted
worrying and love the challenge posted
worrying and love the challenge posted
by<00:05:53.919> the<00:05:54.000> indes<00:05:54.319> script<00:05:55.120> now<00:05:55.280> I've<00:05:55.440> always<00:05:55.639> been
by the indes script now I've always been
by the indes script now I've always been
fascinated<00:05:56.319> by<00:05:56.440> the<00:05:56.520> indes<00:05:56.919> script<00:05:57.600> ever
fascinated by the indes script ever
fascinated by the indes script ever
since<00:05:58.000> I<00:05:58.120> read<00:05:58.280> about<00:05:58.440> it<00:05:58.600> in<00:05:58.680> a<00:05:58.840> middle<00:05:59.120> school
since I read about it in a middle school
since I read about it in a middle school
textbook<00:06:00.680> and<00:06:00.840> why<00:06:00.960> was<00:06:01.080> that<00:06:01.240> fascinated
textbook and why was that fascinated
textbook and why was that fascinated
well<00:06:01.919> it's<00:06:02.160> the<00:06:02.400> last<00:06:02.720> major<00:06:03.000> undeciphered
well it's the last major undeciphered
well it's the last major undeciphered
script<00:06:04.000> in<00:06:04.080> the<00:06:04.199> ancient<00:06:04.560> world<00:06:05.400> now<00:06:06.199> my
script in the ancient world now my
script in the ancient world now my
career<00:06:07.120> path<00:06:07.440> led<00:06:07.599> me<00:06:07.720> to<00:06:07.880> become<00:06:08.080> a
career path led me to become a
career path led me to become a
computational<00:06:08.680> neuroscientist<00:06:09.280> so<00:06:09.400> in<00:06:09.520> my
computational neuroscientist so in my
computational neuroscientist so in my
day<00:06:09.919> job<00:06:10.919> I<00:06:11.080> create<00:06:11.400> computer<00:06:11.759> models<00:06:12.080> of<00:06:12.240> the
day job I create computer models of the
day job I create computer models of the
brain<00:06:12.639> to<00:06:12.800> try<00:06:12.960> to<00:06:13.319> understand<00:06:13.440> how<00:06:13.599> the<00:06:13.759> brain
brain to try to understand how the brain
brain to try to understand how the brain
makes<00:06:14.720> predictions<00:06:15.319> how<00:06:15.520> the<00:06:15.680> brain<00:06:16.160> makes
makes predictions how the brain makes
makes predictions how the brain makes
decisions<00:06:17.360> how<00:06:17.520> the<00:06:17.639> brain<00:06:17.880> learns<00:06:18.360> and<00:06:18.479> so<00:06:18.639> on
decisions how the brain learns and so on
decisions how the brain learns and so on
but<00:06:19.560> in<00:06:20.000> 2007<00:06:21.000> my<00:06:21.199> path<00:06:21.400> crossed<00:06:21.759> again<00:06:21.960> with
but in 2007 my path crossed again with
but in 2007 my path crossed again with
the<00:06:22.160> indos<00:06:22.520> script<00:06:22.960> that's<00:06:23.120> when<00:06:23.319> I<00:06:23.440> was<00:06:23.599> in
the indos script that's when I was in
the indos script that's when I was in
India<00:06:24.680> and<00:06:24.919> I<00:06:25.039> had<00:06:25.160> the<00:06:25.240> wonderful
India and I had the wonderful
India and I had the wonderful
opportunity<00:06:26.000> to<00:06:26.120> meet<00:06:26.520> with<00:06:26.720> some<00:06:27.080> Indian
opportunity to meet with some Indian
opportunity to meet with some Indian
scientists<00:06:28.360> who<00:06:28.479> were<00:06:28.639> using<00:06:28.960> computer
scientists who were using computer
scientists who were using computer
models<00:06:29.840> to<00:06:30.000> try<00:06:30.120> to<00:06:30.319> analyze<00:06:30.680> the<00:06:30.840> script<00:06:31.599> and
models to try to analyze the script and
models to try to analyze the script and
so<00:06:31.840> it<00:06:31.919> was<00:06:32.120> then<00:06:32.960> that<00:06:33.240> I<00:06:33.360> realized<00:06:33.720> it<00:06:33.840> was<00:06:33.919> an
so it was then that I realized it was an
so it was then that I realized it was an
opportunity<00:06:34.479> for<00:06:34.639> me<00:06:34.840> to<00:06:35.080> collaborate<00:06:35.520> with
opportunity for me to collaborate with
opportunity for me to collaborate with
these<00:06:36.039> scientists<00:06:36.560> and<00:06:36.680> so<00:06:36.919> I<00:06:37.039> jumped<00:06:37.280> at<00:06:37.440> that
these scientists and so I jumped at that
these scientists and so I jumped at that
opportunity<00:06:38.599> and<00:06:38.800> I'd<00:06:38.960> like<00:06:39.120> to<00:06:39.479> describe
opportunity and I'd like to describe
opportunity and I'd like to describe
some<00:06:39.919> of<00:06:40.000> the<00:06:40.120> results<00:06:40.440> that<00:06:40.560> we<00:06:40.680> have<00:06:40.800> found
some of the results that we have found
some of the results that we have found
or<00:06:41.440> better<00:06:41.800> yet<00:06:42.680> let's<00:06:42.880> talk<00:06:43.160> collectively
or better yet let's talk collectively
or better yet let's talk collectively
decipher<00:06:44.639> you<00:06:44.840> ready<00:06:45.720> the<00:06:45.880> first<00:06:46.160> thing<00:06:46.400> that
decipher you ready the first thing that
decipher you ready the first thing that
you<00:06:46.599> need<00:06:46.759> to<00:06:46.880> do<00:06:47.000> when<00:06:47.080> you<00:06:47.199> have<00:06:47.280> an
you need to do when you have an
you need to do when you have an
undeciphered<00:06:47.960> script<00:06:48.280> is<00:06:48.400> try<00:06:48.560> to<00:06:48.680> figure<00:06:48.880> out
undeciphered script is try to figure out
undeciphered script is try to figure out
the<00:06:49.160> direction<00:06:49.479> of<00:06:49.639> writing<00:06:50.400> so<00:06:50.560> here<00:06:50.680> are<00:06:50.880> two
the direction of writing so here are two
the direction of writing so here are two
texts<00:06:51.960> that<00:06:52.120> contain<00:06:52.599> some<00:06:52.759> symbols<00:06:53.120> on<00:06:53.280> them
texts that contain some symbols on them
texts that contain some symbols on them
so<00:06:53.919> can<00:06:54.039> you<00:06:54.199> tell<00:06:54.400> me<00:06:54.919> if<00:06:55.039> the<00:06:55.199> direction<00:06:55.520> of
so can you tell me if the direction of
so can you tell me if the direction of
writing<00:06:56.560> is<00:06:56.800> right<00:06:57.000> to<00:06:57.240> left<00:06:57.520> or<00:06:57.680> left<00:06:57.879> to
writing is right to left or left to
writing is right to left or left to
right<00:06:59.080> I'll<00:06:59.199> give<00:06:59.319> you<00:06:59.360> give<00:06:59.520> a<00:06:59.560> couple<00:06:59.759> of
right I'll give you give a couple of
right I'll give you give a couple of
seconds<00:07:02.280> okay<00:07:02.720> right<00:07:02.879> to<00:07:03.080> left<00:07:03.319> how<00:07:03.879> many<00:07:04.879> okay
seconds okay right to left how many okay
seconds okay right to left how many okay
left<00:07:05.960> to<00:07:06.199> right<00:07:06.960> oh<00:07:07.160> it's<00:07:07.360> almost<00:07:07.599> 50/50<00:07:08.400> okay
left to right oh it's almost 50/50 okay
left to right oh it's almost 50/50 okay
so<00:07:09.280> the<00:07:09.479> answer<00:07:09.840> is<00:07:10.560> if<00:07:10.639> you<00:07:10.759> look<00:07:10.919> at<00:07:11.039> the<00:07:11.199> left
so the answer is if you look at the left
so the answer is if you look at the left
hand<00:07:11.759> side<00:07:12.199> of<00:07:12.440> the<00:07:12.599> two<00:07:12.879> texts<00:07:13.120> you'll<00:07:13.319> notice
hand side of the two texts you'll notice
hand side of the two texts you'll notice
