Easter Island (Moto Nui)Easter Island (Moto Nui)

The The rongorongorongorongo script script

Matters pertaining to its Matters pertaining to its deciphermentdecipherment

By J. Robinson (2006)By J. Robinson (2006)

Easter IslandEaster Island

Rongorongo Rongorongo InscriptionsInscriptions

What does ‘rongorongo’ actually What does ‘rongorongo’ actually mean?mean?

The term The term rongorongorongorongo refers to the script refers to the script itself not a particular language and it is a itself not a particular language and it is a Polynesian word that carries the notion of Polynesian word that carries the notion of ‘chants’ and ‘recitations’. So we are ‘chants’ and ‘recitations’. So we are arguably dealing with a script that is arguably dealing with a script that is believed to carry magical or religious believed to carry magical or religious weight.weight.

Two Known FactsTwo Known Facts

There are two certain facts we have about There are two certain facts we have about rongorongorongorongo. The first is that it is written in . The first is that it is written in reverse-boustrophedon style; a unique reverse-boustrophedon style; a unique style of writing in the world. Janssen, a style of writing in the world. Janssen, a bishop of Tahiti, coined the term in around bishop of Tahiti, coined the term in around 1870.1870.We are also pretty confident that at least We are also pretty confident that at least one of the tablets contains what seems to one of the tablets contains what seems to be a lunar calendar.be a lunar calendar.

What do we know of previous What do we know of previous decipherment attempts?decipherment attempts?

Some extracts of the script may contain zodiacal information owing Some extracts of the script may contain zodiacal information owing to similarities between some symbols and the western zodiac.to similarities between some symbols and the western zodiac.Henesy points out similarities between some Henesy points out similarities between some rongorongorongorongo signs and signs and aspects of the Indus Valley script.aspects of the Indus Valley script.Fischer believes the script to be a recent, modern development Fischer believes the script to be a recent, modern development towards the end of the Easter Island civilisation in the 18towards the end of the Easter Island civilisation in the 18 thth century. century.Russians like Knorosov identify logograms and phonograms among Russians like Knorosov identify logograms and phonograms among the signs or symbols.the signs or symbols.Germans like Barthel believe that the script encodes the Germans like Barthel believe that the script encodes the mythological origins of the Easter Islanders specifically and mythological origins of the Easter Islanders specifically and Polynesians in general.Polynesians in general.Pozdniakov believes there may be as few as 55 signs and that the Pozdniakov believes there may be as few as 55 signs and that the written language may be a syllabic system.written language may be a syllabic system.

The Mamari Tablet: Side A, The Mamari Tablet: Side A, Part of Line 7Part of Line 7

Indus Valley Script (examples to Indus Valley Script (examples to compare with compare with rongorongorongorongo signs) signs)

What else can we be pretty sure What else can we be pretty sure of?of?

RongorongoRongorongo is very likely to be a written is very likely to be a written form of an older form of Rapanui that is a form of an older form of Rapanui that is a language related to Tahitian (Jacques language related to Tahitian (Jacques Guy). The problem is, how similar is the Guy). The problem is, how similar is the script to the ancient language? (NB it script to the ancient language? (NB it could be a priestly form – i.e. highly could be a priestly form – i.e. highly stylized).stylized).

Origins of the ScriptOrigins of the Script

Either the script was an ancient import to the Either the script was an ancient import to the island with a 1500 year history,island with a 1500 year history,Or it was invented independently and uniquely Or it was invented independently and uniquely on the island itself,on the island itself,Or it developed out of western influence after Or it developed out of western influence after explorers from Europe discovered the island in explorers from Europe discovered the island in the 18the 18thth century. century.Oral tradition on the island has it that the Oral tradition on the island has it that the legendary founder Hotu Matu’a brought 67 legendary founder Hotu Matu’a brought 67 tablets from Polynesia to the island when he first tablets from Polynesia to the island when he first discovered Easter Island and settled there.discovered Easter Island and settled there.

PROBLEM!PROBLEM!

If the script really was an If the script really was an ancient writing system, ancient writing system, why are there no records why are there no records on stone for example? All on stone for example? All we have are a few we have are a few petroglyphs, some of petroglyphs, some of which bear some which bear some resemblance to some resemblance to some rongorongo rongorongo symbols. symbols. (E.g. those found in Ana (E.g. those found in Ana O Keke cave).O Keke cave).

