About the Table of Contents of this eBook. The Table of Contents in this eBook may be off by 1 digit. To correctly navigate chapters, use the bookmark links in the bookmarks panel. The Routledge Dictionary of Cultural References in Modern French The Routledge Dictionary of Cultural References in Modern French reveals the hidden cultural dimension of contemporary French, as used in the press, going beyond the limited and purely lexical approach of traditional bilingual dictionaries. Even foreign learners of French who possess a good level of French often have difficulty in fully understanding French articles, not because of any linguistic shortcomings on their part but because of their inadequate knowledge of the cultural references. This cultural dictionary of French provides the reader with clear and concise expla- nations of the crucial cultural dimension behind the most frequently used words and phrases found in the contemporary French press. This vital background information, gathered here in this innovative and entertaining dictionary, will allow readers to go beyond a superficial understanding of the French press and the French language in general, to see the hidden yet implied cultural significance that is so transparent to the native speaker. Key features: a broad range of cultural references from the historical and literary to the popular and classical, with an in-depth analysis of punning mechanisms. over 3,000 cultural references explained a three-level indicator of frequency over 600 questions to test knowledge before and after reading. The Routledge Dictionary of Cultural References in Modern French is the ideal refer- ence for all undergraduate and postgraduate students of French seeking to enhance their understanding of the French language. It will also be of interest to teachers, translators and Francophiles alike. French students in khâgne, Sciences-Po and schools of journalism will also find this valuable and relevant for their studies. Michael Mould has taught and translated in France for over 40 years. Previous publications include L’Anglais des Ressources Humaines (2003) and Corporate English (1995). The Routledge Dictionary of Cultural References in Modern French Michael Mould First edition published 2011 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2011. To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk. © 2011 Michael Mould All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. The right of Michael Mould to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Mould, Michael. The Routledge dictionary of cultural references in modern French / Michael Mould. – 1st ed. p. cm. 1. French language–Dictionaries. 2. Popular culture–France–Dictionaries. I. Title. II. Title: Dictionary of cultural references in modern French. PC2766.M68 2011 443'.21–dc22 2010033838 ISBN 0-203-83092-X Master e-book ISBN ISBN: 978-0-415-5992-07 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-415-59794-4 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-203-83092-5 (ebk) To my wife, Danielle, and to my son, Francis Contents Preface x Acknowledgements xii Abbreviations xiv Introduction 1 1 Popular cultural references 3 2 Famous words 42 3 Figurative expressions 70 4 Headline punning 85 5 Literary references 100 6 Historical references 136 7 Mythological and classical references 172 8 Biblical references 206 9 Who’s who 243 10 What’s what 270 11 The Skeletons in Marianne’s cupboard 296 12 Metonymy 314 13 Foreign words and expressions 335 vii Contents 14 Acronyms and abbreviations 388 15 Tests 426 Solution 506 Bibliography 509 Annex1 511 Index 515 viii Even while they teach, men learn. Seneca, the Younger ix Preface Many years ago, as an intermediate-level student of French, I was frequently puzzled by certain sentences I read in the press. Although I understood the individual components of the phrase, I was still at a loss to understand the global meaning behind the words. At best, I was aware of this; at worst, highly significant allusions simply passed me by unnoticed. Certain words I used in conversation would frequently provoke smiles on the face of my interlocutor for a reason that escaped me. There was a sense beyond the words, I was missing it, and my bilingual dictionary was of no help. A case in point is the word atmosphère that appeared, and still appears, frequently in newspaper and magazine headlines. My bilingual dictionary gave me extensive translations of the word –‘polluted atmosphere’, ‘upper and lower atmospheres’, ‘sterile atmosphere’–but absolutely no mention of the hidden cultural significance of the word that is so transparent to the French native speaker. My bilingual dictionary did not tell me that atmosphère,asitis frequently used in the press, is part of: a one of the most famous retorts in the history of French cinema b the most famous line ever said by the French actress, Arletty c the most famous line from the film Hôtel du Nord. It is precisely this hidden cultural dimension that this book wishes to unveil. In this dictionary, students will find a broad range of high frequency cul- tural references with a three-level ranking that will enable them to rationally allocate their study time and concentrate their effort more effectively. This book is primarily aimed at the English-speaking academic community. It may be used by university students as a self-study tool or by lecturers and teachers as a source of course material and as a testing tool. It should prove to be a useful vade mecum for the general reader of the French press (native or non-native) and I believe that it could constitute a useful reference manual for translators and journalists alike. I would like to think that this dictionary fills a gap in the current commercial offering of dictionaries. x Preface There are over 3,000 cultural references within these pages and it is hoped that they will not only enable students to solve many of the culture-bound comprehension problems they are certain to encounter, but that they will also convey something of the essence of French culture in the broadest sense of the word. xi Acknowledgements I should like to extend my warmest thanks to the various newspapers and magazines for having courteously granted permission to reproduce the hundreds of quotations taken from their respective publications. My thanks go to Le Canard Enchaîné, Les Dossiers du Canard, Les Echos, L’Express, Le Figaro, Marianne, Le Monde, Le Nouvel Observateur, Le Point, and Libération. All of the quotations taken from these publications are protected by copyright. All rights reserved. For their precious help in reading the early proofs and for giving so much constructive criticism, my sincere thanks also go to Malcolm Raddan J.P. M. ès L. M.Ed., formerly Head of the Modern Foreign Languages Department at Guilsborough School, Northamptonshire and Gerald Lees BA (Oxon) Cert. Ed. MCIL, Director of Company Languages, Colchester. Thank you, Liliane Périé, Marc Daniel and Noëlle Graziani for having served as guinea pigs for the test section and Anne Paquette for having re-read the texts with eagle eyes. It has been said that ‘teachers affect eternity; they can never tell where their influence stops’. I should like to take this opportunity to thank and remember those people whom I had the honour, joy and good fortune to have as my teachers over the years: Patrick J. Larkin, Marjorie Riding, Dr William Bryant, my numerous teachers at the Alliance Française who gave me their love of the French language, my lecturers at Paris IV Sorbonne and especially Dr Luce Bonnerot and Professor Alain Jumeau. The fruit of my work is the fruit of theirs. I am indebted to all of my students at France Telecom who, over the years, taught me so much. I should also like to express my gratitude to Samantha Vale Noya, my enthusiastic editor at Routledge, for having been such a lovely person to work with over the period of our project; her enthusiasm was a constant encouragement. My thanks also go to the many people behind the scenes and particularly to my patient and meticulous copy-editor Kris Wischenkämper. xii Acknowledgements Lastly, I should like to express my limitless thanks to my wife, Danielle, for her support and patience … and particularly for her consummate IT skills without which this book would have been more than a challenge for me to produce. To all, I express my deepest gratitude. Michael Mould xiii Abbreviations abr. abréviation abbreviation AD Anno Domini in the year of our Lord adj. adjectif adjective adv. adverbe adverb ax. axiome axiom BC avant Jésus-Christ Before Christ c. circa for approximate historical dates cf. confer compare with cit. citation quotation conjug. conjugaison conjugation dev. devise motto dict. dicton saying e.g. exempli gratia for example etc.