Blason populaire
Encyclopedia
Blason populaire is an umbrella genre
in the field of folkloristics
used to designate any item of any genre which makes use of stereotype
s, usually, but not always, negative stereotypes, of a particular group.
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.
) 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 demonym
s 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 pseudonym
s of writers in Walloon.
: surpitchet).
For example, for the town of Amiens
the blason is : The eaters of walnuts (in picard: Chés Maqueus d'gueugues d'Anmien). In 1597, the 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.
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
in the field of folkloristics
Folkloristics
Folkloristics is the formal academic study of folklore. The term derives from a nineteenth century German designation of folkloristik to distinguish between folklore as the content and folkloristics as its study, much as language is distinguished from linguistics...
used to designate any item of any genre which makes use of stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s, usually, but not always, negative stereotypes, of a particular group.
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 populaire in Wallonia and Luxembourg
In Wallonia (BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) and Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, the concept of "blason populaire" refers to a demonym
Demonym
A demonym , also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality. A demonym is usually – though not always – derived from the name of the locality; thus, the demonym for the people of England is English, and the demonym for the people of Italy is Italian, yet, in english, the one...
-like nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of the inhabitants of a village or a city.
Blasons populaire come from the traditional languages (Walloon
Walloon language
Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language...
, Luxembourgish). They are never translated in French, as opposed to the demonym
Demonym
A demonym , also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality. A demonym is usually – though not always – derived from the name of the locality; thus, the demonym for the people of England is English, and the demonym for the people of Italy is Italian, yet, in english, the one...
s which exist in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
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 pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
s of writers in Walloon.
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 languagePicard
Picard may refer to:* a native of, or anything originating in, Picardy* the Picard language, a Langue d'oïl and one of the languages of France* A member of the Picards, a religious sect in the fifteenth century...
: surpitchet).
For example, for the town of Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
the blason is : The eaters of walnuts (in picard: Chés Maqueus d'gueugues d'Anmien). In 1597, the 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.
External links
- http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/543/Blason-Populaire.html
- google-books , Blason populaire de la France, par Henri Gaidoz et Paul Sébillot, Ayer Publishing, 1884 , ISBN 0405100930, ISBN 9780405100932 .