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Fluent French 2004-2 Mars-Avril B PDF
Fluent French 2004-2 Mars-Avril B PDF
Sincerely,
SECTION 1
Bonjour, et bienvenue à Fluent French Audio de
Hello, and welcome to Fluent French Audio for
M. Noisette.
SECTION 2
Le canal du Midi est certainement l’un des
The canal du Midi is certainly one of the
1
le Midi = the South of France.
2
à la fois = both; at one time. la fois = the instance, the time. See
other examples on pages 6 and 16.
2 Fluent French Audio
Bonjour.
Hello.
1
sur le plan = from the standpoint of; as far as.
2
conter = to tell about, to tell a story.
3
effectivement : Note that effectivement and justement usually
refer to something that was said or implied previously.
effectivement carries the meaning of “yes, in fact, as was
mentioned earlier.” justement carries the meaning of “yes,
precisely; in point of fact.” See some examples of justement on
pages 6, 28, and 30.
4
au fil de = in the course of.
5
phare : following a noun, it means “key,” “important.” un point-
phare = a key point. un phare = a lighthouse.
6
un ouvrage = an (engineering) work.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 3
l’Atlantique à la Méditerranée.
the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
1
il y a, from, il (it) + y (there) + a (has) form of avoir (to have). il
y a = there is; there are. il y avait = there were. il y a eu = there
has been.
2
Note that où (where) is often used for “when.”
4 Fluent French Audio
SECTION 3
Ce moyen de liaison, ça a été formalisé au XVIIe
This means of connection, it was formalized in the 17th
1
se buter contre/à quelque chose = to come up against
something. buter sur un problème = to encounter a problem.
2
alimenter = to supply. l’alimentation = 1) food, 2) the supply. See
page 8 for an example of alimenter.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 5
1
falloir = to be necessary. il faut que = it is necessary that. il a
fallu que = it was necessary that.
2
soit is a subjunctive form of être (to be). il a fallu que... makes the
subjunctive form necessary. See other examples on pages 7, 18, 19
and 33.
3
ne... ni... ni = neither... nor.
4
le Larousse = name of the popular French dictionary.
5
un cabinet notarial = a legal office. un notaire : somewhat like a
lawyer in the U.S. or a solicitor in Britain. He does not handle
courtroom proceedings, but does handle transfers of real estate,
inheritance, etc.
6
jouir de quelque chose = to possess something, to benefit from
the possession of something.
6 Fluent French Audio
un point important –
an important point -
180
– Alors, justement, la gabelle, quelle...
- Well, indeed, the salt tax, what…
190 C’était un impôt qui était assis sur le sel. Et donc, le sel,
It was a tax that was levied on salt. And so, salt
1
ben : colloquial for bien.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 7
SECTION 4
Donc Pierre Paul Riquet jouissait d’un territoire
So Pierre Paul Riquet had a territory (that was)
1
qu’on soit au bord de la mer, literally, that one be at the edge of
the sea. soit is a subjunctive form of être.
2
au fin fond de = deep into; in the farthest reaches of. le fond = the
bottom; the base.
3
s’étendre = to stretch out. étendre = to spread out; to open out;
to extend; to expand. See another example of s’étendre on page
12.
4
jusqu’à = all the way to; up to.
8 Fluent French Audio
250 toutes ces petites rivières, tous ces petits cours d’eau qui
all those small streams, all these small waterways that
Toulouse et la Méditerranée. »
Toulouse and the Mediterranean."
270
SECTION 5
Alors, ça c’était pour l’idée géniale de Pierre
So, that was for the fantastic idea of Pierre
1
une cinquantaine = about 50. See page 11 for an example of une
vigntaine (about 20).
2
un vieillard = an old man. une vielle dame = an old lady. vieux =
old.
3
Revel = a city in Haute-Garonne.
4
se lancer dans quelque chose = to throw oneself into something.
lancer = to throw. See pages 14 and 97 for other examples.
5
se mettre quelqu’un dans la poche = to get someone on your
side. Literally, to put someone in the pocket.
10 Fluent French Audio
SECTION 6
Donc 1666 pour le, le début, on va dire,
So, 1666 for the, the beginning, we will say,
1
Monseigneur de Bourlemont a permis à Riquet que son projet
soit présenté à Colbert, literally, Monseigneur de Bourlemont has
permitted to Riquet that his project be presented to Colbert. soit is a
subjunctive form of être (to be).
2
Colbert : (1619-1683) French Statesman who is credited for
carrying out an economic reconstruction program that helped make
Louis XIV’s France a dominant European power.
