A new translation of Asterix in Walloon as been announced of Asterix in Belgium. When you are an hardcore collector of Asterix you might think “There already exists a Walloon translation of Asterix in Belgium” and you are absolutely right. This particulare translation however uses Charleroi Walloon, while the previous translation was written in Liege Walloon. What is the difference you ask?
Liège and Charleroi are both major cities in Wallonia, Belgium, but Liège is historically an important cultural and economic center with a strong industrial past in steel and coal, whereas Charleroi, also known for its industrial roots, has struggled more with post-industrial decline. Liège has a vibrant student life due to its university and is known for its nightlife, while Charleroi has focused on urban regeneration projects in recent years to revitalize its image. Architecturally, Liège has a mix of medieval and modern landmarks, including its famous Guillemins railway station, while Charleroi’s landscape is more dominated by industrial heritage, though it has seen growing interest in urban exploration and street art.
Differences between Liège Walloon and Charleroi Walloon
Liège Walloon and Charleroi Walloon are both regional dialects of Walloon, but they have distinct linguistic differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical aspects. Phonetically, Liège Walloon tends to preserve older, more traditional pronunciations, whereas Charleroi Walloon has been more influenced by French, leading to a smoother and sometimes more simplified sound system. Vocabulary differences also exist: for example, in Liège Walloon, the word for “yesterday” is ayou, while in Charleroi Walloon, it is iér. Additionally, Charleroi Walloon has incorporated more borrowings from standard French due to its geographical proximity to Brussels and increased linguistic contact. Morphologically, some verb conjugations differ slightly, and Charleroi Walloon has a tendency to simplify certain plural forms compared to the more conservative Liège variety. Overall, while mutually intelligible, these dialects reflect the unique linguistic evolution of their respective regions.
Pre-order now!
You can order this new translation now at the website or Noir Dessin Production. We are looking forward to many more translations of Asterix in languages and dialects being published. The previous translation to Liége Walloon was done by the same publisher, but you can’t order it from their website anymore. It seems that translations of Asterix in local languages are either very popular or only printed in small quantities.
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