Lost In Translation Introduction
Ethnography:
Lost in
Translation
As you read more into this ethnography it is
composed of materials to educate on the Pacific
Islander gang community. It contains a short history
Professor Ron K. Christiansen
of the migration on the Polynesian’s having to trek
across the deep ocean waters. It also shows the relationship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has with the islanders. This relationship that the LDS faith has with the Polynesian culture has
influenced its modern language. Many of these Polynesian gangs are found blogging on the internet. The
language that is used is a combination between Tongan and English. A new lingual is formulating or in
ways undergoing a reformation. The new words that are shaping into this reformation brings’ a new
form of intelligence. The new lingual includes not only Tongan and English words but has numbers
associated in the vocab. Lost in translation is common for many minority groups migrating to the United
States of America. These groups are lost in translation that they never fully understand the translation
creating their own new lingual.
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Lost in Translation
When learning about Polynesian gangs the first thing to know is how these gangs are
recognized. The first Polynesian gangs started in California in ghetto areas such as Compton, Lennox,
and Inglewood in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s [Sullivan: The Gangs of Zion]. When the Polynesians
were migrating to America they fell in low poverty areas. The early Polynesian kids notice the children in
the neighborhoods wearing the hippest fits and brightest jewelry. They soon learned that these items
were obtained by stealing, lying, and other forms of dishonesty. The conniving acts of these Polynesian’s
lead to gang violence.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) there are 12,868,606 members
nationwide. The LDS faith works with 178 languages in teaching the gospel. [LDS Newsroom: Statistics]
Out of 178 languages in the LDS faith you won’t find Polynesian Gang Lingual. Nice move to use
statistics to set-up your humorous statement.
Pacific Islander that are members of the LDS faith are affiliated with a gang. The battles that
these gangs fight may be found on the streets but start mostly on the internet. On a website titled Asia
Pacific Unity a user by the name of “FUCC HAMO SLOBS!” voices his opinion saying, “SUP CUZZ, FUCC
Fonua 3
ALL U HAMO & FLIP SLOBS UP IN HEA . TRYEN TO BANG ON DA NET CUZZ.FUCC YALL SORRY AZZ SOS
CLOWNS 2.U KNOW US TONGANS CEE LETTIN YALL SLOB NIGGAS HAVE IT,CANT FUCC WIT DA NATION
WIDE T.C.G. SOLDIAZ CUZZ.” This comment is written in capital letters trying to display power. The
words that are used are the way the gang members communicate. “SUP CUZZ” is a form of greeting that
derives from the phrase, “what is up?” “FUCC” is from the swear word “Fuck” it is not used as a sexual
context but as an action revolving around violence. These violent actions are often gun shootings, house
burnings, and stabbings. In the Tongan culture it is common to replace the letter s to the letter h.
“Hamo” is Samo short for Samoa. This person is belittling the other groups that are representing
themselves on the internet calling them “…SORRY AZZ SOS CLOWNS 2.” The way this is written some
might consider creative because the way the words are spelled. The words are spelled incorrectly
because some words are also in cultural form. When this person writes, “TRYEN TO BAND ON DA NET…”
“DA” is “the” but in the Tongan culture the letter t is pronounced as “duh” similar to “the”.
The first Polynesian gang recorded in Utah was first name the Tongan Coconut Connection. The
Tongan Coconut Connection was later changed to what is now known as the Tongan Crip Gang with the
acronym of T.C.G. The gang went through a name change because “coconut” being a fruit; portraying
the gang “fruity”. In the mid 1970’s gay male culture was expanding into the pop culture. The last thing
these men wanted to be portrayed was gay. There were many words that lost its significance when
translating into English. One of these words being “faka apa apa“this phrase is commonly used for kids
to respect their parents by doing righteous things. In the gang community the leader see’s themselves as
parents using “faka apa apa” to respect the head leaders by obeying orders. [Mele Finau]
Although, this gang community is a homosocial environment they still display a fierce
appearance. In Louis Tyson’s book Learning for a Diverse World she states, “sexual orientation is
irrelevant in homosocial bonding.” (Tyson 121) According to Tyson, homosocial bonding allows an
Fonua 4
important part of human experience to take place (Tyson 121). The experience that these men have
developed is a bond to connect to one another. These men all share an experience that allows them to
grow close to each other and create a brotherhood for one another. The fact that many of these gangs
are driven by males the languages they use are more forceful, irregular, and artistic.
