Admin Table of Contents
What is the origin of Cajun French?
Cajun, descendant of Roman Catholic French Canadians whom the British, in the 18th century, drove from the captured French colony of Acadia (now Nova Scotia and adjacent areas) and who settled in the fertile bayou lands of southern Louisiana. The Cajuns today form small, compact, generally self-contained communities.
What language does Cajun come from?
French
Cajun French is a misnomer for the French that was spoken before the Acadians arrived. It is a variety or dialect of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana. At one time as many as seven dialects were spread across the Cajun heartland.
Where did the word Cajun originate?
The word Cajun began in 19th century Acadie. The French of noble ancestry would say, “les Acadiens”, while some referred to the Acadians as, “le ‘Cadiens”, dropping the “A”. Later came the Americans who could not pronounce “Acadien” or “‘Cadien”, so the word, “Cajun” was born.
What do Cajuns call each other?
9. “Cher” Cher (share or sha) is a term of endearment used when greeting another person. It’s similar to “love” or “dear,” and is traditionally used by Cajuns.
How is Louisiana French different from French?
Over the centuries, the language has incorporated some words of African, Spanish, Native American and English origin, sometimes giving it linguistic features found only in Louisiana, Louisiana French differs to varying extents from French dialects spoken in other regions, but Louisiana French is mutually intelligible …
Is Cajun French considered an endangered language?
Cajun French is considered by many to be an endangered language, mostly used by elderly generations. [2] However it is now frequently spoken by even the youngest Cajuns, and is seeing something of a cultural renaissance.
How is Cajun French different from French?
For example, Cajuns have maintained the original chevrette to refer to shrimp, while the French adopted the Norman regional variant crevette as their standard word. In other cases, Cajun words or pronunciations have evolved while the French word remained stable. The French recevoir, for example, has become reçoir in Cajun French.
Where is Cajun French spoken?
Cajun French. Cajun French (commonly called Louisiana Regional French , and related to but distinct from the historical Colonial , or Plantation Society, French) is a variety of the French language spoken primarily in Louisiana, specifically in the southern parishes.
What is Cajun French for Good Times?
A quintessential Louisiana phrase, “laissez les bon temps rouler” is a Cajun expression meaning “let the good times roll” – that is, to make merry. Mostly associated with New Orleans and frequently heard during Mardi Gras celebrations, the saying conveys the joie de vivre (joy of living) that hangs in the city’s humid air.