3
là = there, but is also used to mean “here,” “now,” “then,” etc.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 1 1
1
mis is the past participle of mettre (to put).
2
l’autoroute des Deux Mers: Also known as the A62, it runs from
Narbonne to Bordeaux. The two seas, of course, are the Atlantic and
the Mediterranean.
3
s’entourer de = to surround oneself with.
12 Fluent French Audio
1
d’une armée de 12 000 hommes, femmes, qui ont déblayé
with an army of 12,000 men and women who cleared
SECTION 7
Le canal du Midi s’étend sur combien de
The canal du Midi stretches over how many
kilomètres, finalement ?
kilometers, actually?
par Pierre Paul Riquet. Pierre Paul Riquet avait créé Sète
by Pierre Paul Riquet. Pierre Paul Riquet had created Sète
400
de façon à permettre aux bateaux de mer de décharger des
in order to allow sea-going ships to unload
1
This de is a continuation of s’entourer de.
2
un étang = a pond; a lagoon.
3
Sète = A Mediterranean port, population 40 220.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 1 3
par la Garonne.
on the Garonne.
SECTION 8
Et puis je citerai un dernier ouvrage quand même un
And also I will cite one last work (which is) actually a
430
petit peu exceptionnel : c’est le tunnel du Malpas qui
little bit exceptional: it is the Malpas Tunnel, which
1
ne... plus = no longer; no more.
14 Fluent French Audio
SECTION 9
Alors, canal du Midi, un ouvrage historique,
So, the canal du Midi, a historic construction,
510
mais également, depuis maintenant une vingtaine
but also, for now about twenty
1
du coup = as a result. Literally, from the strike, the hit, the blow.
le coup = the strike, the hit, the blow.
16 Fluent French Audio
550 entre guillemets, par nos amis anglais, puisque les premières
in quotes, by our English friends, since the first
d’origine anglaise.
of English origin.
1
remettre quelque chose au goût du jour = 1) to update
something, 2) to put something back in fashion.
2
les années 1980 = the 1980s. Compare to les années 1900 (the
1900s) on page 27.
3
assister à quelque chose = to witness something.
4
la location : a “false friend.” It means “the rental” and not “the
location.” It comes from the verb louer = to rent, to lease.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 1 7
SECTION 10
560 Alors le tourisme fluvial va finalement donner
So river tourism is going, in the end, to give
1
The speaker should have said elle, since personne is feminine.
2
être en train de faire quelque chose = to be in the process of
doing something. aménager = to fit out; to lay out; to develop. See
other examples of être en train de faire quelque chose on pages
40 and 99.
18 Fluent French Audio
620 tout à fait, sans permis, louer un bateau pour une semaine et
absolutely, without a permit, to rent a boat for a week and
1
ce n’est pas la peine, literally, it is not (worth) the trouble. In this
case, the idea is that you don't have to be, it is not necessary to be.
2
un marin d’eau douce, literally, a fresh water sailor.
3
soit... soit = either… or. soit is a subjunctive form of être (to be).
See another example of soit... soit on page 19.
4
la fréquentation = the number of persons who visit. fréquenter =
to visit, to frequent.
5
c’est dire si..., literally, it is to say if...
6
balbutier = to stammer, to mumble. This type of tourism was in the
babbling stages, in its infancy.
7
l’essor = flight; rapid expansion. prendre essor = to take flight; to
develop rapidly. See another example of prendre essor on page 19
and an example of l’essor on page 25.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 1 9
SECTION 11
Troisième formule, qui est une formule de groupe,
Third way, which is a group formula,
630 où, là, on a des bateaux qui sont gérés par des
where in this case we have boats that are managed by
1
une prestation = a service, a benefit, a level of performance. les
prestations de sécurité sociale = social security benefits.
2
haut de gamme = top of the line. une gamme de produits = a
line of products.
20 Fluent French Audio
1
réaliser = to bring into existence; to make; to realize; to complete.
2
The franglais term tour-opérateur is now found in French
dictionaries.
3
un ordre de prix = a price range.
4
suivant = according to; depending upon. Literally, following. suivre
= to follow.
Mars - Avril 2004 Canal du Midi 2 1
Avec plaisir.
My pleasure.
22 Fluent French Audio
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 2 3
SECTION 12
Un des produits bien français que toute ménagère
One of the typically French products that any homemaker
Mme. Bousquet-Fabre.
SECTION 13
Marie-Hélène Bousquet-Fabre, bonjour.
Marie-Hélène Bousquet-Fabre, hello.
Bonjour.
Hello.