The first example from the username “FUCC HAMO SLOBS!” is one of the ways gangs express
themselves forceful. If we look more into the blog one can notice the double lettering in the some of the
words. The use of the double lettering in this blog may deal with “FUCC HAMO SLOBS!”membership in
the LDS religion. It is common for the young members of the LDS faith to double letter swear words for
example “shizz” deriving from “shit”. In Mormon culture the language is altered instead of saying “ass”
one would say “ace or azz” or the word “fuck” to “fah or fucc.”Using double lettering changes the
message to not be as cruel. Not only has the LDS religion had an influence on gang lingual but also
formation of a gang. A younger group that is still in the development stages is known as LB3. The
acronyms of LB3 come from a ward named Liberty Third Ward. This ward is in the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints religion. The ward was originally located near downtown Liberty Park in Salt Lake
City. New and young gangs can also be found on the internet of websites such as Bebo, Myspace, chats,
and blogs. When speaking to a mentor that presides over some gang members from LB3 he stated,
“They’re not a gang! Their just good kids having fun in high school taking pride in the church they belong
to.”
This form of language could be known as Spelling Reformation. In the book what’s language got
to do with it? By Keith Walters and Michal Brody there is an article known as Crisis of Letters in Germany
by Jody K. Biehl. It mentions, “... the new grammar are as complicated as the old rules are long. In
general they break up compound words into various parts…” A chief literary by the name of Thomas
Steinfield mentions, “…such shifts alter the meaning of many words.” Not only do gangs use reformation
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in their blogs but also in naming their gangs. A great example is a group that is rarely talked about
known as a female family gang named the Kimoana Girls. These girls are known as the K9’s. The K
symbolizing Kearns the town they grew up in and their last name. The 9 is symbolic for the nine sisters
within the gang.
These girls use an animal that is pronounced in their name which is Canine. Animals are not big
in the Pacific Islander community but these girls were young teenagers at the time attending high
school. High schools in Utah are competitive and most students have pride for their schools as well as
their mascots. These girls went to Kearns High School playing for all the athletic programs. (Kearns High
School is known as the cougars.) These girls were young and being called a dog would be too masculine
and being associated with a cat would be considered pathetic. Words that begin with the letter “d” are
usually dominant and manly. A canine is a kind of dog but the “ca” in canine softens and feminizes the
gang. As tough as these woman appear every woman wants to be a girl; a girl that men respect and love.
Gang violence is more male oriented but has an effect on the wives and families. On a website a
mother explains her grief by saying, “Sometimes I feel like things in this life will never change. I dont
know anymore if my man will ever put down his rag, and stay with his family. I feel lost, not knowing
whether I should take my babies and run...or stand by his side, and pretty much wait for something
really bad to happen. What more can really happen? I was shot three times, our son was right there.
Realistically, we should be dead right now. But my man, he's not giving in. He's not letting them get him
down. Me, on the other hand, I'm already down. It was me they had the hit out on, and in that they
succeeded. They hit me, they hurt me, and they know that. Will they give up? Never. Will they come
back? Next time with twice as much anger and vengence…” (babygirl_rodriguez18) This wife deals with
an identity crisis. She cannot decide if she is a mother before she is a wife. The situation that this woman
has experienced many would define her journal entry as being a person lacking confidence. Her journal
Fonua 6
entry could also be defined as cry for help. This woman could be in serious danger looking for solutions
for her and her children.
When interviewing a retired gang member named Hameti Lomu he emphasized the reason for
being in a gang was for his family. “I wanted to be like my brothers and make them happy,” said Hameti.