that<00:07:13.680> there's<00:07:13.840> a<00:07:14.000> cramping<00:07:14.479> of<00:07:14.720> signs<00:07:15.720> and<00:07:15.879> it
that there's a cramping of signs and it
that there's a cramping of signs and it
seems<00:07:16.639> like<00:07:17.039> 4,000<00:07:17.639> years<00:07:17.879> ago<00:07:18.080> when<00:07:18.199> the
seems like 4,000 years ago when the
seems like 4,000 years ago when the
Scribe<00:07:18.680> was<00:07:18.800> writing<00:07:19.120> from<00:07:19.319> right<00:07:19.479> to<00:07:19.680> left
Scribe was writing from right to left
Scribe was writing from right to left
they<00:07:20.360> ran<00:07:20.560> out<00:07:20.720> of<00:07:20.960> space<00:07:21.840> and<00:07:21.919> so<00:07:22.160> they<00:07:22.280> had<00:07:22.400> to
they ran out of space and so they had to
they ran out of space and so they had to
cram<00:07:22.840> the<00:07:22.960> signs<00:07:23.240> and<00:07:23.360> one<00:07:23.479> of<00:07:23.560> the<00:07:23.639> signs<00:07:23.879> is
cram the signs and one of the signs is
cram the signs and one of the signs is
also<00:07:24.479> below<00:07:24.879> the<00:07:25.120> the<00:07:25.240> text<00:07:25.479> on<00:07:25.599> the<00:07:25.759> top<00:07:25.960> and
also below the the text on the top and
also below the the text on the top and
so<00:07:26.199> this<00:07:26.319> suggests<00:07:26.759> the<00:07:26.840> direction<00:07:27.120> of
so this suggests the direction of
so this suggests the direction of
writing<00:07:27.520> was<00:07:27.759> probably<00:07:28.120> from<00:07:28.360> right<00:07:28.520> to<00:07:28.720> left
writing was probably from right to left
writing was probably from right to left
and<00:07:29.560> so<00:07:30.000> that's<00:07:30.199> one<00:07:30.319> of<00:07:30.400> the<00:07:30.479> first<00:07:30.680> things<00:07:30.840> we
and so that's one of the first things we
and so that's one of the first things we
know<00:07:31.440> directionality<00:07:32.440> is<00:07:32.639> a<00:07:32.800> very<00:07:33.039> key<00:07:33.400> aspect
know directionality is a very key aspect
know directionality is a very key aspect
of<00:07:34.000> linguistic<00:07:34.520> scripts<00:07:35.240> and<00:07:35.360> the<00:07:35.479> indos
of linguistic scripts and the indos
of linguistic scripts and the indos
script<00:07:36.240> now<00:07:36.680> has<00:07:36.840> this<00:07:37.160> particular<00:07:37.560> property
script now has this particular property
script now has this particular property
what<00:07:38.280> are<00:07:38.440> the<00:07:38.560> properties<00:07:38.919> of<00:07:39.120> language<00:07:39.479> does
what are the properties of language does
what are the properties of language does
it<00:07:40.000> show<00:07:41.000> so<00:07:41.199> languages<00:07:41.680> contain<00:07:42.120> patterns
it show so languages contain patterns
it show so languages contain patterns
right<00:07:43.039> so<00:07:43.160> if<00:07:43.240> I<00:07:43.360> give<00:07:43.479> you<00:07:43.599> the<00:07:43.720> letter<00:07:44.039> q<00:07:44.759> and
right so if I give you the letter q and
right so if I give you the letter q and
I<00:07:45.000> ask<00:07:45.159> you<00:07:45.280> to<00:07:45.440> predict<00:07:45.680> the<00:07:45.800> next<00:07:46.039> letter
I ask you to predict the next letter
I ask you to predict the next letter
what<00:07:46.680> do<00:07:46.759> you<00:07:46.879> think<00:07:47.000> that<00:07:47.120> would<00:07:47.280> be<00:07:47.919> most<00:07:48.080> of
what do you think that would be most of
what do you think that would be most of
you<00:07:48.319> said<00:07:48.599> U<00:07:49.120> which<00:07:49.240> is<00:07:49.520> right<00:07:50.400> now<00:07:50.599> if<00:07:50.720> I<00:07:50.840> ask
you said U which is right now if I ask
you said U which is right now if I ask
you<00:07:51.039> to<00:07:51.159> predict<00:07:51.400> one<00:07:51.520> more<00:07:51.720> letter<00:07:51.960> what<00:07:52.039> do
you to predict one more letter what do
you to predict one more letter what do
you<00:07:52.199> think<00:07:52.360> that<00:07:52.440> would<00:07:52.639> be<00:07:53.240> now<00:07:53.400> there<00:07:53.479> are
you think that would be now there are
you think that would be now there are
several<00:07:54.080> possibilities<00:07:54.599> e<00:07:55.039> it<00:07:55.199> could<00:07:55.319> be<00:07:55.479> I<00:07:55.759> it
several possibilities e it could be I it
several possibilities e it could be I it
could<00:07:55.960> be<00:07:56.120> a<00:07:56.560> but<00:07:56.720> certainly<00:07:57.120> not<00:07:57.879> B<00:07:58.199> C<00:07:58.479> or<00:07:58.639> D
could be a but certainly not B C or D
could be a but certainly not B C or D
right<00:07:59.360> right<00:07:59.919> now<00:08:00.080> the<00:08:00.199> indes<00:08:00.599> script<00:08:00.879> also
right right now the indes script also
right right now the indes script also
exhibits<00:08:01.560> similar<00:08:01.879> kinds<00:08:02.080> of<00:08:02.199> patterns<00:08:02.599> so
exhibits similar kinds of patterns so
exhibits similar kinds of patterns so
there's<00:08:03.159> a<00:08:03.280> lot<00:08:03.400> of<00:08:03.520> text<00:08:03.800> that<00:08:03.919> start<00:08:04.159> with
there's a lot of text that start with
there's a lot of text that start with
this<00:08:04.400> diamond<00:08:04.680> shaped<00:08:05.000> symbol<00:08:05.599> and<00:08:05.759> this<00:08:05.879> in
this diamond shaped symbol and this in
this diamond shaped symbol and this in
turn<00:08:06.360> tends<00:08:06.599> to<00:08:06.720> be<00:08:06.840> followed<00:08:07.479> by<00:08:07.840> this
turn tends to be followed by this
turn tends to be followed by this
quotation<00:08:08.440> marks<00:08:08.840> like<00:08:09.039> symbol<00:08:09.520> and<00:08:09.639> this<00:08:09.720> is
quotation marks like symbol and this is
quotation marks like symbol and this is
very<00:08:10.000> similar<00:08:10.280> to<00:08:10.400> a<00:08:10.560> q<00:08:10.759> andu<00:08:11.159> example<00:08:11.800> this
very similar to a q andu example this
very similar to a q andu example this
symbol<00:08:12.240> can<00:08:12.360> in<00:08:12.440> turn<00:08:12.680> be<00:08:12.800> followed<00:08:13.159> by<00:08:13.319> these
symbol can in turn be followed by these
symbol can in turn be followed by these
fish<00:08:14.039> like<00:08:14.319> symbols<00:08:15.199> and<00:08:15.360> some<00:08:15.560> other<00:08:15.759> signs
fish like symbols and some other signs
fish like symbols and some other signs
but<00:08:16.440> never<00:08:16.800> by<00:08:17.120> these<00:08:17.360> other<00:08:17.599> signs<00:08:18.319> at<00:08:18.440> the
but never by these other signs at the
but never by these other signs at the
bottom<00:08:19.159> and<00:08:19.319> furthermore<00:08:19.879> there's<00:08:20.120> some
bottom and furthermore there's some
bottom and furthermore there's some
signs<00:08:20.639> that<00:08:20.840> really<00:08:21.120> prefer<00:08:21.599> the<00:08:21.840> end<00:08:22.120> of<00:08:22.319> text
signs that really prefer the end of text
signs that really prefer the end of text
such<00:08:22.840> as<00:08:23.000> this<00:08:23.280> jar-shaped<00:08:23.960> sign<00:08:24.960> and<00:08:25.319> this
such as this jar-shaped sign and this
such as this jar-shaped sign and this
sign<00:08:25.759> in<00:08:25.919> fact<00:08:26.159> happens<00:08:26.400> to<00:08:26.520> be<00:08:26.680> also<00:08:26.840> the<00:08:27.000> most
