Posts tagged with "French regions"

French Proverbs – Creole Language Answers

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Nov 24 2009

If you read my post the other day on La Reunion, below you will find the English explanations matched up to the proverbs in Creole and in French.  If you did not read it, I recommend reading it first!

1. Couler la peau la pas couler lo ker.
(La couleur de la peau n’est pas la couleur du cœur.)		 D. You shouldn’t judge people by the color of their skin.
2. Quand gros bèf y charge, sorte devant!
(Quand le gros bœuf est fâché, ne reste pas devant.)		 A. When the boss isn’t happy, watch out.
3. Faire z’oreilles cochon.
(Faire les oreilles de cochon.)		 B. To hear, but not want to show you heard.
4. A pa sa ka travay plis ka manjé plis.
(Ce n’est pas celui qui travaille le plus qui mange le plus.)		 F. The richest are not necessarily the ones that work the most.
5. Dlo pa ka monté mòne.
(L’eau ne remonte pas les mornes.)		 C. There’s no going back.
6. Ba yo pyé yo ka pran men.
(Donne-leur le pied, ils prennent la main.)		 E. People always want more.

French Proverbs – Creole Language

Posted by Transparent Language 1 Comment
Nov 9 2009

La France d’outre-mer (French overseas territory) includes the DROM or les Départements d’outre-mer (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and La Reunion) which are subject to French law and therefore their citizens have the exact same rights as mainland France citizens; the COM or les Collectivités d’outre-mer (Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis Islands and Futuna Islands) which have certain autonomy and are a bit separate from the French state; the POM or les Pays d’outre-mer au sein de la République (French Polynesia and New Caledonia) which are regions that will quite possibly gain independence in the future; and the administrative districts known as TOM or les Territoires d’outre-mer (Amsterdam Island, Saint Paul Island, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen islands and Adélie Land). It is worthy noting, however, that French soveriegnty is not recognized internationally in Adélie Land.

La Reunion is a small island of about 970 square miles and a population of approximately 827,000 that lies right in the middle of the Indian Ocean.  The people of La Reunion obviously speak French as that it is the national language, but the Creole language also exists.  Today, I’m going to give you 6 Creole proverbs from La Reunion and see if you can match them up with an English explanation.

1. Couler la peau la pas couler lo ker. A. When the boss isn’t happy, watch out.
2. Quand gros bèf y charge, sorte devant! B. To hear, but not want to show you heard.
3. Faire z’oreilles cochon. C. There’s no going back.
4. A pa sa ka travay plis ka manjé plis. D. You shouldn’t judge people by the color of their skin.
5. Dlo pa ka monté mòne. E. People always want more.
6. Ba yo pyé yo ka pran men. F. The richest are not necessarily the ones that work the most.
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