One of the trials that the Polynesian gangs face is defining happiness and success. Most of the time
happiness is found next to family. According to the Marriam-Webster Dictionary one of the definitions
of family is, “a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation: fellowship.” Many
of the Polynesian gangs are families an example is a family named Tua’one. After a crime scene the
family leaves the code “2A1” if you pronounce the “2” as “two” and the letter “a” and “o” by itself and
“ne” as “neh” sounding like “two-a-o-neh” that is how the last name is uttered. [Marty Tua’one]
The Polynesians are trying to get the best of both worlds but realize both worlds are not
working. These people have taste the reality of both worlds. That on the islands they were privileged to
communicate with their kind and in a new foreign land the language is not consistent. America is
composed with other ethnicities speaking other forms of tongue; words and people are lost. The
Polynesian gang lingual has been taken to a level that is still coded but yet to be discovered. This new
reformation is an eye opener in the Polynesian society. The new generations are no longer learning
Tongan as a whole or speaking Standard English. It could be that they are lost in translation and
formulating their own lingual.
Fonua 7
Citing Resources
"T.C.G. Tongan Crip Gang!." AsianPacificUniverse. 17 Nov. 2003. 13 Apr. 2008
<http://asiapacificuniverse.com/asia_pacific/messages41/2371.html>.
Walters, Keith. What's language got to do with it? New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
Lomu, Hameti. Personal Interview. 9 Mar. 2008.
Finau, Mele. Personal Interview. 10 Mar. 2008.
Vakapuna, Liuaki. Personal Interview. 12 Apr. 2008.
Fonua, Reno. Personal Interview. 20 Apr. 2008.
Tua’one, Marty. Personal Interview. 20 Apr. 2008.
Sullivan, Tim. "The Gangs of Zion." High Country News 8 Aug. 2005. 5 Mar. 2008
<http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15680>.
"To all those young girls out there." Gangstyle . 14 Mar. 2008
<http://www.gangstyle.com/girls/toall.php>.
Fonua 8
Notes:
Hameti Lomu
March 9, 2008
When Meti started he was the only the one of his age group to participate in gang violence. Depending
on your age group it would determine how a person is grouped and labelized. Some of the thing that I
did was steal cars, fight people. The group had to claim me before I could claim and represent the gang. I
am well respected because of all the bad things I did. Girls are not allowed to be present in our gang but
out gang is mostly guys. We drink a kava and talk about the stupid things we did. I want to see the
younger boys stop gangs because its stupid and is a waist of time. I wanted to be like my brothers and
make them happy.
Mele Finau
March 10, 2008
faka apa apa is used for kids to respect their parents by doing righteous things. We just want the kids to
go to school and love the Lord. Everything we do is for our children and wanting them to be blessed.
Fonua 9
Reno Fonua & Marty Tua’one
April 20, 2008
They’re not a gang! Their just good kids having fun in high school taking pride in the church they belong
to. Reno…We are not gangs we get into trouble but its all good times we are all family. We use 2a1 just
to claim what we did and take credit for our work.
Blogging:
To all those young girls out there....
Sometimes I feel like things in this life will never change. I dont know anymore if my man will ever put
down his rag, and stay with his family. I feel lost, not knowing whether I should take my babies and
run...or stand by his side, and pretty much wait for something really bad to happen. What more can
really happen? I was shot three times, our son was right there. Realistically, we should be dead right
now. But my man, he's not giving in. He's not letting them get him down. Me, on the other hand, I'm
already down. It was me they had the hit out on, and in that they succeeded. They hit me, they hurt me,
and they know that. Will they give up? Never. Will they come back? Next time with twice as much anger
and vengence.
Why do we do this to ourselves, ladies? Why do we let the men that we love so much put ourselves and
our families through so much pain? It's that whole "love is blind" thing, maybe. But once you get past
that being "blind" stage..you just want to go back. You dont want to see the hurt, the pain, the drama.
You want to go back to "knowing" everything was somewhat "perfect." You dont want to realize that the
man you love most is the one who, in the end, hurt you most.
MY advice to all you YOUNG ladies out there, dont get involved with some cholo just because it's "cute"
or because you think you'll be "protected from all harm." It really isnt like that at all. You will probably
fall into the situation innocently, and end up just like me. 5 years, 2 kids, and 3 gunshot wounds
later...still trying to figure a way out. A way out of this life that has caused me as much pain as shame.