1
se doit d’avoir = owes it to oneself to have. se devoir = to owe to
oneself. devoir = to be obliged; to owe; to be supposed to.
2
bien entendu = of course, literally, well heard; well understood.
entendre = to hear; to understand.
24 Fluent French Audio
1
http://www.marius-fabre.fr. The factory is open for tours.
2
Les Bouches du Rhône : a département in southern France at the
“mouth” (la bouche) of the Rhône river.
3
la filleule = the goddaughter; le filleul = the godson.
4
au fond de, literally, in the bottom of, in the back of. le fond = the
bottom, the base.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 2 5
SECTION 14
Donc en fait, il a créé la savonnerie en 1900,
So, in fact, he created the soap factory in 1900,
1
se rendre compte de quelque chose = to realize something; to
come to understand something.
2
la mode = the fashion, the trend.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 2 7
SECTION 15
Alors, c’est vrai que le savon, c’est vraiment
So, it’s true that soap, it is really
1
Red clay roof tiles are the norm in Southern France, while slate roof
tiles are the norm in the North.
2
les années 1900, literally, the years 1900. Compare to les années
1980 (the 1980s) on page 16.
28 Fluent French Audio
80 temps des Gaulois et, et même d’avant. Par contre, Louis XIV
time of the Gauls, and, and even before. However, Louis XIV
110 les huiles d’olive de la région. Et donc ces huiles d’olive, l’été,
the olive oils of the region. And so these olive oils, in summer
1
n’importe quoi = whatever; anything. Compare to n’importe quel
on pages 33 and 46.
2
en plein été, literally, in full summer.
3
dit/dite = known as; called. dit is the past participle of dire (to
say.)
4
quoi, literally, what. Often used to finish a thought. Can be
translated variously as “you know,” “in short,” etc.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 2 9
les mois les plus chauds de l’été. Voilà, un petit peu, bon,
the hottest months of summer. That's it, in a way, okay
savon blanc. Enfin, « blanc »,5 c[e n]’est pas blanc comme
white soap. Well, “white,” it is not white like
1
à l’heure actuelle, in this day and age, literally, at the current hour.
actuel = current, up to date. actuellement = currently. les
actualités = the news.
2
au niveau de = as far as, as regards; with respect to. Literally, at
the level of. See another example on page 67.
3
et autres = and others. See other examples on pages 70 and 77.
4
donner = to give; to result in; to produce. Ça n’a rien donné. =
That produced no result; that had no effect.
5
The speaker quotes herself in mock derision before specifying what
she really means. This is common in spoken French.
30 Fluent French Audio
SECTION 16
Comment il est fabriqué, ce savon ?
How is it made, this soap?
190 cette huile d’olive grasse qui va donc donner la couleur verte
this thick olive oil that is going then to give the green color
SECTION 17
Et la fabrication est toujours la même, depuis
And the manufacture is still the same, for
1
un gras = a fat; an oil; a grease. In this case, the speaker is talking
about the oils that go into the making of the soap.
2
mousser = to froth; to foam; to lather. faire mousser quelque
chose = to make something foam up. la mousse = moss; lather;
bubbles; foam. la mousse à raser = shaving cream. la mousse au
chocolat = chocolate mousse.
32 Fluent French Audio
1
un carré = a square. The speaker again refers to a “square” of soap
on page 40.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 3 3
SECTION 18
Le savon de Marseille a un engouement4
Marseilles soap has always been the object
1
quel que soit = whatever, whatever be, whatever may be, from,
quel (which) + que (that) + soit (be). soit is a form of être (to
be). See another example on page 94.
2
n’importe quel = any; whichever. See another example on page
46. Compare also to n’importe quoi and n’importe comment on
page 28.
3
la traçabilité : the possibility of tracking a product through the
various stages of its production, in particular in the food industry.
This has been the subject of French news recently, in connection
with the mad cow disease.
4
The speaker misspoke. She could have said, il y a un engouement
pour le savon de Marseille depuis toujours (there has always
been an infatuation with Marseilles soap). un engouement = an
infatuation, a brief fancy.
34 Fluent French Audio
etc.
etc.
1
faire ses preuves = to prove oneself; to stand the test of time.
2
revenir de quelque chose = to get over something; to change
one's mind; to abandon something (often a theory or an idea).
Literally, to come back from something.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 3 5
1
un écologiste = 1) an ecologist, 2) a nature person. Notice that this
usage has a very different feel from the term “un écolo” used by M.
Clauss on page 63.
2
pas mal de = quite a few. See another example of pas mal de on
page 73 and an example of pas mal (pretty good) on page 44.