sign in fact happens to be also the most
sign in fact happens to be also the most
frequently<00:08:27.599> occurring<00:08:28.039> sign<00:08:28.400> in<00:08:28.560> the<00:08:28.759> script
frequently occurring sign in the script
frequently occurring sign in the script
now<00:08:29.599> given<00:08:29.879> such<00:08:30.120> patterns<00:08:30.560> here<00:08:30.680> was<00:08:30.840> our
now given such patterns here was our
now given such patterns here was our
idea<00:08:31.759> right<00:08:31.879> so<00:08:32.000> the<00:08:32.120> idea<00:08:32.360> was<00:08:32.479> to<00:08:32.599> use<00:08:32.719> a
idea right so the idea was to use a
idea right so the idea was to use a
computer<00:08:33.800> to<00:08:34.080> learn<00:08:34.519> these<00:08:34.760> patterns<00:08:35.560> and<00:08:35.680> so
computer to learn these patterns and so
computer to learn these patterns and so
we<00:08:36.000> gave<00:08:36.159> the<00:08:36.279> computer<00:08:36.640> the<00:08:36.839> existing<00:08:37.320> text
we gave the computer the existing text
we gave the computer the existing text
and<00:08:38.479> the<00:08:38.599> computer<00:08:38.919> learned<00:08:39.200> a<00:08:39.360> statistical
and the computer learned a statistical
and the computer learned a statistical
model<00:08:40.200> of<00:08:40.399> which<00:08:40.599> symbols<00:08:41.000> tend<00:08:41.159> to<00:08:41.279> occur
model of which symbols tend to occur
model of which symbols tend to occur
together<00:08:42.360> and<00:08:42.519> which<00:08:42.719> symbols<00:08:43.159> tend<00:08:43.320> to
together and which symbols tend to
together and which symbols tend to
follow<00:08:43.800> each<00:08:43.959> other<00:08:44.480> now<00:08:44.600> given<00:08:44.839> the<00:08:44.920> computer
follow each other now given the computer
follow each other now given the computer
model<00:08:45.800> we<00:08:45.880> can<00:08:46.040> test<00:08:46.279> the<00:08:46.440> model<00:08:47.399> by
model we can test the model by
model we can test the model by
essentially<00:08:48.519> quizzing<00:08:48.920> it<00:08:49.320> so<00:08:49.480> we<00:08:49.600> could
essentially quizzing it so we could
essentially quizzing it so we could
deliberately<00:08:50.800> erase<00:08:51.160> some<00:08:51.360> symbols<00:08:52.200> and<00:08:52.320> we
deliberately erase some symbols and we
deliberately erase some symbols and we
can<00:08:52.680> ask<00:08:52.920> it<00:08:53.440> to<00:08:53.640> predict<00:08:53.959> the<00:08:54.080> missing
can ask it to predict the missing
can ask it to predict the missing
symbols<00:08:54.839> so<00:08:55.040> here<00:08:55.440> are<00:08:55.640> some
examples
so<00:09:01.560> you<00:09:01.640> may<00:09:01.880> regard<00:09:02.320> this<00:09:02.560> as<00:09:02.800> perhaps<00:09:03.160> the
so you may regard this as perhaps the
so you may regard this as perhaps the
most<00:09:03.680> ancient<00:09:04.640> game<00:09:05.200> of<00:09:05.519> The<00:09:05.600> Wheel<00:09:05.839> of
Fortune<00:09:09.160> so<00:09:09.360> what<00:09:09.519> we<00:09:09.680> found<00:09:10.160> was<00:09:10.600> that<00:09:11.000> the
Fortune so what we found was that the
Fortune so what we found was that the
computer<00:09:11.519> was<00:09:11.720> successful<00:09:12.160> in<00:09:12.360> 75%<00:09:13.120> of<00:09:13.240> the
computer was successful in 75% of the
computer was successful in 75% of the
cases<00:09:13.600> in<00:09:13.760> predicting<00:09:14.079> the<00:09:14.160> correct<00:09:14.399> symbol
cases in predicting the correct symbol
cases in predicting the correct symbol
now<00:09:15.240> in<00:09:15.360> the<00:09:15.480> rest<00:09:15.640> of<00:09:15.760> the<00:09:15.920> cases<00:09:16.600> typically
now in the rest of the cases typically
now in the rest of the cases typically
the<00:09:17.360> second<00:09:17.720> best<00:09:18.000> guess<00:09:18.200> or<00:09:18.320> the<00:09:18.440> third<00:09:18.680> best
the second best guess or the third best
the second best guess or the third best
guess<00:09:19.079> was<00:09:19.240> the<00:09:19.360> right<00:09:19.600> answer<00:09:20.279> now<00:09:20.399> there's
guess was the right answer now there's
guess was the right answer now there's
also<00:09:20.920> practical<00:09:21.320> use<00:09:21.680> for<00:09:21.920> this<00:09:22.120> particular
also practical use for this particular
also practical use for this particular
procedure<00:09:23.360> there's<00:09:23.560> a<00:09:23.680> lot<00:09:23.800> of<00:09:24.000> these<00:09:24.200> texts
procedure there's a lot of these texts
procedure there's a lot of these texts
that<00:09:24.640> are<00:09:24.880> damaged<00:09:25.399> so<00:09:25.560> here's<00:09:25.720> an<00:09:25.880> example<00:09:26.160> of
that are damaged so here's an example of
that are damaged so here's an example of
one<00:09:26.480> such<00:09:26.720> text<00:09:27.360> and<00:09:27.480> we<00:09:27.600> can<00:09:27.720> use<00:09:27.880> the
one such text and we can use the
one such text and we can use the
computer<00:09:28.399> model<00:09:28.720> now<00:09:28.880> to<00:09:29.200> to<00:09:29.560> try<00:09:29.720> to<00:09:29.920> complete
computer model now to to try to complete
computer model now to to try to complete
this<00:09:30.480> text<00:09:30.720> and<00:09:30.880> make<00:09:31.079> a<00:09:31.279> best<00:09:31.600> guess
this text and make a best guess
this text and make a best guess
prediction<00:09:32.720> so<00:09:32.880> here's<00:09:33.279> an<00:09:33.480> example<00:09:33.880> of<00:09:34.240> a
prediction so here's an example of a
prediction so here's an example of a
symbol<00:09:34.720> that<00:09:34.800> was<00:09:34.959> predicted<00:09:35.560> and<00:09:35.680> this<00:09:35.800> could
symbol that was predicted and this could
symbol that was predicted and this could
be<00:09:36.120> really<00:09:36.320> useful<00:09:36.760> as<00:09:36.920> we<00:09:37.279> try<00:09:37.440> to<00:09:37.600> decipher
be really useful as we try to decipher
be really useful as we try to decipher
the<00:09:38.200> script<00:09:38.399> by<00:09:38.519> generating<00:09:38.880> more<00:09:39.120> data<00:09:39.760> that
the script by generating more data that
the script by generating more data that
we<00:09:39.959> can<00:09:40.160> analyze<00:09:41.160> now<00:09:41.279> here's<00:09:41.519> one<00:09:41.680> other
we can analyze now here's one other
we can analyze now here's one other
thing<00:09:41.959> you<00:09:42.079> could<00:09:42.240> do<00:09:42.480> with<00:09:42.640> the<00:09:42.760> computer
thing you could do with the computer
thing you could do with the computer
model<00:09:43.920> so<00:09:44.160> imagine<00:09:44.760> a<00:09:45.160> monkey<00:09:46.000> sitting<00:09:46.320> at<00:09:46.440> a
model so imagine a monkey sitting at a
model so imagine a monkey sitting at a
keyboard<00:09:48.160> okay<00:09:48.279> you<00:09:48.360> might<00:09:48.519> get<00:09:48.600> a<00:09:48.760> random
keyboard okay you might get a random
keyboard okay you might get a random
jumble<00:09:49.360> of<00:09:49.480> letters<00:09:49.800> that<00:09:49.959> looks<00:09:50.200> like<00:09:50.440> this
jumble of letters that looks like this
jumble of letters that looks like this
now<00:09:51.399> such<00:09:51.560> a<00:09:51.720> random<00:09:52.000> jumble<00:09:52.320> of<00:09:52.440> letters<00:09:52.760> is
