Langage-toi, by Loco Locass

Notes and translations by Matthew and Pascale Shaftel

Sound Clip

Supporting Material

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The Québec hip-hop group, Loco Locass is currently enjoying tremendous popularity in French-speaking countries, due to their well-tooled samples, clever and biting texts, and political activism. In the song, Langage-toi they lecture a new generation on complacency, suggesting that only through activism can the French language and identity be preserved; note the title of the song, which, in anticipation of the group’s play with words throughout the song, mixes “Langage-toi” or “language-you” with “Engage-toi” or “get involved.” Because this song focuses on the issues of language and language preservation, we have collected a range of documents relating to loi 101, or, more properly, the Québec Charter of the French Language, mandating the exclusive use of French for most business and government activity. Most Americans have never heard of this extremely important document, preferring to think of people from Québec as essentially bilingual.

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Langage-toi[1] by Loco Locass[2]	Language-you! (Get Involved!)
Le verbe faire Est un verbe qui se perd L'inaction est une aire--De repos Où plus d'un se perd Oublie père et mère et monde et tout propos        À propos--De propos--J'essaie d'être pro-propos[3] Mais c'est dur d'hurler sur les mots D'une société rongée par le pire des maux Ce fléau qu'est la perte de mots Je hausse le topo sémantique Dans un but typiquement didactique Ma dactylo buccale fait Tic! Tac! C'est une tactique phonétique pour faire contact Titiller tes synapses--Snap! Mets tes verres de contact Mon frère, langage-toi et constate Que le verbe faire Est un verbe qui se perd LANGAGE-TOI Le décompte goûte--Amer Quand au compte-goutte Tu tombes et devient goutte D'eau dans l'amère Amérique[4] La clepsydre sonne moins cinq C'est l'heure de se mettre à la .5                                   Coincé entre deux cultures Au fur à mesure à l'usure sois-en sûr C'est la plus FAT ASS[5] des deux qui perdure La cure--C'est de ne pas s'enmurmurer vivant[6] Tant et tant de gens se terrent et se taisent de mon vivant Tant et tant d'argent te v'la coi -- Quoi ? À terre, à l'aise et content Sûr d'être vivant Survivant -- sursis Je te susurre ceci : Contemple le montant de ton bâillon C'est comme signer son bail-bye![7] Pour l'autoextermiNATION Crois-en ma parole, la parole est un geste Mieux une action Si tu parles, n'aie crainte: L'on entend longtemps... temps... temps... L'écho des mots lointains ne s'éteint pas Si au relais, tu es là	The verb to do Is a verb that gets lost (vanishes) Inaction is a rest area Where more than one gets lost Forget father and mother and world and all intention (talk) By the way—of intention (talk)—I try to be pro-intention But it is hard to howl on the words Of society corroded by the worst of the evils This plague that is the loss of words I increase the semantic spiel/rundown In a typically didactic aim My oral typist goes Tic! TAC! It is a phonetic tactic to make contact Titillate your synapses-- Snap! Put on your contact lenses My brother, langage-toi and notice That the verb to do Is a verb that gets lost LANGAGE-TOI The bill tastes--bitter When at the count-drop You fall and becomes a drop Of water in the ocean of (bitter) America The water clock strikes five-til It’s the hour to put oneself at the .5 (half-way point) Wedged between two cultures Wearing out as we go along, be sure of it It is the most FAT ASS of both that endure The cure--is not to wall ourselves in while we’re still alive Many, many people hide and keep silent about my living Much, much money, here, take some silence --What? On the earth, at ease and glad Sure of being alive Surviving—reprieve I whisper this to you: Contemplate the sum of your muzzle/gag It is like signing one’s lease-bye! For the autoextermiNATION Believe my word, word is a gesture Better, an action If you speak, do not fear: It can be heard a long time... time... time... The echo of far away words does not die out If you are there at the relay.
Langage-toi (2)
J'entends du fin fond des temps Les rebonds de mon nom Taper mes tympans Ça sonne comme l'homme qui nomme Se nomme lui-même autonome Autochtone de sa propre personne Il se somme de donner aux mots la somme De sa propre donne—toi--Comme loi-sir[8] De mettre au repos l'oisiveté Ce rouage de la fuite du langage--toi Contre le tangage d'une langue qui ne s'arrime à rien Et mène à un genre d'espèce de Moyen-Âge... Tsé qu'ess j'veux dire... Euh... Le politically correctness, ça m'agresse Ça fait de tout de rien Un Loch Ness...                        Pas là que le bât blesse?[9] À trop vouloir louvoyer, voyez-vous, le verbe est vérolé Pour répondre au besoin de l'éthique ethnique[10] Pour pallier la panique de la fuite du fric - Hystérique crise de nerf de l'Amérique - Le politique 2 d'pique se pique de poétique[11] Incivique suicide inique ta mère, ton père Par en avant, par arrière En vers libres, mon frère Je me fraye un chemin dans la terre de ta tête Et prêche cette prière[12] Langage-toi et fais du verbe faire Un verbe qui s'OPÈRE LANGAGE-TOI	I hear from the very end of times The rebounds of my name Beating my eardrums It sounds like the man who appoints Calls himself autonomous Native to his own person He summons himself to give the sum to words Of his own deal—you-- As law-sir (leisure) To put idleness to rest This wheel of escape from langage—toi Against the pitching of a language that is not fastened to anything And leads to a certain kind of Middle Ages... Y’know what-I-mean... Euh... Politically correctness, that stresses me It makes something out of nothing A Loch Ness...                        Not there that the shoe pinches? With too much hedging/waivering, you see, the verb has the pox To meet the need for ethnic ethics To mitigate the panic of the drain of cash - Hysterical attack of nerves of America - Idiotic policy prides itself on verbiage Uncivil iniquitous suicide your mother, your father By the front, by the back In free verse, my brother I clear myself a path through the soil of your head And preach this prayer Langage-toi and make the verb “to do” A verb that ACTS LANGAGE-TOI