3
s’apercevoir = to notice, to become aware of. apercevoir = to see;
to catch sight of.
4
se servir de quelque chose = to use something; to make use of
something. See another example on page 42. ce dont on se
servait = that of which we were making use.
36 Fluent French Audio
pour les blessures, que pour enlever les taches, que pour les,
for wounds, as for removing spots, as for
SECTION 19
370 Est-ce que ça marche2 à l’étranger ?
Is it doing well abroad?
pays ?
countries?
le savon blanc ?
white soap ?
390
1
aussi bien... que... = 1) both... and... 2) as well... as... See page
94 for another example of aussi bien... que... See pages 43 and 45
for other examples of aussi bien.
2
marcher = 1) to walk; 2) to work (in the case of machines); 3) to
work out. Ça marche ? means “Sales are good?” See another
example of ça marche on page 53 and an example of ne pas
marcher (to not go well, to be unsuccessful) on page 85.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 3 7
qui vont avec, c’est-à-dire qui sont déclinées1 sur cette base,
that go with it, that is to say that are available on that basis,
Mais, ils ont les deux. Ils, ils aiment bien les deux.
But they have both. They, they like both a lot.
SECTION 20
Juste pour terminer, pour
420 Simply in conclusion, for
1
décliner un produit = to make a product available. un produit
décliné en 3 coloris = a product available in 3 colors.
38 Fluent French Audio
c’est-à-dire qu’il faut qu’il ait 72% d’huile, hein, ça, c’est
450 that is to say that there must be 72% oil, you know, that is
comme nous et qui n’ont pas cet outil de travail que nous
as we are and who do not have this work tool that we
490
avons nous de famille et, et depuis plus de cent ans pour
have, we, in the family and, and (have had) for more than 100 years for
SECTION 21
Bonjour Marianne,
Hello Marianne,
1
être en train de faire quelque chose = to be in the process of
doing something. See other examples on pages 17 and 99.
2
une robe à ma petite-fille = a dress that belongs to my
granddaughter. à can be used to express ownership. Cette robe est
à ma moi. = This dress belongs to me. un ami à moi = a friend of
mine. Note that it would have been more proper to say “une robe
de ma petite-fille.”
3
le gras = fat; oil; grease. The substance in question could be butter,
oil, grease, etc.
4
The speaker also could have said Qu’est-ce que ce gros carré...
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 4 1
1
pourquoi vous dites : this is somewhat colloquial. The speaker
could also have said Pourquoi dites-vous, or Pourquoi est-ce
que vous dites.
2
tenir quelque chose de quelqu’un = to get something from
someone. Il tient ses yeux bleus de son père. = He gets his blue
eyes from his father.
3
The speaker misspoke. She should have said se servir du savon.
42 Fluent French Audio
Marianne et Marguerite.
SECTION 22
Est-ce que vous connaissez beaucoup de
Do you know many
1
Tiens ! = Well, now! From tenir (to hold.)
2
se servir de quelque chose = to make use of something; to use
something. s’en servir = to use it, to make use of it. See another
example of se servir de on page 35.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 4 3
600 Non, je [ne] sais pas. Je [ne] peux pas vous dire.
No, I don’t know. I am not able to tell you.
sur la peau.
on the skin.
1
aux bébés : the aux comes from faire mal à... in the previous
sentence. faire mal à quelqu’un = to harm someone. Ce savon ne
fera pas mal, même aux bébés. = This soap won’t do any harm,
even to babies.
44 Fluent French Audio
le recommandent assez.
recommend it a lot.
1
un dermato : short for un dermatologue.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 4 5
c’est ça ?
it that right?
tout simplement.
quite simply.
1
carrément, literally, squarely. un carré = a square. See another
example of carrément on page 65.
2
avec at the end of a sentence. This is common in informal speech.
46 Fluent French Audio
SECTION 23
Et vous avez montré, ça, vous, à vos enfants ?
And you have shown that, you, to your children?
Exactement !
Absolutely!
1
faire voir quelque chose à quelqu’un = to show something to
someone. Literally, to cause someone to see something.
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 4 7
1
se moquer de = 1) to make fun of, to laugh at, 2) to not care
about.
48 Fluent French Audio
hein !
right?
Au revoir !
Good bye!
1
Ce n’est pas un miracle ! : this is actually a rhetorical question
meaning, “You think that might be a miracle?”
2
le reste : the speaker means “all the other soaps.”