What I'm trying to say is... Be smart, be picky, and dont SETTLE for anyone. Always look for the best,
because you dont deserve ANYTHING less than that. And as always, keep your heads up. There's a lot of
bullshit that's gonna come your way in this lifetime, just take things as they come, and deal with them as
best as you can.
babygirl_rodriguez18
http://www.gangstyle.com/girls/toall.php
Bangin wit a baby
First off for those who don't kno me I am Lil'mac a volunteer hea at G~style. I have been around for a
few years. This Is MAH HOME! Wit mah familia. But as time has gone on hea, I have met a lot of ppl and
Fonua 10
talked to soooo many more. I realized that I can relate so well to all of you and what you goin thru. I
have been there and seen it, and done it first hand.
Gang lyfe is a part of me, a part that will never change, HOWEVER I made a change for the better. I
wanted to share my experience with The ppl, I can really relate to and my heart goes out to are all you
teen mothers, that are in the middle of banging and havin babies. Whether you have ur man by your
side or you doin it alone, bein in a gang and affiliated to one, is not an easy job for a mother to do. I
KNOW THAT. so i wanna share sumthin wit you that I hope will make you all realize what life is really like
and what can happen to you and your child becuz you are in a gang. It doesn't just affect you, when you
bring that baby into it, it affects every part of their life. so pleaze take a minute and read this...
I am me. I am lil'mac. I am 21 years old. I am an inactive gang member, I am a mother, I am two parents
in one, I am EVERYTHING to my children. But bein ina gnag has hurt me, and them. It hurts everyone
eventually!
See I had my first son when I waz 15 and in a gang and so waz my man. I stayed until my son was about
3- 4 months old and then I had to get out. I got out for my kids, they needed to be safe and they weren't
with the thangs I waz doin'. I understand what these gurls are goin thru cuz I have been there. But I am
now inactive and I have two kids a son who is almost 5 and a baby girl who is 2. they are my lyfe! As for
their father, he is locked down servin 12 - 20 years. but even when he was out he wasn't around. He
wont ever be around.
Yea I still go back to mah hood and I still see mah boyz. I will never forget where I came frum,becuz itz a
part of me forever. but my kids deserved better than that.the reason I told you about me first is becuz I
do relate to all of you gurls out hea wit babies, and I think you can see that and see that you are not
alone. But the choices you choose to make with your lyfe are your own. I am gonna tell you str8 lyfe is
never easy bein in a gang and havin a baby. Itz hard enuf havin one and bein out. But as you probably
kno.,...... those who try to hurt you and make you suffer will also take those who you love them most
and are closest to you. When you have a baby and are in a gang that means.. your baby.
I also kno this first hand.... becuz when i made my final decision to leave. I waz puttin my baby boy in his
car seat in front my house he was 3 months old. I leaned in to fasten him in and I heard the all to familiar
sound of blastin.
I ducked and covered my baby. thats all I could do!!!! and pray that it didn't hit him. He waz innocent, he
didn;t deserve this. He waz juz a baby, a baby that waz in the wrong place at the wrong time. But who
couldn't defend himself. that waz my job! I waz all he had. I don't kno how we didn't die that day. All my
windows were shattered and there were 14 bullet holes in my car, centimeters frum me. Sumthin saved
us that day and I knew I wouldn't get another chance like that. I needed out before it was too late.
Fonua 11
see this is what can happen when you have a baby in a gang. I am not gettin down on you cuz I been
there and done that. I will not judge you or what you choose to do. I juz ask that you look at what can
happen and then decide if thatz what you still wanna do. I am always here if you wanna talk. juz e-mail
me goodluck and keep yo head up.
lil'mac@gangstyle
lilmac4u@hotmail.com
Juz A Gangster
just a gangster
shyt just a "G"
juz as simple as you and me
thats all they see when they look at me
they dont realize
who I am
what im about
or how I got here
all they see is where ive been
the tatted tears of lives lost when
simple thangs got outta hand
a rag hung frum my head
and "lets get it on" waz what was said
blood was shed
i remember when
it waz back in the day
but since then so much has changed
Fonua 12
im no longer that way
but no matter what that is all they see
juz a gangster....
juz a "G"
shyt itz juz me
lil'mac
this is for the girls
this is to all them lil girls that luv them niggas in gangs. trust girls they r not worth it. they will make u
feel so special and wanted. they will tell u that they luv u. but they dont ur just anotha bitch in they life.
