# Does rongorongo record language? · Rongorongo > Three answers have been proposed. Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language. leads, with evidence 3… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:38+00:00 --- **0** # Does rongorongo record language? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: rongorongo is proto-writing or a mnemonic system that cued recited texts without encoding them phonetically** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language. leads, with evidence 3 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the three narrower questions under it, one is answered. ## Why it matters If the glyphs encode speech, a decipherment is possible in principle and statistical methods for scripts apply. If they are a mnemonic or proto-writing system, no phonetic reading can succeed and the question becomes what they cued. Every later question depends on this one⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC616274N/decipherment-of-rongorongo). ## Answers 3 [**Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCEAT3KX6/rongorongo-is-glottographic-writing-logosyllabic-or-syllabic) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 1 against Most likely [**Rongorongo is proto-writing or a mnemonic system that cued recited texts without encoding them phonetically.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCFHW6WKQ/rongorongo-is-proto-writing-or-a-mnemonic-system-that-cued) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCG9A1ZJ4/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1893[Jaussen: metoro, the only informant, named the glyphs one at a time rather than reading a text.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC59R7SZ7/lile-de-paques-historique-ecriture-et-repertoire-des-signes)For: Rongorongo is proto-writing or a mnemonic system that cued recited texts without encoding them phonetically. 1. 1957[Butinov & Knorozov: a repetitive run on text G with a recurring marker glyph is structured like a genealogy.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3K24TCJ/preliminary-report-on-the-study-of-the-written-language-of)For: Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language. 1. 1990[Guy: the Mamari calendar's function can be described from its crescents and counts without reading any word.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC2KT4FJD/the-lunar-calendar-of-tablet-mamari)For: Rongorongo is proto-writing or a mnemonic system that cued recited texts without encoding them phonetically. 1. 1996[Pozdniakov: the same compound glyphs and repeated phrases occur on tablets held on different continents.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC33E2ZSH/les-bases-du-dechiffrement-de-lecriture-de-lile-de-paques)For: Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language. 1. 2007[Pozdniakov & Pozdniakov puts forward: rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results) 1. 2007[Pozdniakov & Pozdniakov: 52 basic glyphs account for 99.7 per cent of the corpus and their frequency distribution resembles that of…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results)For: Rongorongo is glottographic writing (logosyllabic or syllabic) recording the Rapanui language. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language%23add-source) Where it fits Rongorongo **Does rongorongo record language?** Key question · you're here [How many distinct glyphs does rongorongo have?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have)Most likely · about 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus [Is Fischer's procreation-chant reading of the Santiago Staff correct?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCE30644S/is-fischers-procreation-chant-reading-of-the-santiago-staff)Answered · The reading is not valid; glyph 76 is a common sign with no fixed role. [What does the Mamari calendar passage record?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDV63S88/what-does-the-mamari-calendar-passage-record)Most likely · the passage is a lunar calendar with a rule for inserting one or two intercalary nights into the 28-night… [ Ask a question under this one ]