Homophonic Translation: Pas de lieu Rhone que nous
This is a term I just learned, although homophonic translation is familiar to anyone who’s laughed along to that Benny Lava video. It’s “translating” something by writing a phonetic approximation in another language, much like a mondegreen, but the “mis-hearing” bridges two languages.
For instance, I like to annoy my friend Lisa by homophonically translating things she says to me in French. If she says “C’est bon!” I respond “Bone.” If she says “C’est ça,” I answer, “Saw.” I also like to encourage guests to dig in at the start of a meal by announcing “Bony patoot!” By which I guess I mean, Don’t worry your skinny butt about getting fat.
For some reason, there is something particularly amusing about homophonic translations from English into “French”, by which I mean nonsense that looks like French and sounds like English. For example, if you grew up speaking English and can also pronounce French, try reading this little rhyme out loud:
- Un petit d’un petit
- S’étonne aux Halles
- Un petit d’un petit
- Ah! degrés te fallent
- Indolent qui ne sort cesse
- Indolent qui ne se mène
- Qu’importe un petit d’un petit
- Tout Gai de Reguennes
It was written by actor and wit Luis van Rooten. Recognize it? Here’s a visual clue.
Know any other homophonic translations?
Illustration by Florence England Nosworthy
That’s tantalizingly familiar, but I can’t figure out the source. My french pronunciation is far from perfect, so that’s probably hurting my chances.
ok, I think I understand a little. “one potato, two potatoes…” but that rhyme seems too monotonous to generate the French you wrote. Maybe I’m on the wrong track?
I haven’t spoken French for years, but was fluent (reading/writing/speaking), and my pronunciation is still pretty good…..and I haven’t got a clue. What is it? All I can hear when I say it is the French, French accent, French definitions of the words, so maybe that’s in my way of trying to hear it as something else?
I’ve added a clue.