think they faithful if u want but trust me no matta what they tell u they lien. u cant turn a hoe into a
house wife im sure u heard that b4. u will neva b able to change them.
i was engaged to a damu i thought i was his errthin. he gave me money and bought me errythin i
wanted. but he also hit me. i chose him over my family i thought he loved me. but then i got locked for
him he aint xcept none of my calls but when i got out he thought we was still ok. i told him it was ova
and we got into a fight. my moms pressed charges but i dropped em so he could get out. i finally realized
that he aint luv me when he got my lil brotha locked. i was wit him for 3 years and he still round wherr i
b at. i had to change my whole life. to this day he still call me and try to get me back but ive grown and
learned not to fall for they lines no more.
please girls dont fall for them therr not good to b wit. if u have ne ?s write me at iloveitthug@aol.com
Nunca Olvidare
September 25, 1999 was the saddest day of my life. It is the day my son chose to break into his final
home. My heart felt like it stopped beating. I spoke for the first time at my son's funeral with over 200
people there (Mostly all teenagers). I told them God sent this child in to this world to be funny & loving,
and make so many friends & win so many hearts, then to go out of this world with a "BANG" to teach a
lesson to many others! Little did I know how many people this would be reaching! As I went into my
grieving process I created a "Wanted" poster and went to a printing company and asked them how
much to print this poster so that I could deliver this message to our youth. God was gracious and I was
given 3000 posters at NO CHARGE! This was only a week after my son passed. I mailed these posters to
every Juvenile facility, every one in the House of Representatives, even to the White house. I kept myself
very busy. One of the youth drug facilities called me in November and asked me to come speak to their
participants on Family Night. I was very shy and nervous as I went. I brought carnations and handed
Fonua 13
them to all the teens to hold as I spoke and then at the end of speaking I told them to give the flower to
their parent or loved one who was there with them supporting them through this time in their life as a
thank you for their support. This was my first time speaking to the youth and there was not a dry eye in
the place. I never would have thought I would come this far. Over the past three years God has used me
immensely and shown me to have talents that I never thought I possessed. I have been to many places
and events speaking to the youth. This past in August I did something else I never thought I could do. I
sang the song "Tomorrow" by the Winans during one of the events. I saw the look on those young men's
faces and knew that I did reach them! Not one of those young men will forget that day! Hopefully the
message will keep them from ending up like my Magic. September 25, 2002 - 3 years have passed since
my baby died. As I was driving to work that day I was preparing myself to speak (as I do every October at
a facility where Magic once was placed) and I was saying (to myself) should I sing that song? Do I really
sing it ok? All of a sudden God put a song in my head and in my heart! God gave me a song for the
youth! He gave me the words & he gave me the melody! I sang it into my cell phone because I always
think of poems or words and forget them by the time I get to a pen and paper. Everywhere I sing this
song I am told that it needs to be recorded and it needs to be heard. I am now in the process of trying to
get this achieved. I am sure if God wants this message heard that this will be accomplished. I have never
been so aggressive in my life so I know that this is meant to come to a reality. This is the end of my
article but not the end of my story. Stay tuned to hear good news of a song and message for the youth!
Prepare yourself for "Stop this Madness"! Lisa Bryan Email: MissingMagic@Aol.com Website:
ReachForOurTeens.4t.com
About Lisa?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lisa is the mother of 3 beautiful children and the sweetest , smartest, prettiest granddaughter. I love the
Lord with my whole heart and soul. I praise His name throughout all my days.
I wasn't always praising our Father. I always loved Him and knew of Him. I used to go to church as a very
young child. I guess since I moved to Florida at age 9 that stopped. I went from time to time with my
mother who was very sick. She died when I was 16. I always believed as long as I loved God and I talked
to Him I was O.K.
At age 20 I had my first child. Raohl Jr. (better known to all as Magic. He got his nickname on his first
night home from the hospital. There was song playing that said "we've got love, we've got magic, magic
is the key" and his daddy said "that is his nickname - Magic". But I found out that a baby isn't the key to
a good marriage and home life. Then came my son Jamie. When Alicia was 4 she came to live with me as
her mother was in the hospital and died a year later from juvenile diabetes. I won't mention much about
my marriage to the children's father because the only good thing that came out of it is my children. I
married a man who turned to drugs in his teens and still lives for his drugs. My marriage ended and he
never helped raise my children financially or fatherly.
