What is the Definition for the French Word calme in the European Directive Related to “Quiet Areas”? A Lexicographic Study from the 16th Century Until Today

This paper presents a lexicographic study of the expression “quiet areas” and its translations as they appear in the European directive 2002/49/EC. The main part of this study is about the French translation of “quiet areas”: “zones calmes” and focuses on the definition of the word calme. The analysis conducted in this article is based on various methodologies: diachronic studies and analyses of the lexical field. Those methodologies allow highlighting the manifold notions linked to the word calme. The results show that the definition of calme has greatly evolved through time, from a first one connected to the sea (calm sea) to the latest associated with acoustic notions (absence of noise). Between both notions, other definitions have been introduced as calme can also be linked to a state of mind (the mind is not agitated). In all these definitions, it appears that calme is characterized by a spatial or temporal dimension. It is those characteristics which strengthen its relative character. Through this lexicographic study of French dictionaries, a definition for “zone calme” can be proposed. However, depending on the words used to translate “quiet areas” in the European directive, the definition is not the same. So, a comparison between translations of the directive in different European languages was carried out. This exploratory analysis then raises the problem of the definition of “quiet areas” before trying to find characterizing indicators as suggested in the European directive.