Asterix fans and language collectors have a new reason to celebrate. The publishing house Noir Dessin Production, based in Grivegnée, has officially released a new translation of the iconic 24th album, Asterix in Belgium — this time in the Gaumais dialect.
On March 20th at the “La dédicace” bookstore in Virton there will be a book siging by the translators!
A Surprise for the Speculators
In our previous article last November, we looked at the three existing versions (Liégeois, Carolo, and Namurois) and tried to guess which Belgian regional language would be next.
Were we close? Not exactly. While we were looking toward other major Walloon regions like Picardy or even a return to the Marolles of Brussels, Noir Dessin surprised us by heading to the southernmost tip of the country. By choosing Gaumais, they have stepped outside the Walloon dialect group entirely to highlight a Lorraine linguistic heritage. It seems the “Bravest of all Peoples” still has the power to surprise us!
A Linguistic Milestone
This new edition, titled L’Astérix tchuz les Beljes, represents a significant addition to the collection of regional translations. It marks the fourth translation of this specific album into a regional language of Wallonia/Southern Belgium by Noir Dessin Production.
Production Details
The translation into Gaumais was handled by Georges Themelin, with linguistic supervision by Jean-Luc Geoffroy.
The album is published in hardcover (cartonné) format, consisting of 48 pages in full color. True to the classic Asterix style, it maintains the dimensions of 22.5 × 30 cm.
Technical Specifications
- Title: L’Astérix tchuz les Beljes (Version en Gaumais)
- Translator: Georges Themelin
- Linguistic Supervision: Jean-Luc Geoffroy
- Publisher: Noir Dessin Production
- Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
- Price: €20,00
Collectors can find the album now through the Noir Dessin online boutique. Whether you are a scholar of Lorraine dialects or a completionist, this is a unique addition to any Gaulish library.