now such a random jumble of letters is
now such a random jumble of letters is
set<00:09:53.079> to<00:09:53.240> have<00:09:53.360> a<00:09:53.519> very<00:09:53.880> high<00:09:54.160> entropy<00:09:54.600> this<00:09:54.680> is
set to have a very high entropy this is
set to have a very high entropy this is
a<00:09:54.880> physics<00:09:55.160> and<00:09:55.320> information<00:09:55.760> Theory<00:09:56.000> term
a physics and information Theory term
a physics and information Theory term
but<00:09:56.640> just<00:09:56.839> imagine<00:09:57.160> it's<00:09:57.360> a<00:09:57.680> a<00:09:57.800> very<00:09:58.000> random
but just imagine it's a a very random
but just imagine it's a a very random
dumble<00:09:58.640> of<00:09:58.760> letters<00:09:59.600> now<00:09:59.760> how<00:09:59.839> many<00:10:00.000> of<00:10:00.079> you
dumble of letters now how many of you
dumble of letters now how many of you
have<00:10:00.360> ever<00:10:00.560> spilled<00:10:01.560> coffee<00:10:02.360> on<00:10:02.480> a<00:10:02.640> keyboard
have ever spilled coffee on a keyboard
have ever spilled coffee on a keyboard
you<00:10:03.760> might<00:10:04.000> have<00:10:04.160> encountered<00:10:04.560> the<00:10:04.680> stuck<00:10:05.000> key
you might have encountered the stuck key
you might have encountered the stuck key
problem<00:10:05.640> so<00:10:05.839> basically<00:10:06.160> the<00:10:06.360> same<00:10:06.839> symbol
problem so basically the same symbol
problem so basically the same symbol
being<00:10:07.399> repeated<00:10:07.760> over<00:10:07.880> and<00:10:08.000> over<00:10:08.240> again<00:10:08.720> now
being repeated over and over again now
being repeated over and over again now
this<00:10:09.120> kind<00:10:09.279> of<00:10:09.399> a<00:10:09.519> sequence<00:10:09.880> is<00:10:10.000> said<00:10:10.160> to<00:10:10.320> have
this kind of a sequence is said to have
this kind of a sequence is said to have
a<00:10:10.560> very<00:10:10.760> low<00:10:11.040> entropy<00:10:11.519> because<00:10:11.720> there's<00:10:11.959> no
a very low entropy because there's no
a very low entropy because there's no
variation<00:10:12.720> at<00:10:12.839> all<00:10:13.519> Now<00:10:13.760> language<00:10:14.200> on<00:10:14.320> the
variation at all Now language on the
variation at all Now language on the
other<00:10:14.640> hand<00:10:15.519> has<00:10:15.680> an<00:10:15.839> intermediate<00:10:16.320> level<00:10:16.519> of
other hand has an intermediate level of
other hand has an intermediate level of
entropy<00:10:17.079> it's<00:10:17.320> neither<00:10:17.560> too<00:10:17.800> rigid<00:10:18.440> nor<00:10:18.720> is<00:10:18.839> it
entropy it's neither too rigid nor is it
entropy it's neither too rigid nor is it
too<00:10:19.720> random<00:10:20.720> what<00:10:20.839> about<00:10:21.040> the<00:10:21.160> IND<00:10:21.399> the<00:10:21.560> script
too random what about the IND the script
too random what about the IND the script
so<00:10:22.720> here's<00:10:22.959> a<00:10:23.240> graph<00:10:23.920> that<00:10:24.079> plots<00:10:24.440> the
so here's a graph that plots the
so here's a graph that plots the
entropies<00:10:25.120> of<00:10:25.240> a<00:10:25.320> whole<00:10:25.480> bunch<00:10:25.640> of<00:10:25.760> sequences
entropies of a whole bunch of sequences
entropies of a whole bunch of sequences
so<00:10:26.320> at<00:10:26.399> the<00:10:26.519> very<00:10:26.800> top<00:10:27.040> you<00:10:27.279> find<00:10:28.160> the
so at the very top you find the
so at the very top you find the
uniformly<00:10:28.839> r<00:10:29.120> random<00:10:29.360> sequence<00:10:29.720> which<00:10:29.800> is<00:10:29.880> a
uniformly r random sequence which is a
uniformly r random sequence which is a
random<00:10:30.240> jumble<00:10:30.519> of<00:10:30.640> letters<00:10:31.160> and
random jumble of letters and
random jumble of letters and
interestingly<00:10:31.880> also<00:10:32.079> find<00:10:32.279> a<00:10:32.440> DNA<00:10:32.839> sequence
interestingly also find a DNA sequence
interestingly also find a DNA sequence
from<00:10:33.360> the<00:10:33.440> human<00:10:33.720> genome<00:10:34.519> and<00:10:34.839> instrumental
from the human genome and instrumental
from the human genome and instrumental
music<00:10:35.959> and<00:10:36.120> both<00:10:36.279> of<00:10:36.480> these<00:10:36.680> are<00:10:36.880> very<00:10:37.079> very
music and both of these are very very
music and both of these are very very
flexible<00:10:37.800> which<00:10:37.920> is<00:10:38.079> why<00:10:38.320> you<00:10:38.440> find<00:10:38.639> them<00:10:38.760> at<00:10:38.839> a
flexible which is why you find them at a
flexible which is why you find them at a
very<00:10:39.200> high<00:10:39.360> range<00:10:39.959> now<00:10:40.120> at<00:10:40.240> the<00:10:40.320> lower<00:10:40.560> end<00:10:40.760> of
very high range now at the lower end of
very high range now at the lower end of
the<00:10:41.040> scale<00:10:41.399> you<00:10:41.600> find<00:10:42.160> a<00:10:42.320> rigid<00:10:42.639> sequence<00:10:43.000> a
the scale you find a rigid sequence a
the scale you find a rigid sequence a
sequence<00:10:43.399> of<00:10:43.519> all<00:10:43.720> A's<00:10:44.519> and<00:10:44.680> you<00:10:44.800> also<00:10:45.079> find<00:10:45.240> a
sequence of all A's and you also find a
sequence of all A's and you also find a
computer<00:10:45.800> program<00:10:46.279> in<00:10:46.399> this<00:10:46.560> case<00:10:46.720> in<00:10:46.839> the
computer program in this case in the
computer program in this case in the
language<00:10:47.240> Fortran<00:10:48.040> which<00:10:48.160> obeys<00:10:48.600> really
language Fortran which obeys really
language Fortran which obeys really
strict<00:10:49.320> rules<00:10:50.320> linguistic<00:10:50.880> scripts<00:10:51.720> occupy
strict rules linguistic scripts occupy
strict rules linguistic scripts occupy
the<00:10:52.200> middle<00:10:52.480> range<00:10:53.399> now<00:10:53.560> what<00:10:53.720> about<00:10:53.920> the
the middle range now what about the
the middle range now what about the
indos<00:10:54.519> script<00:10:55.519> so<00:10:55.680> we<00:10:55.839> found<00:10:56.079> that<00:10:56.240> the<00:10:56.320> indos
indos script so we found that the indos
indos script so we found that the indos
script<00:10:57.000> actually<00:10:57.160> falls<00:10:57.519> within<00:10:57.760> the<00:10:57.920> range
script actually falls within the range
script actually falls within the range
of<00:10:58.320> the<00:10:58.440> linguistic<00:10:58.839> script<00:10:59.040> scripts<00:10:59.959> now
of the linguistic script scripts now
of the linguistic script scripts now
when<00:11:00.240> this<00:11:00.399> result<00:11:00.680> was<00:11:00.839> first<00:11:01.079> published<00:11:01.880> it
when this result was first published it
when this result was first published it
was<00:11:02.160> highly
was highly
was highly
controversial<00:11:04.600> there<00:11:04.720> were<00:11:05.000> people<00:11:05.480> who<00:11:05.600> were
controversial there were people who were
controversial there were people who were
raising<00:11:06.040> a<00:11:06.160> human<00:11:06.519> cribe<00:11:07.399> and<00:11:07.560> these<00:11:07.720> people
raising a human cribe and these people
raising a human cribe and these people
