ArenaNet:International cultural references/Belgium
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Hey Gaile, I don't know if this is what you exactly mean but here are a few things about Belgium:
- Caesar wrote about Ambiorix in his comment about his battles against the Gauls: "De Bello Gallico". In this text he also wrote the famous line: "Of all the Gauls, the Belgae are the bravest." ("...Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae..."). This sentence has often been misquoted as "Of all the Gauls, the Belgians are the bravest.", while Caesar meant the tribes collected under the name, "Belgae" and not "the Belgians", because Belgium didn't exist until 1830, but still this makes Belgians feel at least a bit important in history ^^.Ambiorix
- Any reference to our beloved Manneken Pis would be highly appreciated (and funny), people laugh at him, take millions of pictures and I'm sure you've heard about him. He is a statue of a little guy weeing, and stands on his monument in Brussels for centuries already. That little guy has hundreds of armor sets --> costumes in his wardrobe.Manneken pis
- Brussels is the capital of Belgium, and not the other way around like some people might think. We even got our Muscles from Brussels who made it in America as a top actor. Everyone will know I'm talking about Jean-Claude Van Damme =) I'm thinking of an npc or boss name something like: Muscles from (insert town name) that would be a nice reference to this Belgian actor ^^.
Now I don't see how most quotes keep their humor once translated to English and still have a meaning of cultural reference, but I'll keep my eyes open ^^. Hope this is something that might help ;-) --
(Tribina / talk) 13:48, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
- Belgium is very famous for it beers. Belgian Trapists are the best in the world :D Maybe a new alcohol thing in game? Elder 15:32, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
- Yeah.. that would be cool! the beer thing that is.
Teo 16:45, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
- I'm thinking about some funny quotes that are translatable in English, and I found some ^^. This reflects some children programs that everyone knows in Belgium and Holland. I'm talking about Samson (a talking dog) & Gert quote: I had to knock coz the doorbell didn't work or I think so in my head (the dog's grammar + vocabulary ain't good at all ^^) which is repeated like 5 times in every single episode (and the are well over their 18 years of broadcasting now). Kabouter ( a kabouter is a kind of friendly leprechaun) Plop is a very known figure amongst the Belgians and the Dutch as well. His favorite quote is something like the Flinstones shout out Yabadabadoo, but Plop uses: Plopperdeplopperdeplop. ^^ Now these programs are like for 6-9 year olds, but deny it or not, we all grew up with them (yes I'm 29 ^^) --
(Tribina / talk) 06:57, 27 November 2007 (UTC)
- I'm thinking about some funny quotes that are translatable in English, and I found some ^^. This reflects some children programs that everyone knows in Belgium and Holland. I'm talking about Samson (a talking dog) & Gert quote: I had to knock coz the doorbell didn't work or I think so in my head (the dog's grammar + vocabulary ain't good at all ^^) which is repeated like 5 times in every single episode (and the are well over their 18 years of broadcasting now). Kabouter ( a kabouter is a kind of friendly leprechaun) Plop is a very known figure amongst the Belgians and the Dutch as well. His favorite quote is something like the Flinstones shout out Yabadabadoo, but Plop uses: Plopperdeplopperdeplop. ^^ Now these programs are like for 6-9 year olds, but deny it or not, we all grew up with them (yes I'm 29 ^^) --
- Yeah.. that would be cool! the beer thing that is.
Maybe also worth mentioning (no idea on how to potentially implement it) our our French Fries! Nevertheless most people think the fries originate from France, they are truly Belgian! A reference to our famous chocolate might be cool as well, since we are the land of beer, chocolate and fries. ^^ Tribio talk 08:05, 29 November 2007 (UTC)
- 'to french' is actually just a verb meaning: 'to cut in small slices' ... hence Frenched Fries, this turned into French Fries, and people in the states started thinking they were from France but we all know where they reall come from! (Belgium that is) --Sethstijn 12:41, 6 January 2009 (UTC)
Definatly worth mentioning is that we have three national languages: Dutch, French and German. (most of us speak either french or dutch or both, a small minority speaks german). Also note that the UK has different 'sub-sections' for their regions, so I think Beglium should be treated equaly: Flemmish, Walloon and ... the english word for 'Oostkantons' since the popular culture is very different and most famous people are famous in only one part of the country. --Sethstijn 12:41, 6 January 2009 (UTC)