Fonua 14
James went to a special school and life was, and I guess still is, a struggle for him. Magic was a straight A
student and the class clown until Jr. High school where I saw an immediate change. I believe in discipline
and they got it at home. The problem with a one-parent home is the children are alone for 4 hours every
day after school. That is a lot of time on their hands. Everything I signed them up for to keep them busy
failed. The boys were always getting into fights and getting kicked out of the after school programs.
Enough for now on that struggle because that message is in the website.
At 17 Magic became a father. My beautiful granddaughter Destiny will be three years old in February. I
adore her. She lights up a room with her smile just like her daddy did.
I have been working at an elderly HUD subsidized apartment complex as an Administrative Assistant for
7 years and I love my job. It is not peaches and cream all the time! But I love what I do. I love the
computer, typing and graphics. I love poems and love stories-I guess you could say fantasy!
Above all, I love the Lord and I thank him for my life. He gave me the strength to take the most heart
breaking experience a person could imagine and turn it around to strive for a better life for others. For
over four years I have been attending a Messianic Temple where I have grown stronger in my faith. I
never read my Bible. It just sat on a dresser with photos and flowers shoved in it. Now I read my Bible
and go to worship and praise Him with all my heart. I thank Him for my children, my grandchild, my
husband of 7 years, my entire family, my step daughters, and all my friends. I thank Him for leading me
to a place of worship where I am comfortable. I thank Him for allowing the HOLY SPIRIT to be present in
my life. I Thank Him for His precious Son who stretched out his arms and died for us. I thank Him for 18
years of my beautiful Magic, who could always make me smile when I was down and still has a way of
making me smile.
Not much more to say about Lisa. I have had many struggles in my life which is true for every other
person who passed through this world. I just know that my knowledge and relationship with our Father
has brought me peace in my heart. Thank you Lord for the peace in my heart!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I sit here today, one year later, I recall the worst day in my life. No one could ever imagine losing a
child unless they have been through it. At times I am ok, just going on with life's business and then the
reality hits me all over again like a tornado tearing through my heart.
Fonua 15
September 25, 1999, at 5 am, my husband got a phone call telling him that he must bring me to my
family's home but not tell me why. On the way there I began to think something happened to my dad or
sister. Upon arrival, someone ( I can't even remember who) told me that I musn't worry yet, however
four youths broke into a home, gun shots rang out, three youths took off and one lay dead, but they do
not know for sure if it is my son laying on that floor in a pool of blood.
At this point all I wanted to do was get to the scene of the crime to see for myself and be with my child
(who I knew in my heart was on that floor). No one would tell me where the crime scene was as the
police told them not to tell me and that no one could go into the home. So I had to wait for what
seemed like an eternity for my sister to come and confirm that it was him. The only way she knew it was
him was the fact that the body had a Lisa tatoo. This is the moment that always flashes back to me. The
moment when I just fell to my knees and lost it all. The pain inside is unbearable! It gets a little easier to
survive but inside I feel like my heart has been ripped out.
We had a huge turnout at the funeral. Over two hundred people showed up, mostly children who knew
Magic. Although he received his GED, he was at the school every day "just chillin" with the high school
kids and his girlfriend. They all loved him and mourned his death. I think the only thing that kept me
going that week was the group of kids that were at the house daily. I had to be strong for them and that
helped me. A great Youth Pastor (Pastor Joe) gave the message at the funeral and many of the children
at the grave site raised their hands , said the prayers, and accepted God's Son into their hearts that day!
It was awesome. And believe me when I tell you that I felt my son looking down smiling. I also spoke
that day. I have always been shy and that day God gave me the strength to deliver a very powerful
message to those children. If we reached one child that day then the day will not have been in vain.
http://www.reachforourteens.4t.com/about.html
Tongan Crip Gang
http://asiapacificuniverse.com/asia_pacific/messages41/2371.html
http://www.knowgangs.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=823
Fonua 16
http://www.freetattoodesigns.org/maori-tattoos.html