were<00:11:08.160> the<00:11:08.279> ones<00:11:08.600> who<00:11:08.800> believed<00:11:09.639> that<00:11:09.800> the
were the ones who believed that the
were the ones who believed that the
indos<00:11:10.360> script<00:11:10.959> does<00:11:11.160> not<00:11:11.399> represent<00:11:11.839> language
indos script does not represent language
indos script does not represent language
I<00:11:12.560> even<00:11:12.720> started<00:11:13.000> to<00:11:13.160> get<00:11:13.279> some<00:11:13.519> hate<00:11:13.720> mail<00:11:14.480> my
I even started to get some hate mail my
I even started to get some hate mail my
students<00:11:15.160> said<00:11:15.399> that<00:11:15.560> I<00:11:15.639> should<00:11:16.079> really
students said that I should really
students said that I should really
seriously<00:11:16.720> consider<00:11:17.079> getting<00:11:17.320> some
seriously consider getting some
seriously consider getting some
protection<00:11:19.079> now<00:11:19.200> who<00:11:19.320> would<00:11:19.480> have<00:11:19.680> thought
protection now who would have thought
protection now who would have thought
that<00:11:20.040> deciphering<00:11:21.040> could<00:11:21.200> be<00:11:21.320> a<00:11:21.440> dangerous
that deciphering could be a dangerous
that deciphering could be a dangerous
profession<00:11:23.560> now<00:11:23.680> what<00:11:23.800> does<00:11:23.959> this<00:11:24.120> result
profession now what does this result
profession now what does this result
really<00:11:24.720> show<00:11:25.720> it<00:11:25.880> shows<00:11:26.760> that<00:11:26.920> the<00:11:27.000> indos
really show it shows that the indos
really show it shows that the indos
script<00:11:27.600> shares<00:11:27.880> an<00:11:28.040> important<00:11:28.360> property<00:11:28.600> of
script shares an important property of
script shares an important property of
language<00:11:29.000> anguage<00:11:29.639> so<00:11:29.800> as<00:11:29.920> the<00:11:30.000> old<00:11:30.200> saying
language anguage so as the old saying
language anguage so as the old saying
goes<00:11:31.519> if<00:11:31.600> it<00:11:31.760> looks<00:11:31.959> like<00:11:32.040> a<00:11:32.160> linguistic
goes if it looks like a linguistic
goes if it looks like a linguistic
script<00:11:33.639> and<00:11:33.760> it<00:11:33.920> acts<00:11:34.120> like<00:11:34.240> a<00:11:34.320> linguistic
script and it acts like a linguistic
script and it acts like a linguistic
script<00:11:35.519> then<00:11:35.720> perhaps<00:11:36.040> we<00:11:36.200> may<00:11:36.360> have<00:11:36.480> a
script then perhaps we may have a
script then perhaps we may have a
linguistic<00:11:37.120> script<00:11:37.399> on<00:11:37.480> our<00:11:37.639> hands<00:11:38.480> so<00:11:38.680> what
linguistic script on our hands so what
linguistic script on our hands so what
other<00:11:39.399> evidence<00:11:39.760> is<00:11:39.920> there<00:11:40.120> that<00:11:40.240> the<00:11:40.399> script
other evidence is there that the script
other evidence is there that the script
could<00:11:40.920> actually<00:11:41.120> encode<00:11:41.680> language<00:11:42.680> well
could actually encode language well
could actually encode language well
linguistic<00:11:43.639> scripts<00:11:44.040> can<00:11:44.200> actually<00:11:44.399> encode
linguistic scripts can actually encode
linguistic scripts can actually encode
multiple<00:11:45.160> languages<00:11:45.639> so<00:11:45.800> for<00:11:45.959> example<00:11:46.399> here's
multiple languages so for example here's
multiple languages so for example here's
the<00:11:46.920> same<00:11:47.200> sentence<00:11:47.720> written<00:11:47.959> in<00:11:48.120> English<00:11:48.959> and
the same sentence written in English and
the same sentence written in English and
the<00:11:49.240> same<00:11:49.399> sentence<00:11:49.920> written<00:11:50.200> in<00:11:50.480> Dutch<00:11:50.839> using
the same sentence written in Dutch using
the same sentence written in Dutch using
the<00:11:51.279> same<00:11:51.480> letters<00:11:51.760> of<00:11:51.880> the<00:11:52.000> alphabet<00:11:52.800> now<00:11:53.040> if
the same letters of the alphabet now if
the same letters of the alphabet now if
you<00:11:53.399> don't<00:11:53.639> know<00:11:53.839> Dutch<00:11:54.079> and<00:11:54.200> you<00:11:54.279> only<00:11:54.480> know
you don't know Dutch and you only know
you don't know Dutch and you only know
English<00:11:55.560> and<00:11:55.680> I<00:11:55.920> give<00:11:56.079> you<00:11:56.600> some<00:11:56.800> words<00:11:57.079> in
English and I give you some words in
English and I give you some words in
Dutch<00:11:58.120> you'll<00:11:58.320> tell<00:11:58.480> me<00:11:58.680> that<00:11:59.000> these<00:11:59.200> words
Dutch you'll tell me that these words
Dutch you'll tell me that these words
contain<00:11:59.839> some<00:12:00.040> very<00:12:00.279> unusual<00:12:00.839> patterns<00:12:01.800> some
contain some very unusual patterns some
contain some very unusual patterns some
things<00:12:02.160> are<00:12:02.360> not<00:12:02.639> right<00:12:03.399> and<00:12:03.519> you'll<00:12:03.680> say
things are not right and you'll say
things are not right and you'll say
these<00:12:04.040> words<00:12:04.240> are<00:12:04.399> probably<00:12:04.680> not<00:12:04.839> English
these words are probably not English
these words are probably not English
words<00:12:05.760> now<00:12:05.920> the<00:12:06.079> same<00:12:06.320> thing<00:12:06.519> also<00:12:06.720> happens<00:12:07.040> in
words now the same thing also happens in
words now the same thing also happens in
the<00:12:07.240> case<00:12:07.399> of<00:12:07.480> the<00:12:07.560> indes<00:12:07.880> script<00:12:08.120> so<00:12:08.240> the
the case of the indes script so the
the case of the indes script so the
computer<00:12:09.320> found<00:12:10.120> several<00:12:10.560> texts<00:12:11.360> two<00:12:11.519> of<00:12:11.639> them
computer found several texts two of them
computer found several texts two of them
are<00:12:11.880> shown<00:12:12.200> here<00:12:12.800> that<00:12:12.920> have<00:12:13.120> very<00:12:13.360> unusual
are shown here that have very unusual
are shown here that have very unusual
patterns<00:12:14.680> so<00:12:14.920> for<00:12:15.120> example<00:12:15.639> the<00:12:15.800> first<00:12:16.079> text
patterns so for example the first text
patterns so for example the first text
there's<00:12:17.199> a<00:12:17.399> doubling<00:12:18.079> of<00:12:18.279> this<00:12:18.480> jar<00:12:18.839> shaped
there's a doubling of this jar shaped
there's a doubling of this jar shaped
sign<00:12:19.920> now<00:12:20.240> this<00:12:20.399> sign<00:12:20.760> is<00:12:20.959> the<00:12:21.199> most
sign now this sign is the most
sign now this sign is the most
frequently<00:12:21.959> occurring<00:12:22.440> sign<00:12:22.839> in<00:12:22.959> the<00:12:23.040> IND
frequently occurring sign in the IND
frequently occurring sign in the IND
script<00:12:24.000> and<00:12:24.120> it's<00:12:24.279> only<00:12:24.519> in<00:12:24.760> this<00:12:25.000> text<00:12:25.560> that
script and it's only in this text that
script and it's only in this text that
it<00:12:25.839> occurs<00:12:26.600> as<00:12:26.680> a<00:12:26.800> doubling<00:12:27.199> pair<00:12:28.160> so<00:12:28.399> why<00:12:28.480> is
it occurs as a doubling pair so why is
it occurs as a doubling pair so why is
