View source for Þ

{{character
|name=thorn
|sortform=26
|phoneme={{p|z}}
|checklevel=0
}}
There are two special characters ("Sonderzeichen") in the alphabets used for Raetic. The two characters do not seem to be related to each other; instead, it is more likely that  {{c||Þ}} (once {{c||Þ2}}) and {{c||Þ3}} were created independently in two different places in order to represent a sound for which the Venetic alphabets had no character. For the time being, the two characters have been defined as glyph variants of one character, which is probably not correct from a historical point of view and represents only a provisional solution. Both have been transliterated here with the letter ''þ'' (thorn), borrowed from Runic, to distinguish them from and to avoid confusion with characters for dentals going back to the Greek alphabet. (The theory that Runic {{c||addD3}} /þ/ might be derived from the Magrè-variant {{c||Þ}} is not particularly likely and did not suggest the choice.)
*In Magrè, and only there, the character {{c||Þ}} (once {{c||Þ2}}) occurs six times in six different inscriptions. Twice ([[index::MA-8]], [[index::MA-9]]) it is used in the anlaut of the verbal form {{w||þinaχe}}, which can be directly equated with the Etruscan verbal form ''zinace''. As a consequence of this equation, the phonetic value can be determined as a dental affricate. In [[index::MA-5]] and [[index::MA-23]], the letter seems to be part of an ending {{m||-(i)þu}}; in [[index::MA-10]], it is probably used mistakenly to write the dental of the individual name {{w||piθie}} (in the same inscription, {{w||þinake}} is written with [[index::P|Pi]] in the anlaut). The inscription [[index::MA-3]] is too much damaged to determine the context of {{c||Þ}}. The character shapes {{c||Þ}} and {{c||Þ2}} have a graphic parallel only in Camunic alphabetaria, where a character {{c||Þ2}} occupies the position of San (see [[index::Script]]), but this may be purely accidental.
*In the context of the Sanzeno alphabet, the character {{c||Þ3}} occurs twelve, possibly thirteen ([[index::SZ-19]]) times in as many inscriptions. The main reason for the assumption that this character denotes the same sound as  {{c||Þ}} is the inscription [[index::SZ-1.1]], where we find {{c|E}}{{c|Χ}}{{c|A|A5}}{{c|N}}{{c|I}}{{c|Þ|Þ3}}, which can be read as {{w||þinaχe}} and thus be identified with {{w||þinaχe}} in [[index::MA-8]] and [[index::MA-9]] (consequently, it can also be equated with Etruscan ''zinace''). Moreover, in  [[index::SZ-4.1]] we find {{w||þal}}, which can be equated with the Etruscan numeral {{w||zal}} "two". Four more attestations in certainly linguistic context are found in [[index::SZ-4.1]] and [[index::SZ-30]] (for the option of comparing the occurrence in the latter inscription with one of [[index::Z|Zeta]], see {{w||)auþile}}), on [[index::NO-15]] and [[index::BZ-10.1]]. The attestations on [[index::SZ-33]] and [[index::SZ-74]] are qualified by the fact that we are probably concerned with factory marks (but see {{w||þine}}); [[index::SZ-32]], [[index::SZ-34]] and [[index::SZ-94]] are unclear. Additionally, the letter occurs on one of the problematic Slovenian helmets, in an [[index::SL-2.1|inscription]] clearly written in the Sanzeno alphabet, and in an [[index::VR-6|inscription]] from the area of Verona, which displays both Magrè and Sanzeno features. The "arrow sign" is reminiscent of Tau, but Tau does not occur in this shape in Etruscan or regularly in any of the Transpadanian alphabets. The "arrow sign" does appear in two dubious inscriptions from the Gail valley (Gt 20, Gt 22, ascribed to the Venetic corpus), and on the Camunoid [http://www.univie.ac.at/lexlep/wiki/GR%C2%B73 Castaneda flagon] (here apparently Tau). Note also that /t/ is written {{c||Þ3}} in the Runic script.
Both the Magrè and the Sanzeno character seem to be creations from scratch, but a connection to some (marginal?) Camunic tradition cannot be excluded. For the question of why these characters were used/created, see [[index::Script]].

{{c||Þ}} / {{c||Þ2}} corresponds to ''¶'' in {{bib|Schumacher 2004}}.
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