Cajun French

Cajun French is a dialect of the French language, spoken primarily in the U.S. state of Louisiana, particularly in St. Martin Parish. It is derived from another French dialect, Acadian, which is spoken in the state of Maine and in Canada's Maritime Provinces.

Related Topics:
French language - U.S. state - Louisiana - St. Martin Parish - Acadian - Maine - Canada's - Maritime Provinces

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There is a lot of debate on whether the Cajun language will survive another generation. The number of people who speak Cajun has declined dramatically over the last fifty years. Many grandparents purposely did not teach their children the Cajun language so that the children would have a better life in an English-speaking nation. However, many of these same grandparents are finding out that their grandchildren are researching and trying to learn the language. A lot of the interest among the younger generation is due to an interest in Cajun music. Cajun music is still popular and is sung almost entirely in Cajun French. Many young adults are learning enough Cajun to understand the Cajun music lyrics. Also, there is now a trend to use the Cajun language web sites to learn the dialect. Undoubtedly there will be some of the language around for the next generation, but whether many people can carry on a full conversation in it is still an uncertain question.

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The deportation of about 75% of Acadian population living in the province of Nova Scotia in 1755, during the French and Indian War, caused many of them to resettle in Louisiana, thereby establishing the language there. Through Acadian, Cajun is ultimately descended from the dialects of Anjou and Poitou (see Poitevin-Saintongeais). This heritage has left a few archaic words in the dialect: for example, crevette (shrimp) is said chevrette.

Related Topics:
Deportation - Acadian - Nova Scotia - French and Indian War - Anjou - Poitou - Poitevin-Saintongeais

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The term Cajun is derived from the English pronunciation of the French word Acadien. Some cajuns call themselmes cadiens, which doesn't derive from the Anglo-Saxon pronunciation. The primary region where Cajun French is spoken is called Acadiana (not to be confused with Acadia, which refers to the region where Acadian French is spoken). Cajun areas of Louisiana sometimes form partnerships with Acadians in Canada who send French teachers to teach the language in schools.

Related Topics:
Acadiana - Acadia - Cajun

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Many residents of Acadiana are bilingual, having learned French at home and English in school. In recent years the number of speakers of Cajun French has diminished considerably, but efforts are being made to reintroduce the language in schools. The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) was established during the late 1960s to promote the preservation of French language and culture in Louisiana.

Related Topics:
Bilingual - English - Council for the Development of French in Louisiana - 1960s

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In 1984, a Catholic priest named Father Jules O. Daigle published A Dictionary of the Cajun Language, the first dictionary devoted to Cajun French. It is generally considered the authority on the language, though it is not exhaustive and does not contain some alternate spellings and synonyms which Father Daigle deemed "perversions" of the language, that are nonetheless popular among Cajun speakers and writers.

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