On some graphical and phonetical features of the ancient Khwarezmian written sources
The ancient Khwarezmian language is one of the dead Iranian languages. It is related to the eastern group. This language was spread in the lower reach of the Amu Darya River and mainly in the Khorezm oasis. The earliest texts in the ancient Khwarezmian language were written with the help of the writing system based on the Aramaic alphabet. These texts date back from the 2nd - 1st centuries BC to the middle of the 8th century AD. Lack of written materials in the ancient Khorezmian monuments which were written in the Aramaic language cannot prevent the phonetical analysis of the ancient Khwarezmian language. The Arabic alphabet added five more letters used in Khwarezmian literature beginning in the 10th century AD. Owing to the Arabic alphabet, which promoted the Khwarezmian language, we have an opportunity to discuss not only graphical features, but also phonetical phenomena in the ancient Khwarezmian language. Some graphical and phonetical features of the ancient Khwarezmian language are analysed for the first time in this article.