FV 081 : (Part 2) About The Smurfs! With Jean Auquier, manager of the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée
Buy Full Notes This is the second part of my conversation with Jean Auquier, the manager of the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée in Brussels, Belgium – home to many famous cartoonists and characters. This episode focuses on the cutest and tiniest characters of Belgian comic art, the Smurfs (Les Schtroumpfs). How were they born? Why are the Smurfs blue? What makes the Smurfs so popular? Why is the Smurf language so interesting, linguistically and socially? Here are only a handful of the many aspects we’ll discuss in this interview! Episode Timeline Part 1 How the Smurfs were born Why are the Smurfs blue? Part 2 A linguistic and social look at the Smurf language La Schtroumpfette, the only female Smurf Gender of Smurfs Part 3 What makes the Smurfs so popular TV and cinema Cultural variation between countries The Smurfs after their creator’s death Part 4 Jean Auquier’s Smurf reading recommendations! Jean Auquier’s favourite Smurf Vocab List agrafer = to staple album (nm) = comic book avoir la répartie facile = to be quick-witted, to be quick to respond barrage (nm) = dam (water) diminutif (nm) = dimuntive, nickname en avoir marre = to have enough,to be fed up être friand,e de = gourmand, fond of faible = weak fainéantise (nf) = laziness, idleness, apathy flamand,e = Flemish foule (nf) = crowd long métrage = feature film, full-length film lutin (nm) = elf, leprechaun; imp marmite (nf) = caldron mettre les pieds dans le plat = to put your foot in it/in your mouth peluche (nf) = plush toy rameuter = to round up; to mobilize for new activity récit (nm) = story, tale; account salsepareille = rough bindweed, common smilax, sarsaparilla sorcier (nm) = wizard, sorcerer superpouvoir (nm) = superpower tire-bouchon (nm) = corkscrew Questions: (Part 1) Why are the Smurfs blue? (part 2) What do cartoonists often listen to while they’re drawing? (Part 2) When was La Schtroumpfette born? (Part 3) What year did Peyo die? (You’ll have to do a bit of maths here!) (Part 4) What’s Jean Auquier’s favourite Smurf? What’s mine? Answers: This colour has not already been associated with people…or aliens! They listen to the radio In the early 60’s 1992 (Jean Auquier met him in 1989 and Peyo died 3 years later) Le Schtroumpf Paresseux. Le Schtroumpf à lunettes Links & Resources Website: cbbd.be My article and worksheet “Schtroumpfez-vous français?”: http://frenchyourway.com.au/schtroumpfez-vous-francais French Your Way Podcast, episode 71: "Position of adjectives (PART 1): “voiture rouge” or “rouge voiture”?" - frenchyourway.com.au/podcast71 French Your Way Podcast, episode 72 : "Position of Adjectives (PART 2): un homme pauvre, un pauvre homme" - www.frenchyourway.com.au/podcast72 Did you like this podcast? You can support my work by leaving a review on iTunes. Your kind words warm my heart and also help me be found by more passionate learners of French. Merci beaucoup! Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and never miss a new episode!