3
trafiquer = 1) to deal in stolen or illegal merchandise. 2) (colloquial)
to alter (a product); to use inferior ingredients in an attempt to
defraud the buyer. 3) (colloquial) to do; to fiddle around. Qu’est-ce
que tu trafiques ? = What are you doing?
Mars - Avril 2004 Savon de Marseille 4 9
850 Au revoir !
Good bye!
50 Fluent French Audio
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 51
SECTION 24
En France, les cigognes ont à nouveau la mainmise1
In France, the storks have again control over
10 région.
region.
M. Clauss.
SECTION 25
Bonjour, Monsieur Clauss. Vous êtes le
Hello, Mister Clauss. You are the
1
avoir la mainmise = to have control over something. la main =
the hand. mise is the past participle of mettre (to put).
2
un but = a goal; avoir pour but de faire quelque chose = to
have as a goal to do something.
52 Fluent French Audio
1
casser, literally, to break.
2
vouloir dire = to mean. Literally, to want to say.
3
baguer un oiseau = to band a bird; to tag a bird. une bague = a
ring.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 53
SECTION 26
Donc, ça veut dire qu’en Alsace on recense1
So that means that in Alsace you count
couples dans les villages. Donc, c’est déjà plus que avant
pairs in the villages. So, it is already more than before
1
recenser = to take a census, to register.
54 Fluent French Audio
la migration.
the migration.
110
SECTION 27
Alors, on dit que la cigogne, c’est le symbole de
Well, they say that the stork, it is the symbol of
maison, il y avait deux nids. Et puis mon père m’a fait une
house there were two nests. And so my father made me a
1
In proper French, one would say, Comment la cigogne est-elle
devenue l’animal…
2
la ponte = the laying of eggs. pondre = to lay eggs.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 55
SECTION 28
On dit que la cigogne est un porte-bonheur ;2
They say that the stork is a lucky charm;
1
In proper French, one would say, depuis quand la cigogne est-
elle l’emblème…
2
un porte-bonheur = a lucky charm.
56 Fluent French Audio
fidèle, ce qui n’est pas vrai. Donc ce sont des légendes, quoi.
faithful, which is not true. So those are legends, you know.
et de fécondité ?
and fecundity?
1
se mettre, literally, to put oneself. See some more examples on
pages 62 and 66.
2
un éclair = a flash of lightning.
3
la foudre = lightning.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 57
1
une bagarre = a fight, a brawl.
58 Fluent French Audio
1
DDR : (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) = German Democratic
Republic (former Eastern Germany).
2
se retrouver quelque part = to end up somewhere. Compare to se
trouver quelque part (to be somewhere.) See page 69 for an
example of se trouver.
3
quinze jours : two weeks. Literally, fifteen days. Compare to huit
jours (a week, literally, 8 days.) See page 86 for an example.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 59
jusqu’à Gibraltar ?
all the way to Gibraltar?
310 plane. Et la cigogne cherche les thermiques et, s’il n’y a pas
glides. And the stork seeks thermals and, if there are no
SECTION 30
Et une fois en Afrique, elle revient quand ici ?
And once in Africa, it comes back when, here?
1
mettre du temps à faire quelque chose, = to spend time doing
something. mettre = to put.
2
The verb remigrer does not exist. The speaker could have said, elle
migre de nouveau.
3
vers le haut, literally, towards the top.
60 Fluent French Audio
tous les deux jours et, tous les deux jours, il y a un jeune qui
every two days and every two days there is a young one who
1
In standard French, one would say, le cigogneau pèse 75
grammes or le cigogneau fait 75 grammes.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 61
SECTION 31
Et le voyage est parfois difficile pour ces
And the voyage is sometimes difficult for those
1
un poteau non neutralisé : a pole that has not had plastic spikes
placed on it to prevent storks from landing. See page 63 for a picture
of un poteau neutralisé. This term has nothing to do with
grounding or insulation.
2
la masse here refers to everything that is grounded: the pole and
everything bolted to it. The wires are not part of la masse, they are
insulated from ground. If the stork chick bites a bare wire while
sitting on the nest (which is sitting on la masse) the electricity short
circuits to ground via the chick.
62 Fluent French Audio
450 cigogneaux qui sont nés ont été électrocutés ou sont morts
stork chicks that were born were electrocuted or died
1
un gagnage = a field where birds forage for food.
2
choyer : to give someone choice treatment. un choix = a choice.
3
se prendre dans quelque chose = to get caught in something.
Note that se prennent is a subjunctive form of se prendre. éviter
que is followed by the subjunctive.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 63
sur l’autoroute.
on the highway.
Un poteau neutralisé.