that<00:12:29.040> the<00:12:29.199> case<00:12:30.000> we<00:12:30.160> went<00:12:30.360> back<00:12:30.480> and<00:12:30.600> looked<00:12:30.839> at
that the case we went back and looked at
that the case we went back and looked at
where<00:12:31.279> these<00:12:31.480> particular<00:12:32.000> texts<00:12:32.360> were<00:12:32.519> found
where these particular texts were found
where these particular texts were found
it<00:12:32.880> turns<00:12:33.160> out<00:12:33.680> that<00:12:33.800> they<00:12:33.920> were<00:12:34.079> found<00:12:34.399> very
it turns out that they were found very
it turns out that they were found very
very<00:12:34.880> far<00:12:35.120> away<00:12:35.880> from<00:12:36.079> the<00:12:36.199> Indus<00:12:36.560> Valley<00:12:36.880> they
very far away from the Indus Valley they
very far away from the Indus Valley they
were<00:12:37.120> found<00:12:37.639> in<00:12:37.959> present<00:12:38.320> day<00:12:38.560> Iraq<00:12:39.040> and<00:12:39.199> Iran
were found in present day Iraq and Iran
were found in present day Iraq and Iran
and<00:12:40.199> why<00:12:40.320> were<00:12:40.480> they<00:12:40.600> found<00:12:40.920> there<00:12:41.760> well<00:12:41.880> what
and why were they found there well what
and why were they found there well what
I<00:12:42.079> haven't<00:12:42.320> told<00:12:42.519> you<00:12:42.680> is<00:12:42.880> that<00:12:43.040> the<00:12:43.160> Indus
I haven't told you is that the Indus
I haven't told you is that the Indus
people<00:12:43.800> were<00:12:44.000> very<00:12:44.160> very<00:12:44.320> enterprising<00:12:45.040> they
people were very very enterprising they
people were very very enterprising they
used<00:12:45.480> to<00:12:45.760> trade<00:12:46.440> with<00:12:46.680> people<00:12:47.399> pretty<00:12:47.639> far
used to trade with people pretty far
used to trade with people pretty far
away<00:12:48.040> from<00:12:48.240> where<00:12:48.399> they<00:12:48.519> lived<00:12:49.040> and<00:12:49.160> so<00:12:49.320> in
away from where they lived and so in
away from where they lived and so in
this<00:12:49.680> case<00:12:50.120> they<00:12:50.240> were<00:12:50.440> traveling<00:12:50.920> by<00:12:51.079> sea<00:12:51.440> all
this case they were traveling by sea all
this case they were traveling by sea all
the<00:12:51.720> way<00:12:51.959> to<00:12:52.639> Mesopotamia<00:12:53.440> present<00:12:53.720> day<00:12:53.880> Iraq
the way to Mesopotamia present day Iraq
the way to Mesopotamia present day Iraq
and<00:12:55.120> what<00:12:55.240> seems<00:12:55.440> to<00:12:55.639> happen<00:12:56.000> here<00:12:56.399> is<00:12:56.560> that
and what seems to happen here is that
and what seems to happen here is that
the<00:12:56.839> indust<00:12:57.560> Traders<00:12:58.399> the<00:12:58.519> the<00:12:58.839> Merchants
the indust Traders the the Merchants
the indust Traders the the Merchants
were<00:12:59.600> using<00:12:59.880> the<00:13:00.079> script<00:13:00.360> to<00:13:00.519> write<00:13:00.680> a<00:13:00.839> foreign
were using the script to write a foreign
were using the script to write a foreign
language<00:13:02.120> it's<00:13:02.320> just<00:13:02.480> like<00:13:02.600> our<00:13:02.760> English<00:13:03.040> and
language it's just like our English and
language it's just like our English and
Dutch<00:13:03.519> example<00:13:04.240> and<00:13:04.399> that<00:13:04.480> would<00:13:04.680> explain<00:13:05.079> why
Dutch example and that would explain why
Dutch example and that would explain why
we<00:13:05.440> have<00:13:05.639> these<00:13:05.880> strange<00:13:06.320> patterns<00:13:07.000> that<00:13:07.120> are
we have these strange patterns that are
we have these strange patterns that are
very<00:13:07.440> different<00:13:07.800> from<00:13:08.000> the<00:13:08.160> kinds<00:13:08.360> of
very different from the kinds of
very different from the kinds of
patterns<00:13:08.839> you<00:13:09.000> see<00:13:09.519> in<00:13:09.680> the<00:13:09.839> texts<00:13:10.199> that<00:13:10.320> are
patterns you see in the texts that are
patterns you see in the texts that are
found<00:13:10.839> within<00:13:11.480> the<00:13:11.639> indis<00:13:12.040> value<00:13:12.680> so<00:13:12.880> this
found within the indis value so this
found within the indis value so this
suggests<00:13:13.560> the<00:13:13.720> same<00:13:13.959> script<00:13:14.320> the<00:13:14.399> indis
suggests the same script the indis
suggests the same script the indis
script<00:13:15.240> could<00:13:15.399> be<00:13:15.560> used<00:13:15.920> to<00:13:16.120> write<00:13:16.480> different
script could be used to write different
script could be used to write different
languages<00:13:17.880> the<00:13:18.000> results<00:13:18.320> we<00:13:18.480> have<00:13:18.600> so<00:13:18.800> far
languages the results we have so far
languages the results we have so far
seem<00:13:19.199> to<00:13:19.320> point<00:13:19.519> to<00:13:19.680> the<00:13:20.000> conclusion<00:13:21.000> that<00:13:21.160> the
seem to point to the conclusion that the
seem to point to the conclusion that the
IND<00:13:21.720> script<00:13:22.360> probably<00:13:22.800> does<00:13:23.040> represent
IND script probably does represent
IND script probably does represent
language<00:13:24.079> so<00:13:24.199> if<00:13:24.279> it<00:13:24.399> does<00:13:24.600> represent
language so if it does represent
language so if it does represent
language<00:13:25.959> then<00:13:26.639> how<00:13:26.720> do<00:13:26.880> we<00:13:27.000> read<00:13:27.199> the<00:13:27.320> symbol
language then how do we read the symbol
language then how do we read the symbol
that's<00:13:27.800> our<00:13:28.000> next<00:13:28.199> big<00:13:28.360> challenge<00:13:28.839> so<00:13:28.959> you'll
that's our next big challenge so you'll
that's our next big challenge so you'll
notice<00:13:29.440> that<00:13:29.600> many<00:13:29.800> of<00:13:29.920> the<00:13:30.040> symbols<00:13:30.959> look
notice that many of the symbols look
notice that many of the symbols look
like<00:13:31.560> pictures<00:13:32.000> of<00:13:32.240> humans<00:13:33.199> of<00:13:33.560> insects<00:13:34.560> of
like pictures of humans of insects of
like pictures of humans of insects of
fishes<00:13:35.839> of<00:13:36.040> birds<00:13:37.040> so<00:13:37.279> most<00:13:37.600> ancient<00:13:38.120> scripts
fishes of birds so most ancient scripts
fishes of birds so most ancient scripts
use<00:13:39.399> the<00:13:39.519> Rebus<00:13:40.079> principle<00:13:41.079> which<00:13:41.240> is<00:13:41.680> using
use the Rebus principle which is using
use the Rebus principle which is using
pictures<00:13:43.000> to<00:13:43.199> represent<00:13:43.760> words<00:13:44.279> so<00:13:44.440> as<00:13:44.560> an
pictures to represent words so as an
pictures to represent words so as an
example<00:13:45.519> here's<00:13:45.720> a<00:13:45.920> word<00:13:46.839> can<00:13:46.959> you<00:13:47.160> write<00:13:47.320> it
example here's a word can you write it
example here's a word can you write it
using<00:13:47.839> pictures<00:13:48.720> I'll<00:13:48.880> give<00:13:48.959> you<00:13:49.040> a<00:13:49.120> couple<00:13:49.320> of
using pictures I'll give you a couple of
using pictures I'll give you a couple of
seconds<00:13:51.639> got<00:13:52.079> it<00:13:53.079> okay<00:13:53.320> great<00:13:54.040> so<00:13:54.680> here's<00:13:54.959> my
