this essential thriller translated into a new language

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André Le Coqfrom Loudéac (Côtes-d'Armor), translated into Gallo one of the investigations of Mary Lesterheroine of successful Breton thrillers. Meeting with the translator Friday December 20, 2024.

Already a translation into Breton for this regional thriller

“His book has already been translated into Breton. This is the first time that a thriller has been published in Gallo. » André Le Coq “gallicized” Mary Lester, the heroine of one of the masters of the Breton thriller, Jean Perpetrators.

The Loudéacian, master of Gallo for decades, has been carrying out this translation project for years.

I'm not much of a thriller reader, I hadn't read it when I started this translation. I initially did it for fun.

He thus reconnected with his country of origin, the Goëloin a language that he masters to perfection.

The former teacher at the general and technical high school of Loudéac (Fulgence-Bienvenüe today) participated in the recognition of Gallo, through courses in the Gallese language in Central Brittany, by translating numerous texts.

He translates a bestseller

With the translation of one of Jean Failler's bestsellers, published in 1998, Dédé Le Cô (in Welsh version) wanted to talk about the coast, the bay of Saint-Brieuc (or Saint-Berieu). “It’s about fish, it’s a specific vocabulary. And we find the seaside gallo.”

Although he did not count his hours of translation and adaptation, he completely reworked his first translation, rereading and correcting the Welsh version of this piece several times.

There were some twists and turns that were a little heavy on first rereading. And as Jean Failler's book is well written, it is therefore necessary to find a good level of Gallo, not to disturb an expression which does not correspond.

Double meaning in the title in Gallo

It already starts with the title: “Russian Roulette for Mary Lester” translated into “Biao Game in St-Qué” ; in French, “Beau Jeu à Saint-Quay”.

Biao Jeu is a two-way street. First there is the sense of argument, of fighting, and the sense of playing a game: having fun. It's ironic.

A fine adaptation of the title, which remains close to the heart of the book: trickster Russians who buy a bankrupt casino and the heroine's flirtation…

The delicate art of adaptation

The literal translation does not exist: “The translation remains close to the book: I relied on the most widespread system, which dates from Petit Matao published in 2007”, the reference dictionary of Gallo.

André Le Coq therefore adapts. Mary Lester, who is on vacation in Saint-Quay-Portrieux, even finds herself with the Gallo accent of eastern Brittany, of Ille-et-Vilaine. “For his Breton version, as the investigator came from Quimper, there was no problem! » he smiled.

Every country has its own gallo!

André Le Coq thus shows the variety of Gallo: “For the word knowledge, we say “ saver ” here ; she says “ sava “. There are some explanations at the beginning of the book. »

The Gallo du Goëlo is that of the west of Côtes-d’Armor; the Gallo of his childhood, spoken in the café run by his parents.

André Le Coq is used to translating books into Gallo: he has adapted comic strips, such as Tintin or Asterix.

Or even plays, with his troupe Les Préchous de La Prénssais. “We also have plans to produce a play in Gallo soon. I found a tale in a book in Gallo, with quite a few dialogues…”

Biao Jeu à St-Qué: an investigation by Mary Lester, by Jean Failler, translation by André Le Coq, published by Rue des Scribes. 272 pages. €10.

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