SECTION 32
Alors, dans le temps, on était mal vu1
Well, in those days, we were not well thought of
un vert, donc on était rejeté. Et, moi, j’ai toujours dit que c’est
a “Green,” so you were rejected. And me, I always said that it is
1
être mal vu = to be poorly considered, to be poorly thought of.
Literally, poorly seen. vu is the past participle of voir (to see).
2
un écolo : short for un écologiste.
64 Fluent French Audio
1
See picture on page 63.
2
un câble électrique = an insulated electric wire. In this case, if the
stork sits on the grounded pole and bites the cable, there is no
danger. See picture on page 63.
3
aucun(e) = none, not any. See page 69 for another example of
aucun and page 99 for an example of ne... aucun.
4
The speaker could also have said Mais le nid peut faire jusqu’à
400, 500 kilos. (But the nest can weigh up to 400 or 500 kilos.) Ce
cheval fait 500 kilos. = This horse weighs 500 kilos.
5
400 to 500 kilograms = 880 to 1,100 pounds.
6
une rehausse : see picture on page 63.
Mars - Avril 2004 Cigognes 65
la cigogne s’électrocute ?
the stork is electrocuted?
520
Donc, le nid, après des années – parce que
So, the nest, after a few years - because
1
In proper French, one would say, au bout de quelques années (at
the end of a few years; after a few years.)
66 Fluent French Audio
plus de courant.
no more current.
SECTION 33
Bon, on peut les réentendre là, enfin,
550 Well, we can hear them again now, well,
Oui, oui.
Yes, yes.
1
se rapprocher de quelqu’un = to get closer to someone. vous
vous rapprochez d’elles = you get closer to them. vous tentez
de vous approcher d’elles = you try to get closer to them.
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 6 7
SECTION 34
Le capitaine Marro travaille à la Direction générale de
Captain Marro works at the headquarters of
Cpt. Marro.
SECTION 35
Si on regarde les statistiques,
10 If we look at statistics,
1
la gendarmerie nationale : in France, there is la police (the local
police) and la gendarmerie (which is also a police force, but is a
national force, is financed with federal funds, and is actually a branch
of the military.)
68 Fluent French Audio
d’œuvres d’art qui sont dans des musées. Il y a des gens qui
40 of works of art that are in museums. There are people who
1
une cheminée : 1) a chimney, 2) a fireplace, 3) a mantelpiece.
2
s’introduire dans... : “to get into...”
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 6 9
SECTION 36
Nous avons traité, il y a deux ans, un dossier4 qui
We handled, 2 years ago, a case that
1
une effraction = an act of breaking in, a forced entry. Ils sont
entrés par effraction. = They broke in.
2
l’auteur, literally, the author. l’auteur du crime = the person who
committed the crime.
3
prendre quelqu’un en flagrant délit = to catch someone in the
act. un délit = a crime; a misdemeanor.
4
un dossier = a file, a dossier, a case.
5
sur : can be used to mean, “in the area of.” sur Paris = in the Paris
area; in and around Paris.
6
réapparu : past participle of réapparaître = to reappear.
70 Fluent French Audio
la région de Maastricht.
the Maastricht area.
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 7 1
SECTION 37
140 Le circuit classique, ça peut aussi partir d’un,
The classic route, that can also start from a
tout simplement ?
very simply?
160
On a plusieurs catégories, si vous voulez, de voleurs.
We have several categories, if you will, of thieves.
au niveau régional.
on a regional level.
1
se faire cambrioler = to get broken into; to be burglarized.
cambrioler = to burglarize.
2
voire = perhaps even. Not to be confused with voir (to see.) See
another example on page 78.
72 Fluent French Audio
1
The expression is le marché aux puces.
2
il suffit de faire quelque chose = it suffices to do something, you
need only to do something.
3
immatriculer = to register. une plaque d’immatriculation = a
license plate. The way that one knows that these cars are registered
in other countries is by looking at the license plates.
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 7 3
SECTION 38
La France est un pays où la brocante, où les
France is a country where bric-a-brac dealing, where the
encore, l’Angleterre ?
even England?
240
Nous avons, effectivement, en France, pas mal de
We have, as you say, in France, a fair number of
c’est un délit continu et [il] prend effet dès l’instant que l’on
is a continuous offense and (it) takes effect from the moment that we
1
ce n’est pas pour cela que... = that doesn’t necessarily mean
that... Literally, it is not for that that...
