Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The Harappan script is one of the earliest known writing systems in the Indian subcontinent. It is primarily found on seals, sealings, pottery, copper tablets, and other artifacts. Despite extensive research, the script remains undeciphered, and its precise linguistic affiliation is yet to be established.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Harappan script was not alphabetical (where each sign represents a single vowel or consonant). It is generally classified as logo-syllabic, meaning each symbol stood for a word or a syllable. This classification is based on the number of unique signs found, which is too high for an alphabet but consistent with other logo-syllabic scripts.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The script was generally written from right to left. This deduction is based on the spacing of the symbols; in many inscriptions, the letters are well-spaced on the right but become cramped on the left, indicating that the scribe began on the right and ran out of space towards the end. Occasionally, longer inscriptions followed a boustrophedon style (alternating directions).
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The script consists of a significant number of signs, estimated to be between 375 and 400. This number is far too large for an alphabetical system (which typically has 20-30 signs) but is much smaller than purely logographic scripts like Chinese (which have thousands of characters).
Key Takeaway: The Harappan script is an undeciphered, logo-syllabic writing system comprising approximately 400 signs, typically written from right to left.