Language and function models
Models are compared, never crowned. No language is ranked as correct.
Research compilation from a published ICIT-style digitization — not a complete or licensed photographic corpus
under investigation
Proto-Dravidian logo-syllabic
The most widely discussed linguistic hypothesis: a logo-syllabic system encoding an early Dravidian language, including rebus proposals such as mīn ‘fish / star’.
inconclusive
Indo-Aryan / Indo-Iranian-related
Proposals that the inscriptions encode an early Indo-Aryan or related Indo-Iranian language.
inconclusive
Munda / Para-Munda / Austroasiatic-related
The idea that an Austroasiatic-related language, sometimes called Para-Munda, underlies at least some inscriptions.
under investigation
Language isolate
The underlying language may be unrelated to any surviving family — a lost isolate or family.
stronger
Administrative coding system
Inscriptions may encode offices, commodities, lots or affiliations more like a structured code than running speech.
under investigation
Numeral / classifier system
Some signs, especially stroke groups, may encode quantities, measures or class marks rather than names.
weak
Non-linguistic emblem system
The signs might be heraldic or emblematic marks with little or no linguistic encoding.
under investigation
Mixed-register system
Different object classes may mix linguistic, numerical and emblematic registers rather than one uniform script.