La-li-lu-le-lo

[Liquiduz]

If you already knew this, dont go and say "we knew this already dumbass" Im simply posting it for those who dont know.

The meaning of La-li-lu-le-lo:(well not really the "meaning", just a little knowledge of it)

Throughout the Metal Gear Solid games, a number of individuals have referred to the Patriots as the "La-li-lu-le-lo." One theory for the meaning of this name relates to a codec conversation between Emma Emmerich and Raiden during Metal Gear Solid 2:

Emma: "The alphabet... twenty-six letters, right? It could've been
thirty letters. What if the 4 deleted letters were controlled by
a program? "

This conversation gives an example of how a secret society - specifically the Patriots - can suppress elements of something as extensive as language itself. This example could very well bear relevance to the game's native language of Japanese: the forty-six characters in the kana syllibaries are known as the gojuu-on, or "fifty sounds." The other four have either been phased out since World War II or simply never existed ("wi" and "we" in the former case, and "yi" and "ye" in the latter).

Romanized Japanese has the same 5 vowels as English - A, E, I, O, U - but traditionally in a different order; A, I, U, E, O (sound familiar?). These are pronounced: Ah, Ee, Ooh, Eh, Oh. On the most part, consonants are added to these vowels to construct syllables. For example, add an "R" and you get Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro. The syllables La, Li, Lu, Le and Lo are nonexistent in romanized Japanese (in the Japanese version of the Metal Gear games, the organization's alternate name is spelled Ra-ri-ru-re-ro).

Although Metal Gear Solid 3 does not specifically link the Philosophers to Japan, it is quite possible that the translator intended the romanization of La-li-lu-le-lo to represent the Patriots, because of the connotations to suppression of information by a secret society. This is also quite consistent with Emma Emmerich's example/theory of suppressed letters in English.

Why the Patriots are known as the La-li-lu-le-lo is not fully explained as of Metal Gear Solid 3. However, it is generally assumed that the La-li-lu-le-lo is the term that Raiden (or, more generally, the player) hears whenever the Patriots are mentioned, in order to protect the Patriots' identity. For example, Richard Ames in MGS2, only ever refers to them by this name, despite Ames being affiliated with the Patriots. In a making off documentary only available in Japan, a 'bonus' or deleted scene was shown. It showed Olga speaking to Raiden of the PATRIOTs. When she said PATRIOTs he heard La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo. This suggests that whenever the Patriots are mentioned to Raiden, his nanomachines change it to La-li-lu-le-lo.

But as early as the events of MGS3, the term is used as an alternative name. Major Zero sets Snake's contact password as "Who are the Patriots?" with the answer being "La-li-lu-le-lo". The significance of this is not fully understood. It may suggest actual Patriot interference in the events of the game. But it is also possible that the phrase was intended as nothing more than a password, which somehow leaked out. Or perhaps, it was just a simple reference to MGS2. Major Zero telling Snake the password was the biggest teaser used at the end of the Metal Gear Solid 3 trailers. (Matthew Porter) Ga. says: the password in mgs3 could of been just a reference but it is possible that since Ocelot was Adam and he knew the password,that he couldve named the american part of the philosiphers the patriots.

[The Mad Jackyl]

Great post, Liquiduz. I've tried to research the term before but was never able to dredge up as much as you have.

[blacksnake]

I like had.....no idea. Thanks Liquiduz!

[Liquiduz]

A couple mre paragraphs of The Patriots. A theory, followed by some literary and cultural references.