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 7 5
SECTION 39
Est-ce que, justement, ce nombre de trafics
Is it that, in fact, this number of illegal trades
1
It would have been better to say, il n’était pas sans savoir le
montant de l’objet…
2
au sein de = within; in the midst of. le sein = the bosom, the
breast.
76 Fluent French Audio
la législation le favorise.
the legislation encourages it.
SECTION 40
Les plaignants, eux, les personnes qui
The plaintiffs, they, the persons who
380
malheureusement ont été victimes de ces vols,
unfortunately have been victims of these thefts,
1
la prescription = 1) the prescription, 2) the directions, the
instructions, 3) regulations concerning the definition of ownership.
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 7 7
1
au vu des..., = considering... Literally, at the sight of the... le vu =
the sight. voir = to see.
2
Or = Whereas; But; Now.
3
faire figurer quelque chose = to make something show up, to
make something appear. figurer = to appear, to represent.
78 Fluent French Audio
1
Note that the à here is part of arriver à... (to succeed in...). on
arrive assez facilement à en retrouver, from, on (we) + arriver
à (to manage to, to succeed in) + assez (fairly, rather) +
facilement (easily) + en retrouver (to re-find some of them).
Mars - Avril 2004 Vols d’objets d’art 7 9
SECTION 41
Vous êtes-vous déjà imaginé la sortie des
Have you ever pictured the release of
M. Calzettoni.
SECTION 42
Alors, l’Institut Lumière, donc, on est là au
Well, the Lumière Institute, so, we are here at the
1
le cinématographe = the cinematograph; a "movie projector."
82 Fluent French Audio
Ils sont venus vivre à Lyon avec leur père, Antoine Lumière,
They came to live in Lyons with their father, Antoine Lumière,
1
Besançon ; A city of the Eastern part of France bordering the Jura
mountains. The family was fleeing the Prussian army during the
Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871).
2
s’installer = to settle, to move in.
3
un appareil photo : short for un appareil photographique = a
camera. Literally a photographic apparatus. Beware of the false
friend une caméra (a video camera or a movie camera.) See page
91 for an example of une caméra.
4
se faire faire quelque chose = to have something done for
oneself.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 8 3
SECTION 43
Alors, les frères Lumière sont surtout connus
Well, the Lumière brothers are mostly known
90 dont on se sert3 tous les jours sans savoir que c’est eux
which we use every day without knowing that it is they
C’est-à-dire ?
Meaning?
1
ne... pas... que = not only. Compare to ne... que = only. Ils n’ont
pas travaillé que sur la photographie. = They didn’t work only on
photography. Compare to Ils n’ont travaillé que sur la
photographie. = They only worked on photography.
2
toucher à = to get into, to try. toucher = to touch.
3
se servir de quelque chose = to make use of something.
84 Fluent French Audio
120 membrane qui vibre et qui nous donne des sons de basse.
diaphragm, which vibrates and which gives us “bass” sounds.
en dehors de la photographie.
130 outside of (the field of) photography.
SECTION 44
Et donc la première fois que l’on a été
And so, the first time that people went
1
une enceinte = an enclosure (for a loudspeaker). un haut-parleur
= a loudspeaker.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 8 5
1
qu’est-ce qu’on y a vu = what did they see there. From, que
(what) + est (is) + ce (it) + que (that) + on (they) + y (there) + a
(have) + vu (seen).
2
The Lumière brothers take credit as having the first working movie
process because they received their patent in February 1895. They
gave many private screenings and shot many films, but didn’t have a
public showing until 10 months later, in December.
3
marcher = 1) to walk; 2) [in the case of machines] to work; 3) to
work out. See other examples of this use of marcher on pages 36
and 53.
4
déplu : past participle of déplaire. déplaire à qqn (to be disliked
by someone.) Ce livre m’a déplu. = I disliked this book, I did not
like this book. Compare to plaire à quelqu’un = to please
someone; to be liked by someone.
86 Fluent French Audio
très fier de l’invention de son fils,2 est monté à Paris avec des
very proud of the invention of his son, went up to Paris with
1
huit jours : a week. Literally, eight days. Compare to quinze jours
(two weeks, literally, 15 days.) See page 58 for an example.
2
It was actually Louis who developed the machine. The brothers co-
signed all of their inventions because of an oath they made when
they were boys: they had been developing film in a cave near the
seashore and were trapped inside by the incoming tide. They
promised to each other that, if they survived, they would always
work together. The family’s wealth came from Louis’s 1880 invention
of a new photographic process. Louis’s father, Antoine, bought land
on the outskirts of Lyon to produce the new breed of photographic
plates and quickly made a fortune for the family. By the time of the
invention of the cinematograph, the family had franchisees all over
the world. This made it easy to capitalize on the invention of the
cinematograph.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 8 7
220 « La Sortie des usines Lumière », qui est le tout premier film
"Quitting Time at the Lumière Factory,” which is the very first film
il va rester célèbre.
it will remain famous.