seconds got it okay great so here's my
seconds got it okay great so here's my
solution<00:13:55.560> so<00:13:55.680> you<00:13:55.759> could<00:13:55.880> use<00:13:56.040> the<00:13:56.160> picture<00:13:56.399> of
solution so you could use the picture of
solution so you could use the picture of
a<00:13:56.680> bee<00:13:57.279> followed<00:13:57.639> by<00:13:57.839> picture<00:13:58.120> of<00:13:58.240> a<00:13:58.320> leaf<00:13:58.560> and
a bee followed by picture of a leaf and
a bee followed by picture of a leaf and
that's<00:13:59.000> belief<00:13:59.720> right<00:14:00.399> it<00:14:00.560> could<00:14:00.680> be<00:14:00.959> other
that's belief right it could be other
that's belief right it could be other
Solutions<00:14:02.199> now<00:14:02.360> in<00:14:02.480> the<00:14:02.600> case<00:14:02.800> of<00:14:02.920> the<00:14:03.040> IND
Solutions now in the case of the IND
Solutions now in the case of the IND
descript<00:14:04.399> the<00:14:05.079> problem<00:14:05.399> is<00:14:05.519> the<00:14:05.680> reverse<00:14:06.160> so
descript the problem is the reverse so
descript the problem is the reverse so
you<00:14:06.480> have<00:14:06.600> to<00:14:06.800> figure<00:14:07.040> out<00:14:07.240> the<00:14:07.440> sounds<00:14:08.240> of
you have to figure out the sounds of
you have to figure out the sounds of
each<00:14:08.560> of<00:14:08.680> these<00:14:08.880> pictures<00:14:09.279> such<00:14:09.600> that<00:14:09.759> the
each of these pictures such that the
each of these pictures such that the
entire<00:14:10.360> sequence<00:14:11.160> makes<00:14:11.440> sense<00:14:12.040> so<00:14:12.240> this<00:14:12.320> is
entire sequence makes sense so this is
entire sequence makes sense so this is
just<00:14:12.680> like<00:14:12.759> a<00:14:12.920> crossword<00:14:13.440> puzzle<00:14:14.440> except<00:14:15.160> that
just like a crossword puzzle except that
just like a crossword puzzle except that
this<00:14:15.399> is<00:14:15.600> the<00:14:15.720> mother<00:14:15.959> of<00:14:16.079> all<00:14:16.240> crossw<00:14:16.720> puzzles
this is the mother of all crossw puzzles
this is the mother of all crossw puzzles
because<00:14:17.920> the<00:14:18.040> stakes<00:14:18.320> are<00:14:18.480> so<00:14:18.680> high<00:14:18.880> if<00:14:18.959> you
because the stakes are so high if you
because the stakes are so high if you
solve<00:14:19.399> it<00:14:20.000> now<00:14:20.160> my<00:14:20.480> colleagues<00:14:21.480> mahadevan<00:14:22.160> and
solve it now my colleagues mahadevan and
solve it now my colleagues mahadevan and
as<00:14:22.720> parpola<00:14:23.160> have<00:14:23.279> been<00:14:23.600> making<00:14:23.839> some<00:14:24.079> Headway
as parpola have been making some Headway
as parpola have been making some Headway
on<00:14:24.560> this<00:14:24.720> particular<00:14:25.079> problem<00:14:25.320> and<00:14:25.440> I'd<00:14:25.560> like
on this particular problem and I'd like
on this particular problem and I'd like
to<00:14:25.800> give<00:14:25.880> you<00:14:26.000> a<00:14:26.120> quick<00:14:26.360> example<00:14:26.800> of<00:14:27.079> uh
to give you a quick example of uh
to give you a quick example of uh
parula's<00:14:28.079> work<00:14:28.880> so<00:14:29.120> here's<00:14:29.360> a<00:14:29.519> really<00:14:29.800> short
parula's work so here's a really short
parula's work so here's a really short
text<00:14:30.480> it<00:14:30.600> contains<00:14:31.040> seven<00:14:31.320> vertical<00:14:31.639> Strokes
text it contains seven vertical Strokes
text it contains seven vertical Strokes
followed<00:14:32.360> by<00:14:32.560> this<00:14:32.720> fish-like<00:14:33.120> sign<00:14:33.959> and<00:14:34.040> I
followed by this fish-like sign and I
followed by this fish-like sign and I
already<00:14:34.399> mentioned<00:14:34.800> that<00:14:34.959> these<00:14:35.120> seals<00:14:35.560> were
already mentioned that these seals were
already mentioned that these seals were
used<00:14:36.120> for<00:14:36.720> stamping<00:14:37.199> clay<00:14:37.519> TXS<00:14:38.079> that<00:14:38.199> were
used for stamping clay TXS that were
used for stamping clay TXS that were
attached<00:14:38.560> to<00:14:38.639> bundles<00:14:38.959> of<00:14:39.160> goods<00:14:39.680> so<00:14:39.880> it's
attached to bundles of goods so it's
attached to bundles of goods so it's
quite<00:14:40.639> likely<00:14:41.079> that<00:14:41.279> these<00:14:41.560> TXS<00:14:41.920> at<00:14:42.040> least
quite likely that these TXS at least
quite likely that these TXS at least
some<00:14:42.279> of<00:14:42.399> them<00:14:42.560> contain<00:14:43.000> names<00:14:43.600> of<00:14:43.920> merchants
some of them contain names of merchants
some of them contain names of merchants
and<00:14:45.040> it<00:14:45.160> turns<00:14:45.399> out<00:14:45.639> that<00:14:45.759> in<00:14:45.959> India<00:14:46.639> there's<00:14:46.800> a
and it turns out that in India there's a
and it turns out that in India there's a
long<00:14:47.279> tradition<00:14:48.199> of<00:14:48.399> names<00:14:48.759> being<00:14:49.000> based<00:14:49.279> on
long tradition of names being based on
long tradition of names being based on
horoscopes<00:14:50.399> and<00:14:50.639> the<00:14:50.920> and<00:14:51.079> star
horoscopes and the and star
horoscopes and the and star
constellations<00:14:52.519> present<00:14:52.920> at<00:14:53.040> the<00:14:53.160> time<00:14:53.360> of
constellations present at the time of
constellations present at the time of
birth<00:14:54.240> in<00:14:54.360> dravidian<00:14:54.920> languages<00:14:55.880> the<00:14:56.000> word
birth in dravidian languages the word
birth in dravidian languages the word
for<00:14:56.480> fish<00:14:56.759> is<00:14:56.920> mean<00:14:57.720> which<00:14:57.880> happens<00:14:58.160> to<00:14:58.279> sound
for fish is mean which happens to sound
for fish is mean which happens to sound
just<00:14:58.680> just<00:14:58.839> like<00:14:59.000> the<00:14:59.079> word<00:14:59.279> for<00:14:59.639> star<00:15:00.639> and<00:15:00.800> so
just just like the word for star and so
just just like the word for star and so
Seven<00:15:02.079> Stars<00:15:02.839> would<00:15:03.079> stand<00:15:03.320> for<00:15:03.560> alumine
Seven Stars would stand for alumine
Seven Stars would stand for alumine
which<00:15:04.399> is<00:15:04.800> the<00:15:05.040> dravidian<00:15:05.759> word<00:15:06.160> for<00:15:06.800> the<00:15:06.920> Big
which is the dravidian word for the Big
which is the dravidian word for the Big
Dipper<00:15:07.480> Star<00:15:08.000> constellation<00:15:09.000> now<00:15:09.240> similarly
Dipper Star constellation now similarly
Dipper Star constellation now similarly
there's<00:15:10.519> another<00:15:10.800> sequence<00:15:11.120> of<00:15:11.320> six<00:15:11.560> stars
there's another sequence of six stars
there's another sequence of six stars
and<00:15:12.120> that<00:15:12.279> translates<00:15:12.920> to<00:15:13.279> aromin<00:15:14.240> which<00:15:14.360> is
and that translates to aromin which is
and that translates to aromin which is
the<00:15:15.040> old<00:15:15.279> dravidian<00:15:15.839> name<00:15:16.079> for<00:15:16.360> the<00:15:16.519> Star
the old dravidian name for the Star
the old dravidian name for the Star
constellation<00:15:17.480> ples<00:15:18.480> and<00:15:18.680> finally<00:15:19.639> there's
