The recent use of “translation” as a metaphor tends to turn the latter into an equivalent of or even a substitute for the concept of “transfer.” Instead of bringing Translation Studies and comparative literature closer together, this evolution raises a wide range of theoretical, methodological and analytical problems. In response, this article proposes an integrated approach in which the concept of “transfer,” which is defined as a process of interaction between literary systems, their subsystems and their communication models, is linked to the concept of “translation.” The approach is then applied to a case that has never been investigated by historians or comparatists, namely the massive migration of Belgian families towards the north of France in the 19th century. This migration was accompanied by an extensive transfer process of a wide range of attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and skills imbedded in the social, professional and cultural life of the migrant. As regards oral and literary practices, the transfer process functions by means of methods such as translation, imitation, publishing, anthologisation and review writing. These apply mainly to minor and oral genres, such as popular songs.