folklorique

Folklorique is an adjective in French that means relating to folklore, the traditional beliefs, stories, customs, practices, and expressions of a community. It is used to describe objects, performances, and discourses that derive from popular tradition and are transmitted orally or through material culture. The term appears across disciplines such as anthropology, ethnology, literature, music, and cultural studies.

Etymology and usage notes: The noun folklore was coined in English in the 19th century from folk and lore. French borrowed the noun folklorique as the corresponding adjective to refer to things connected with that tradition. In practice, folklorique is often equivalent to the English folkloric or folk in descriptive contexts.

Scope and examples: Folklorique covers a wide range of cultural forms, including musique folklorique (traditional or folk music), costumes folkloriques (traditional dress), récits folkloriques (folktales), légendes folkloriques, proverbes folkloriques, danses folkloriques, and savoirs folkloriques (folk knowledge). It encompasses both living practices and documentary materials collected by scholars, as well as the artistic or aesthetic presentation of tradition in arts and media.

Modern considerations: In contemporary discourse, the term can signal authenticity or heritage, and may be used descriptively or critically to discuss connections to community memory. Some uses risk romanticizing or commodifying local culture, particularly in tourism, media, or performative contexts.