Where does “tangata rongo” come from?

tangata rongo (Rapa Nui) comes from Rapa Nui rongo, from Proto-Polynesian roŋo, from Proto-Oceanic roŋoʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian dəŋəʀ, from Proto-Austronesian dəŋəʀ.

tangata rongo (Rapa Nui): messenger

Definitions

  1. messenger

Ancestry of “tangata rongo”, step by step

tangata rongo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Rapa Nui rongo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Rapa Nuirongomessage, order, or notice
2Proto-Polynesianroŋoto hear
3Proto-Oceanicroŋoʀto hear; perceive
4Proto-Malayo-Polynesiandəŋəʀto hear; perceive
5Proto-Austronesiandəŋəʀ—

via Rapa Nui tangata

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Rapa Nuitangatahuman being; man; person
2Proto-Polynesiantaŋataman, person
3Proto-Oceanic*tamʷatahuman being, person
Every word from Proto-Austronesian dəŋəʀ →Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian dəŋəʀ →Every word from Proto-Oceanic roŋoʀ →