Awesome forces and warning signs: Charting the semantic history of *tabu words in Vanuatu

The Proto-Oceanic etymon *tabu has hardly been studied outside Polynesian, yet it is attested in other Oceanic languages — albeit with different meanings. This study describes the polysemies observed for modern reflexes of *tabu, an initial focus on Vanuatu. Sometimes, words simply refer to mundane warning signs put up various locations fend off unwelcome visitors. But are more often linked supernatural powers, good or evil, and sense awe fear they induce upon us. root may evoke numinous power high-ranked dignitaries; world ancestral spirits ghosts, forces death. diverse array meanings attached best synthesized form a semantic map. visual tool helps picture internal organization root’s polysemy, can be used as background we compare each other. By applying principles Comparative method, reconstruct meaning at level ProtoOceanic: ‘forbidden, limits; sacred, due sentiment before spiritual forces’. Finally, maps reveal their full potential take dynamic perspective, retrace evolution from its original acquired languages.