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[1] The very title of this song is a play on words, mixing “Langage-toi” with “Engage-toi.” The two together seem to be compelling the listener to become actively committed and involved with the French language. This is certainly supported by the constant repetition of the verb “faire” (to do), again suggesting that action should be taken—how appropriate!

[2] Composé des rappeurs Biz, Batlam et Chafiik (ce dernier conçoit et arrange toutes les musiques), le groupe rap Loco Locass s’appelle à l’origine les Locos Loquaces. Il commence à travailler ensemble au milieu des années 90. Reconnaissant la grande qualité de leurs textes, le Conseil des arts du Canada octroie aux Loco une bourse pour réaliser le disque « Manifestif », paru en décembre 1999. En février 2000, le trio remporte le concours des Francouvertes. En octobre 2001, Loco Locass voit à nouveau son talent reconnu alors que le groupe remporte deux prix Félix. Toujours très engagée, la formation organise elle-même des conférences de presse pour faire front commun et dénoncer certaines injustices sociales.

[3] The word propos has many meanings. The alliterative repetition of the word here is sonically interesting, but has clear meaning that points to the need for talk and intention to “do” something (both translations of the word, propos).

[4] Here, a play on words combines la mer (the sea) together with amer (bitter) and the expression “goutte d’eau dans la mer,” or “drop in the ocean,” more litteraly: “a drop in a bucket.”

[5] Generally a positive slang, meaning “awesome” or “great.”

[6] Another call to action, calling Québécois to avoid isolation.

[7] Another play on words: “C'est comme signer son bail-bye! Pour l'autoextermiNATION.” “Bail” means “lease,” but “bye-bye” is like in English. The point here is that if French-Canadians stay silent (or muzzled) they are going to become extinct. Note also the emphasis given to “NATION,” suggesting that the alternative to “self extermination” is to build one’s own “nation.”

[8] Here, Loco Locass is referring to “Loi 101,” more properly known as, the Québec Charter of the French Language, mandating the exclusive use of French for most business and government activity.

[9] Bât literally refers to a type of saddle, but the entire expression: “c’est là où le bât blesse” means “that’s where the shoe pinches.”

[10] Here, Loco Locass lists several reasons people argue against the use of French in Québec: it isn’t fair to other ethnicities, it isn’t economically sound, it will make it hard to deal with the Americans, and so forth. In the next line, Loco Locass calls this ridiculous.

[11] “Deux de pique” literally means “two of spades,” but the low status of this card in most card games gives it a colloquial meaning of idiotic or dumb.

[12] A reference to the church and the important role it has played in preserving the French language in Québec.

Links to Supporting Material

1- Charte de la langue française (Loi 101) (English et Français)

2- Extrait de l’Action nationale vol. LXXVI par Denis Lazure.

3- Pourquoi une politique linguistique?

4- Extrait du mémoire pour la défense et l’illustration de la langue française et de la culture québécoise.

5- Video games and the French language

6- Media Clip : Publicity of Office de la langue française

7- Réplique de LocoLocass.

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