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Cigars of the Pharaoh: Is "He must be a Portugee" a quotation?

#1 · Posted: 15 Feb 2008 20:04

In the original 1930s edition of Cigars of the Pharaoh, when Tintin first meets Oliveira Da Figueira (page 27) and the Captain introduces him to Tintin as being from Lisbon, Snowy remarks: "From Lisbon? 'He must be a Portugee!' Neat, eh?"

He appears to be quoting something, since "He must be a Portugee" is in quotation marks. What does this mean?

edcharlesadams
Trivia Challenge Score Keeper

#2 · Posted: 15 Feb 2008 21:39

I'm not sure it's a quote taken from anywhere - at least in the English version. In the French original Snowy quotes a rhyme that is known to French-speakers: 'Les Portugais sont toujours gais!' (The Portugese are always cheerful!) So to reflect this, the translators have made up a rhyme that works in English - though I don't believe it's taken from anything.

Ed

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