Numerals and Phonetic Complements in the Kohau Rongorongo Script of Easter Island

Authors

  • Albert Davletshin Russian State University for the Humanities Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies, Moscow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15286/jps.121.3.243-274

Abstract

Typological considerations and combinatory properties of the "Crescent" sign suggest that "Crescent" and its multiplied combinations represent numerals in the kohau rongorongo script of Easter Island. Probable phonetic complements for the "Crescent" sign identified by means of the substitution method reinforce this interpretation. As a result, some phonetic readings and an alternative content interpretation of the so-called calendric passage on the Mamari Tablet are proposed.

Author Biography

Albert Davletshin, Russian State University for the Humanities Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies, Moscow

Albert Davletshin was born in Norilsk, Russia (1976). He completed his PhD thesis "Palaeography of Maya hieroglyphic writing" at Knorozov Centre for Mesoamerican Studies (2003). He works on Polynesian languages and anthropology, Aztec, Epi-Olmec, Harappan, Mayan and Zapotec scripts, iconography and Mesoamerican historical linguistics. He is the founder of the projects on Aztec script and proto-Totonacan. Albert carried out linguistic fieldwork with Pisaflores Tepehua in Mexico, and Sym Evenki and Ket in Siberia.

cover of September 2012 issue

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Published

2012-10-17

Issue

Vol. 121 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Articles

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