There have also been numerous theories about their origin, since the only piece of information available is at the ending of the game itself when they converse with the main character through his CODEC radio. The Patriots insinuate that they are not quite... human. They appear to have all the characteristics of a disembodied computer AI, but claim to have existed for 200 years as a consciousness developed in the "primordial soup" of the White House. Near the end of Metal Gear Solid 2, they appear as a skull-like visage that briefly flashes on and off in the middle of a codec conversation. One of the strongest theories, backed up by the declaration of the themes for each game by creator Hideo Kojima during the E³ 2004, is that they are beings born out of information and therefore memes. This is reinforced by a conversation the player has at the end of the game:

Colonel: "To begin with -- we're not what you'd call -- human. Over the past two hundred
years--A kind of consciousness formed layer by layer in the crucible of the
White House. It's not unlike the way life started in the oceans four billion years ago.The White House was our primordial soup, a base of evolution--we are formless.
We are the very discipline and morality that Americans invoke so often. How can anyone hope to eliminate us? As long as this nation exists, so will we. "

Of course, there is no real reason to believe anything the Patriots actually say, since they consistently deceive everyone they deal with, including their own agents, such as Revolver Ocelot. It's entirely possible the story of their origins is simply a myth created to mislead the main characters, and dissuade them from pursuing the idea that the Patriots are flesh and blood men who can be found and killed.

A clue is given in the third installment of the MGS series. At the end of the game Ocelot manages to retrieve most of the Philosopher's Legacy so that "the Philosophers can finally be revived" (quoted from the last telephone conversation Ocelot has with the CIA Director). It's impossible to tell what Ocelot means by revived but if the Patriots are telling the truth and they are no longer what human, this means that someone (most likely the CIA) managed to bring the American Branch of the Wisemen's Committee back to life, or at least their memories or consciousness in a physical manifestation or digital form. This is still pure speculation, but a valid theory nonetheless. A digital form seems most likely, since it is possible that the entities that Raiden communicates with look like Colonel Campbell and Rosemary. Otacon even suggests that Colonel Campbell is manifested from Raiden's expectations. This supports the idea that the Patriots could also be a memetic of some kind or they are indeed born out of information.

Both of the Patriots' plans for a new world order, the state of constant war, and the S3 Plan, are derived from George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the book, the omniscient Party kept the people in line by having them live in a state of constant war with its rivals, so as to give the government fuel to feed paranoia and keep the masses under control. They also constantly retroactively edited newspaper and all other forms of media, making it seem as if the Party was always right.

There has been speculation by fans that the Patriots are a reference to the Skull and Bones, a secret society at Yale University and/or to the Patriot Act due to the powers it gives to the United States government. Both are notable for their connection to George W. Bush. However, as the project was in development before the majority of his Presidency, it's unlikely that Kojima is making a political statement. Nevertheless, the Arsenals AI is called GW. It has been speculated that this refers either to George Washington or George W. Bush, with a considerable acceptance of the community towards George Washington. The JFK system is also named in MGS2. Being that JFK is the initials of his entire name, GW would have to refer to an entire name, or George Washington.

Even more so, people just draw the connection between the Illuminati, which in popular culture, has most recently been seen in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the most recent incarnation of the Area 51 video game and the Ion Storm video game Deus Ex.

[blacksnake]

Or maybe.......................ArSeNaL GeAr G0t h4ks0rd 8y 4 h4k50r!1!1!1 hacked!1!1! jk


Very well put Liquiduz.

[SOLIDEST]

Yes very well put indeed, I hope we get more clear on the Patriots in MGS4.

[Liquiduz]

Sorry to revive this, but here is a bit more on what it MAY mean:

* La - is derived from the Hanzi character meaning "good"
* Li - is derived from the Hanzi character meaning "money"
* Lu - is derived from the Hanzi character "detain, halt"
* Le - is derived from the Hanzi character meaning "benefit, or profit"
* Lo - is derived from the Hanzi character meaning "Backbone"

(Referring to the original Chinese Hanzi, not Japanese Kanji.)

I say MAY mean because this is not hundred percent sure, since I do not know Chinese or Japenese. So I cant say if this is true of not.

[Black Snake]

I'm fixing a little error made by Liquiduz.

Even more so, people just draw the connection between the Illuminati, which in popular culture, has most recently been seen in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the most recent incarnation of the Area 51 video game and the Ion Storm video game Deus Ex.

Actually, the Illuminati are never mentioned in his book "The Da Vinci Code" they are significant in another one of his novels "Angels & Demons".