Description :
This episode of Orality and Humanity is part of the European project Tramontana Network, supported by the European Union, which brings together partners from several European regions to highlight their cultural and linguistic diversity. Jean-Paul Ferré presents the aims of this network, which focuses on documenting and sharing the realities of mountain territories through oral testimonies. In this 60th programme, the discussion continues the presentation of the pedagogical resources created from local interviews, with a particular focus on the memory of the Second World War in Couserans.
The episode explores how personal testimonies can complement official historical narratives by revealing the experiences of people who lived through major events. Jean-Paul Ferré introduces the testimony of Jules Durand, born in 1931 near Saint-Girons, who recalls an episode from the German occupation during which a group of young people went fishing and unexpectedly encountered a road control involving German forces. Through this account, the programme shows how everyday experiences, fear, courage and survival are transmitted through oral history, giving a human dimension to historical events.
A central theme of the episode is also the richness of the Gascon language used in these testimonies. Jean-Paul Ferré and the presenter emphasise the expressive power of local speech, its vocabulary, syntax and ability to create vivid images. The discussion highlights that language is not only a communication tool but also a carrier of memory, imagination and identity. By bringing these voices into educational contexts, the Tramontana project contributes to preserving a living heritage and encouraging a deeper understanding of the relationship between language, territory and humanity.