constellation ples and finally there's
constellation ples and finally there's
other<00:15:20.160> combinations<00:15:20.680> such<00:15:20.880> as<00:15:21.040> this<00:15:21.199> fish
other combinations such as this fish
other combinations such as this fish
sign<00:15:21.759> with<00:15:21.880> a<00:15:22.279> something<00:15:22.519> that<00:15:22.639> looks<00:15:22.839> like<00:15:22.920> a
sign with a something that looks like a
sign with a something that looks like a
roof<00:15:23.360> on<00:15:23.519> top<00:15:23.680> of<00:15:23.800> it<00:15:23.959> and<00:15:24.120> that<00:15:24.240> could<00:15:24.360> be
roof on top of it and that could be
roof on top of it and that could be
translated<00:15:25.240> into<00:15:26.240> Mayan<00:15:26.920> which<00:15:27.040> is<00:15:27.240> the<00:15:27.360> old
translated into Mayan which is the old
translated into Mayan which is the old
dravidian<00:15:27.959> name<00:15:28.120> for<00:15:28.240> the<00:15:28.319> planet<00:15:28.880> Saturn<00:15:29.480> so
dravidian name for the planet Saturn so
dravidian name for the planet Saturn so
this<00:15:29.720> is<00:15:29.880> pretty<00:15:30.519> exciting<00:15:31.519> it<00:15:31.639> looks<00:15:31.839> like
this is pretty exciting it looks like
this is pretty exciting it looks like
we're<00:15:32.160> getting<00:15:32.399> somewhere<00:15:32.920> but<00:15:33.079> does<00:15:33.240> this
we're getting somewhere but does this
we're getting somewhere but does this
prove<00:15:34.319> that<00:15:34.600> the<00:15:35.519> these<00:15:35.680> seals<00:15:36.120> contain<00:15:36.440> dran
prove that the these seals contain dran
prove that the these seals contain dran
names<00:15:37.360> based<00:15:37.600> on<00:15:37.839> planets<00:15:38.720> and<00:15:38.920> star
names based on planets and star
names based on planets and star
constellations<00:15:41.000> well<00:15:41.240> not<00:15:41.519> yet<00:15:41.800> so<00:15:42.600> we<00:15:42.720> cannot
constellations well not yet so we cannot
constellations well not yet so we cannot
we<00:15:43.199> have<00:15:43.360> no<00:15:43.519> way<00:15:43.680> of<00:15:43.839> validating<00:15:44.440> these
we have no way of validating these
we have no way of validating these
particular<00:15:45.000> readings<00:15:45.839> but<00:15:46.000> if<00:15:46.120> more<00:15:46.319> and<00:15:46.480> more
particular readings but if more and more
particular readings but if more and more
of<00:15:46.880> these<00:15:47.040> readings<00:15:47.800> start<00:15:48.120> making<00:15:48.399> sense<00:15:48.680> and
of these readings start making sense and
of these readings start making sense and
if<00:15:48.959> more<00:15:49.199> if<00:15:49.319> longer<00:15:49.600> and<00:15:49.720> longer<00:15:50.040> sequences
if more if longer and longer sequences
if more if longer and longer sequences
are<00:15:51.519> appear<00:15:51.800> to<00:15:51.880> be<00:15:52.040> correct<00:15:52.759> then<00:15:52.880> we<00:15:53.000> know
are appear to be correct then we know
are appear to be correct then we know
that<00:15:53.279> we<00:15:53.440> on<00:15:53.560> the<00:15:53.720> right<00:15:54.120> track<00:15:55.120> so<00:15:55.360> today<00:15:56.319> we
that we on the right track so today we
that we on the right track so today we
can<00:15:56.680> write<00:15:56.959> a<00:15:57.120> word<00:15:57.519> such<00:15:57.800> as<00:15:58.839> Ted<00:15:59.680> in<00:15:59.959> Egyptian
can write a word such as Ted in Egyptian
can write a word such as Ted in Egyptian
hieroglyphics<00:16:01.600> and<00:16:01.720> in<00:16:01.839> the<00:16:01.959> uniform<00:16:02.480> script
hieroglyphics and in the uniform script
hieroglyphics and in the uniform script
because<00:16:03.240> both<00:16:03.360> of<00:16:03.600> these<00:16:04.279> were<00:16:04.639> deciphered<00:16:05.279> in
because both of these were deciphered in
because both of these were deciphered in
the<00:16:05.519> 19th<00:16:05.920> century<00:16:06.720> the<00:16:06.839> decipherment<00:16:07.399> of
the 19th century the decipherment of
the 19th century the decipherment of
these<00:16:07.639> two<00:16:07.839> scripts<00:16:08.440> enabled<00:16:08.920> these
these two scripts enabled these
these two scripts enabled these
civilizations<00:16:09.720> to<00:16:09.880> speak<00:16:10.079> to<00:16:10.199> us<00:16:10.399> again
civilizations to speak to us again
civilizations to speak to us again
directly<00:16:11.720> now<00:16:12.120> the<00:16:12.240> Mayans<00:16:13.079> started<00:16:13.440> speaking
directly now the Mayans started speaking
directly now the Mayans started speaking
to<00:16:13.959> us<00:16:14.279> in<00:16:14.399> the<00:16:14.560> 20th<00:16:14.920> century<00:16:15.600> but<00:16:15.759> the<00:16:15.839> Indo
to us in the 20th century but the Indo
to us in the 20th century but the Indo
civilization<00:16:17.480> remains<00:16:17.800> silent<00:16:18.600> so<00:16:18.800> why
civilization remains silent so why
civilization remains silent so why
should<00:16:19.120> we<00:16:19.600> care<00:16:20.600> well<00:16:20.720> the<00:16:20.800> IND<00:16:21.079> civilization
should we care well the IND civilization
should we care well the IND civilization
does<00:16:21.880> not<00:16:22.120> belong<00:16:22.560> to<00:16:22.800> just<00:16:23.040> the<00:16:23.279> South
does not belong to just the South
does not belong to just the South
Indians<00:16:24.040> or<00:16:24.160> the<00:16:24.319> North<00:16:24.560> Indians<00:16:25.360> or<00:16:25.519> the
Indians or the North Indians or the
Indians or the North Indians or the
pakistanis<00:16:26.759> it<00:16:26.880> belongs<00:16:27.240> to<00:16:27.399> all<00:16:27.519> of<00:16:27.680> us<00:16:28.720> so
pakistanis it belongs to all of us so
pakistanis it belongs to all of us so
these<00:16:29.800> are<00:16:30.000> our<00:16:30.440> ancestors<00:16:31.440> yours<00:16:31.800> and<00:16:32.000> mine
these are our ancestors yours and mine
these are our ancestors yours and mine
they<00:16:32.680> were<00:16:32.920> silenced<00:16:33.759> by<00:16:33.880> an<00:16:34.040> unfortunate
they were silenced by an unfortunate
they were silenced by an unfortunate
accident<00:16:35.240> of<00:16:35.399> history<00:16:36.279> now<00:16:36.399> if<00:16:36.519> you<00:16:36.639> decipher
accident of history now if you decipher
accident of history now if you decipher
the<00:16:37.240> script<00:16:38.000> you<00:16:38.120> would<00:16:38.319> enable<00:16:38.680> them<00:16:38.839> to
the script you would enable them to
the script you would enable them to
speak<00:16:39.240> to<00:16:39.399> us
speak to us
speak to us
again<00:16:41.360> so<00:16:41.519> what<00:16:41.600> would<00:16:41.759> they<00:16:41.920> tell
again so what would they tell
again so what would they tell
us<00:16:44.040> what<00:16:44.160> would<00:16:44.279> we<00:16:44.440> find<00:16:44.639> out<00:16:44.839> about<00:16:45.120> them
us what would we find out about them
us what would we find out about them
about
about
about
us<00:16:47.920> I<00:16:48.079> can't<00:16:48.319> wait<00:16:48.560> to<00:16:48.800> find<00:16:49.079> out<00:16:50.079> thank
us I can't wait to find out thank
us I can't wait to find out thank
[Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause]
you
Rajesh Rao, TED-Ed, TED, Ed, TEDEducation, TED, Talk, Indus, Indus, script, language, ancient, language
