Toward Identifying dɛrd ‘Southern’ in the Khitan Large Script

Abstract

This study proposes an identification of the Kitan Large Script (KLS) character sequence —along with its variant —as the adjectival form dɛrd, meaning “southern,” corresponding to attested equivalents in the Kitan Small Script (KSS). This interpretation is substantiated through a multifaceted com parative analysis incorporating syntactic distribution patterns, phonological correspondences, and corroborating evidence from Chinese historical sources. Furthermore, a morphological analysis aligned with KSS data challenges prior interpretations of  as a toponym. The findings contribute to the evolving understanding of directional morphology within KLS and offer further insights into the broader decipherment of the script.