Literal translation
Tweet tweet tweet, still alive
Meaning
however small the steps, one always gets there
Explanation
This phrase pairs the onomatopoeia of a tiny bird's cheeping, repeated three times, with the assertion that it is toujou viéu (still alive), to say that something fragile, threatened or reduced to little strength nevertheless keeps existing and making itself heard. The image is that of the cheep, a minuscule yet undeniable sign of life, set against the disappearance or total silence that would mark a final defeat: as long as the cheeping can be heard, life has not given up. It is used to say one is holding on, surviving in spite of hardship, with a note of tender humour, as shown by the example given about the Provençal language itself, noted as less spoken than before yet not gone. The register is familiar and affectionate, often used to close a somewhat sad remark on a note of hope and resilience, the rhythmic repetition of piéu giving the phrase an almost childlike, reassuring sound.