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Word play
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Posted on Nov 22 2011
My grandson asked what the mascot of the Tanapag Elementary School stands for, and I had to stray out of alignment for a moment to think what it really stands for. After a little hesitation to make sure, I suggested that Tataga is a fish favorably eaten by the indigenous people of the Northern Mariana islands. On the other hand, in the Chamorro language, it means “a potentially sharp object that could cut and inflict an injury.” Am sure that the mascot refers to the “tataga” fish, and not an object that could inflict injury. If the word “tataga” is carelessly spelled out, it could mean a slew of different connotation such as “ta taga,” which means ganging up for a chopping event. The fish itself is a very dangerous fish to handle if one does not know that this fish has two sharp and poisonous blades at its tail it uses to fend off predators. The point is, we do not need to refer to the mascot of the school to acknowledge the school. What is wrong with just saying “Tanapag Elementary School,” unless something is wrong with the school’s name.
The other school that is of interest to my young and yearning curious seeker is the “Chacha School.” Well, this one, I had to think thrice more than the “tataga” mascot. I could only think of two possible connections on this one. “Chacha,” as I am aware of, is a popular dance liked by people of all ages. The other assumption is that “chacha” refers to a person who is peculiar about eating a certain kind of food or a person that would not partake of any type of food or social event. “Chacha” defines between a person in need and a person in want. In other words, a difference between a person who lives to eat, and a person who eats to live. It is interesting, nonetheless, and that would command an explanation from the folks at PSS.
[B]
Francisco R. Agulto[/B]
[I]Chalan Kanoa, Saipan[/I]