Stone Petroglyph from Ana O Keke Stone Petroglyph from Ana O Keke Cave Cave

RESULT?RESULT?

The script possibly developed, therefore, The script possibly developed, therefore, some time after European contact in the some time after European contact in the 1770s but before the demise of the Easter 1770s but before the demise of the Easter Island civilisation in the late 1860s when Island civilisation in the late 1860s when 94% of the population was wiped out. But 94% of the population was wiped out. But that means the script came and went that means the script came and went within 90 years or so.within 90 years or so.

What else do we know about the What else do we know about the signs / symbols themselves?signs / symbols themselves?

There is a possible corpus of between 14,000 There is a possible corpus of between 14,000 and 17,000 signs.and 17,000 signs.The Santiago staff has the most signs and The Santiago staff has the most signs and longest inscription.longest inscription.The Tahua tablet has the longest wooden tablet The Tahua tablet has the longest wooden tablet inscription.inscription.In 1886 the American William Thomson showed In 1886 the American William Thomson showed photographs of the script to an old Rapa Nui photographs of the script to an old Rapa Nui man who was able to chant from them, although man who was able to chant from them, although he was scared to at first, because of taboo.he was scared to at first, because of taboo.

The Santiago StaffThe Santiago Staff

Sketch taken from the Tahua Sketch taken from the Tahua Tablet (front side)Tablet (front side)

ConclusionsConclusions

The script was probably a form of the written Rapanui The script was probably a form of the written Rapanui language that was highly stylized and reserved for language that was highly stylized and reserved for ritualistic purposes. It is likely to contain genealogies, ritualistic purposes. It is likely to contain genealogies, important dates and some mythological stories (e.g. a important dates and some mythological stories (e.g. a creation myth to explain the origins of the Easter Island creation myth to explain the origins of the Easter Island people and their belief system).people and their belief system).It would be dangerous to speculate further until it can be It would be dangerous to speculate further until it can be ascertained exactly how the written language works. ascertained exactly how the written language works. Pozdniakov’s idea about a syllabic system sounds very Pozdniakov’s idea about a syllabic system sounds very plausible and may yet prove to be correct. If so, plausible and may yet prove to be correct. If so, developing the phoneme inventory will be the next step developing the phoneme inventory will be the next step in discovering the morpho-phonological structure of the in discovering the morpho-phonological structure of the language, leading to a syntactic understanding of the language, leading to a syntactic understanding of the script and possible decipherment. script and possible decipherment.

Some Modern Rapanui PhrasesSome Modern Rapanui PhrasesHello! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! - 'Iorana! Hello! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! - 'Iorana!

How are you ? (singular) - Pehe koe? How are you ? (singular) - Pehe koe?

How are you ? (plural) - Pehe korua? How are you ? (plural) - Pehe korua?

Fine! - Riva-riva! (often sounds like diva-riva , or riba-riba) Fine! - Riva-riva! (often sounds like diva-riva , or riba-riba)

Please - Ana hanga koe Please - Ana hanga koe

Thank you - Maururu Thank you - Maururu

You're welcome - O te aha no You're welcome - O te aha no

What is your name? - Ko ai tou ingoa? What is your name? - Ko ai tou ingoa?

To your health! - Manuia (paka-paka)! To your health! - Manuia (paka-paka)!

Goodbye - 'Iorana (old: Ko mao a )Goodbye - 'Iorana (old: Ko mao a )

Useful Rapanui / Useful Rapanui / rongorongorongorongo Language SourcesLanguage Sources

Du Feu, V. (1995) ‘Rapanui: A Descriptive Du Feu, V. (1995) ‘Rapanui: A Descriptive Grammar’, Routledge ISBN 0415000114Grammar’, Routledge ISBN 0415000114http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/8908/firehttp://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/8908/firemount/austroframes.htmlmount/austroframes.html - useful site for starting to compare - useful site for starting to compare Austronesian languagesAustronesian languageshttp://www.anthroglobe.ca/docs/rongoronghttp://www.anthroglobe.ca/docs/rongorongo_links.htmo_links.htm - useful links page on the - useful links page on the rongorongorongorongo scriptscript