A statistical reassessment of rongorongo texts I, Gv, and T: implications for genre and content

Abstract The content of rongorongo texts I (Santiago Staff), Gv (verso of the Small Santiago Tablet), and T (Honolulu Tablet) has been debated, with hypotheses ranging from name lists and genealogies to cosmogonic chants. This study analyses glyph collocations in these texts, focusing on their relationship with sign 76. Segmentation of text I reveals that it can be divided into at least two segments, with the second segment sharing glyphs with short inscriptions on personal adornments, indicating the presence of personal names. Additionally, structural and content similarities between Gv and the Atua-Mata-Riri creation chant suggest a need to reassess Steven Fischer’s hypothesis for this specific text. This reassessment implies that text I may similarly contain lists of parents and offspring but including personal names. Finally, it is emphasized that categorizing these inscriptions as genealogies or cosmogonies is not contradictory, as these genres often intermingle in Polynesia.