Blason populaire
Blason populaire is an umbrella genre in the field of folkloristics used to designate any item of any genre which makes use of stereotypes, usually, but not always, negative stereotypes, of a particular group.[1]
In blasons populaires nations are homogeneous and have national characteristics.
Items such as ethnic jokes or blonde jokes are very common examples of blason populaire.
Blasons populaires in Wallonia and Luxembourg [2]
In Wallonia (Belgium) and Luxembourg, the concept of "blason populaire" refers to a demonym-like nickname of the inhabitants of a village or a city.
Blasons populaire come from the traditional languages (Walloon, Luxembourgish). They are never translated in French, as opposed to the demonyms which exist in French and in Walloon, often in two different constructions.
Some, which have lost their pejorative meaning, are now used to name restaurants, theater groups, communal houses, etc. They are also used in pseudonyms of writers in Walloon.
| Town | Blason | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ansart (province Luxembourg) | Wardeûs d'oyes (Walloon) | Guardians of geese |
| Ath (Hainault) | Les Bourjoûs d'Ât (Picard) | The burghers of Ath |
| Sivry (Hainault) | Chés gâtes ed Chevi (Picard) | The goats of Sivry |
Blasons populaires in Picardie and Nord-Pas-de-Calais
The inhabitants of all villages or cities in these regions have a blason populaire (in Picard language: surpitchet).[3]
For example, for the town of Amiens the blason is chés Maqueus d'gueugues d'Anmien ('the Eaters of Walnuts of Amiens'). In 1597, Spanish soldiers mounted a surprise attack. They were disguised as peasants and put walnuts at the doors of the town. The inhabitants were famished and opened the doors, following which the Spanish soldiers entered the city; with deadly consequences for the inhabitants.
| Town | Department | Picard | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soissons | Aisne | chés Béyeux[4] | les bouches bées | open-mouthed |
| Laon | Aisne | chés glorieus d'Laon | les fiers de Laon | the proud [people] of Laon |
| Saint-Quentin | Aisne | chés cannoniers d'Saint-Quintin | les querelleurs de Saint-Quentin | the scrappers of Saint-Quentin |
| Arras | Pas-de-Calais | chés boïaux rouches d'Aro | les boyaux rouges d'Arras | the red guts of Arras |
| Lille | Nord | chés burgeos d'Lille | les bourgeois de Lille | the burghers of Lille |
References
- ↑ Carl Lindahl, John McNamara, John Lindow, eds. Medieval Folklore: A Guide to Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- ↑ http://belgique-sud-surnoms-des-habitants.skynetblogs.be/
- ↑ (in French): André Accart, Les sobriquets des habitants du Pas-de-Calais , 456 pages , ( 2006 ) ISBN 2-915800-05-7
- ↑ (French) Jean-Pierre Semblat, Dictionnaire des noms de lieux - Aisne, Archives & culture éd., Paris (2011)
Further reading
- Otto von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, International Titulaturen, (1863)
- Alfred Canel, Blason populaire de la Normandie, (1859)
- Henri Gaidoz & Paul Sebillot, Blason populaire de la France, (1884)
- Hugh Rawson, Wicked Words, (1989)
- Hans Walther, Proverbia sentientiaeque latinitatis medii aevi, (1995)
- Marcas Mac Coinnigh, "The Blason Populaire: Slurs and Stereotypes in Irish Proverbial Material", Folklore (2013)
- Vincent Stuckey Lean, Collectanea, (1902)
- Blason populaire de la France, par Henri Gaidoz et Paul Sébillot, Ayer Publishing, 1884, ISBN 0-405-10093-0, ISBN 978-0-405-10093-2 .