SECTION 45
On va parler un petit peu de
We will talk a little bit about
280
1
ça a été = In conversational French, the passé composé of être (to
be) is often used instead of aller (to go) to render the idea of
something happening quickly or slowly. Strangely, in the present
tense, it is natural to say "ça va vite", but in the past, the French
usually say ça a été vite (that went quickly) or ça a été lent (that
went slowly.)
2
le bouche à l’oreille : word of mouth. une bouche = a mouth. une
oreille = an ear.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 8 9
Alors, on connaissait
Well, we knew
dans sa malle, dans son grenier, par hasard, un film qui était
in his trunk, in his attic, by chance, a film that was
340
enfermé dans une boîte écrite Lumière, société, compagnie
closed up in a box marked Lumière company,
1
sans le vouloir = unintentionally, without knowing it. Literally,
without wanting it.
2
raccompagner : from accompagner = to accompany. In this case,
the literal meaning is to accompany back. Il le raccompagne à la
maison. = He accompanies him back home; He takes him back
home.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 9 1
SECTION 46
Et il y a aussi donc « L’Arroseur arrosé »,
And there is also then "The Sprayed Sprayer,"
1
avoir la chance de : to be lucky enough to; to have the opportunity
to.
2
offrir = to offer; to give (without expecting payment.) votre
premier numéro offert = your first issue free. Je te l’offre. = I’ll
pay for it.; I’ll give it to you. Compare to Je t’invite ! = I’m buying!;
My treat!
3
Le Midi : the south of France.
92 Fluent French Audio
1
avoir l’air d’être = to have the air of being; to appear to be.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 9 3
il a un tout jeune frère cadet1 qui a sept, huit ans à peu près,
he has a very young brother who is seven or eight years old, roughly,
SECTION 47
Et « L’Entrée du train en gare de La Ciotat »,2
And "The Arrival of a Train at the Station in La Ciotat",
1
un tout jeune frère cadet, literally, a very young youngest brother.
tout jeune = very young. un frère cadet = a youngest brother.
cadet as an adjective means “younger”, but le cadet = the
youngest. Elle a trois frères cadets. = She has 3 younger
brothers.
2
The original title of this film was “L’Entrée d’un train en gare.” It is
now known by two names, “Le Train entrant en gare de La
Ciotat” and “L’Entrée du train en gare de La Ciotat.”
94 Fluent French Audio
comme ça à l’époque ?
like that at the time?
âge,1 on a tous vécu avec ces images aussi bien par la télé
age, we have all lived with these images both through television
510
que2 par le cinéma. Mais un effet physique sur l’œil humain
and through the cinema. But a physical effect on the human eye,
1
quel que soit notre âge , literally, whatever (may) be our age. soit
is an subjunctive form of être (to be). See page 33 for another
example of quel que soit.
2
aussi bien….que = 1) as well... as... 2) both…. and…. See page 36
for another example.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 9 5
pour avoir la preuve que tout ça n’était pas des vrais acteurs
to have the proof that all that was not real actors
SECTION 48
Est-ce qu’on sait, là-dessus, si ils ont eu des
Do we know, on that subject, whether they had any
1
comme on a pu vouloir le dire, from, comme (as) + on (people)
+ a pu (have been able) + vouloir (to want) + le dire (to say it.)
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 9 7
1895, il [n’]y a que six mois. Donc ça n’a pas pris plus.
1895, there are only six months. So, that did not take more (time).
Et il y a une phrase
And there is one quote
1
The Lumière factories did continue to develop cinema.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 9 9
est restée célèbre et qui dit bien qu’il n’avait aucun2 regret.
720 remained famous and which says very well that he had no regrets.
SECTION 49
Une dernière question pour finir.
One last question in conclusion.
1
la paternité = the fatherhood.
2
ne... aucun = no, none, not one. See pages 64 and 69 for examples
of aucun.
100 Fluent French Audio
1
se greffer à = to become added to, to become part of.
Mars - Avril 2004 Les frères Lumière 1 0 1
pour ça, pour ouvrir les cartons et pour découvrir toutes les
on that, to open the boxes and to go through all the
1
un peu partout = roughly everywhere, almost everywhere.
102 Fluent French Audio
à découvrir.
to discover.
1
comporter = to include, to consist of.