Little Talk in Slow French

Host: Nagisa Morimoto
Episode: Un mot français qui n'existe pas en anglais + Movie Test!
Date: July 3, 2023

Episode Overview

This episode of Little Talk in Slow French with Nagisa Morimoto focuses on the unique French word "dépaysement"—a concept that doesn't have a direct equivalent in English. Through accessible explanations, relatable examples, and a participatory "movie test," Nagisa helps French learners understand the meaning and usage of "dépaysement," as well as similar untranslatable words from other languages. The episode is designed to boost listening skills and cultural understanding through clear, slow French with English vocabulary support where needed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Language Learning Focus

• Nagisa apologizes for losing a previously prepared episode on music, introducing the theme of unrecoverable efforts with the verb "sauvegarder" (to save) and the adjective "dégoûté" (disappointed/bummed, not just "disgusted").
  • Notable quote:

    "Je suis dégoûtée parce que j'avais préparé tout un épisode sur le thème de la musique et j'ai tout perdu." (01:03)

  • Explanation of informal language:
    • "Je suis dégoûté" becomes "Je suis deg" in spoken French (02:21).
    • "C'est du langage familier, donc si vous voulez parler très poliment, c'est mieux d'éviter de dire je suis deg..." (02:31)

2. Words that Don't Exist in Other Languages

• Introduction to untranslatable words in world languages.
  • Japanese: "Komorebi" — the poetic sunlight filtered through tree leaves (04:06).
  • German: "Waldeinsamkeit" — the solitude one feels in the forest (05:08).
    • "Personellement, un de mes préférés c'est le mot japonais 'komorebi'..." (03:56)

3. Deep Dive: "Dépaysement"

• Dépaysement is explored as a prime example of a French "intraduisible" (untranslatable) word.

  • Structure: Prefix "dé-" (negation/opposite), "pays" (country).
  • It's the feeling of being out of one's home environment, disoriented because everything is different.

• Potential English translations like "change of scene" are discussed, but shown to be inadequate because “dépaysement” refers to a feeling beyond just a geographic change.

  • Notable quote:

    "Alors que dans le mot dépaysement, on parle vraiment d'un sentiment procuré par un changement d'environnement." (07:57)

• Usage examples:

  • Travelling to a radically different culture (West → China, Africa → France), or even subtler differences (France → Spain) (07:57–10:28).
  • Expressing desire for novelty (“J’ai envie de dépaysement”) or describing a striking experience (“C’est un vrai dépaysement”) (11:48–12:14).

4. Movie Test: Films Featuring Dépaysement (12:30–26:50)

Nagisa invites listeners to guess movies based on summaries, illustrating the concept of "dépaysement" through film.

Film 1: "Lost in Translation" (12:33–15:10)

• Two Americans, disoriented in Japan, befriending each other amid culture shock.
  • "Je parle bien sûr du célèbre film Lost in Translation de Sofia Coppola, un film qui parle très bien du dépaysement." (13:28)

Film 2: "Babel" (15:10–17:41)

• Interlocking stories set in Morocco, Mexico, US, and Japan, highlighting cultural displacement and misunderstanding.
  • "C’est vraiment un film qui nous fait voir plein de paysages différents pour une expérience très dépaysante." (15:52)

Film 3: "Les Visiteurs" (17:55–21:33)

• French comedy: two Medieval men catapulted to modern-day France, experiencing extreme "dépaysement" from technological and social differences.
  • "Nos visiteurs du Moyen-Âge sont complètement dépaysés. Ils découvrent l'invention de la lumière, les toilettes, les voitures, la télévision, etc." (18:54–21:25)

Film 4: "Into the Wild" (21:42–24:33)

• A young American abandons his previous life for freedom and adventure in nature, symbolic of drastic self-imposed "dépaysement."
  • "C'est vraiment un des films qui m'a le plus marqué dans ma vie." (22:30)

Film 5: "Le Voyage de Chihiro" / "Spirited Away" (24:35–26:50)

• Animated film: a girl thrust into a fantastical world, a different style of "dépaysement" involving magical transformation and new environments.
  • "Ses parents ont été transformés en cochons et elle essaye désespérément de les récupérer et de retourner dans le monde des humains." (25:06)

5. Language Notes and Recap

• Throughout the episode, Nagisa breaks down useful vocabulary and expressions, always pausing to clarify meaning and usage for language learners.

  • Regular use of English translations for trickier words or idioms ("envie de," "se balader," "récupérer," etc.).

• Emphasis on the emotional aspect of dépaysement and how it differs from simple change of location.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On losing episode material:
  "Je suis dégoûtée parce que j'avais préparé tout un épisode sur le thème de la musique et j'ai tout perdu." (01:03)
• On untranslatable words:
  "Komorebi, c'est un mot japonais qui ne se traduit pas dans d'autres langues et c'est un mot très poétique." (04:16)
• Explaining 'dépaysement':
  "Dans le mot dépaysement, on parle vraiment d'un sentiment procuré par un changement d'environnement." (07:57)
• Movie summary clue:
  "Ils découvrent l'invention de la lumière, les toilettes, les voitures, la télévision, etc. Un vrai dépaysement pour nos deux personnages." (18:54–19:11)
• On "Into the Wild":
  "Quand j'ai vu ce film, j'étais adolescente. Et je me suis dit, c'est ça la vie, être nomade, faire de belles rencontres, posséder le moins possible, être indépendante." (22:34–22:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:37–01:37| Introduction: Lost episode, “je suis dégoûté” | | 03:47–04:13| Untranslatable words: “Komorebi” | | 05:08–05:23| Untranslatable words: “Wald-Einsamkeit” | | 06:06–10:24| Deep dive: “Dépaysement” meaning and examples | | 12:30–26:50| Movie Test (5 films) as examples of dépaysement | | 22:34–22:46| Personal reflection on “Into the Wild” | | 26:53–End | Recap and closing encouragement |

Tone, Style & Learning Approach

• Friendly and patient: Nagisa’s manner is encouraging and supportive, with a focus on learner comfort and progress.
• Balanced bilingualism: Strategic English insertions clarify advanced French vocabulary.
• Cultural immersion: Use of movies and personal anecdotes bridges linguistic and cultural learning.

Summary Conclusion

This episode is an engaging and informative journey through the French concept of dépaysement, illustrated through film history and relatable examples. Nagisa’s clear, slow French and insightful explanations help listeners not just understand new words, but feel their emotional and cultural context. The movie quiz brings language to life, tying abstract vocabulary to pop culture in a memorable way—a perfect resource for intermediate learners aiming to widen both their linguistic and cultural horizons.