New Cajun French Blog: CajunLanguage.Net
Thank you all for your comments on the Cajun English post. I’ll be compiling them, passing them by my mom and adding a refined list to Wikipedia’s page. Speaking of the Cajun Language(s), I was pleasantly surprised to see a new Cajun French blog titled “Cajun French Language Tutorials” which started in November of 2006. The site is run by a bona-fide Cajun, Jim Lege. This is what he has to say about this site:
My name is James Leger (call me Jim). I am a 65 year old native of Louisiana and i give free tutorials and advice for those interested in the Cajun language. I also discuss customs and history related to the Cajun heritage, and would be happy to entertain your questions.I taught Cajun French in Lamar University’s Continuing Education program in Port Arthur, Texas. I was raised with Cajun French as my first language. I speak fluent Cajun French and can speak and read standard French as well.
I plan to talk about how the Cajun language has been mistaken as a crude form of standard French, as well as other misconceptions about the language. Cajun French is actually a very complicated language, and has both formal and informal conversational dialogues. I will show you both the similarities and differences in standard and Cajun French, and many other characteristics of the Cajun language that you probably never knew!
The site’s RSS feed can be found here.
18 Comments so far
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Hi James, with a name like Jacques it’s high-time I learn how to speak cajun french. I originally hail from Opelousas but am presently living in Colorado. But, will be down in St. Martinville on and off in the coming years and will look you up for some lessons.
thanks,
jacques
Hi Jim, I have a son who is a freshmen at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He is interested in taking a class in Cajun French this summer in the Lafayette area, as part of a research project he is putting together. He has had 6 years of French through the Lafayette parish school system and two college level courses at W&M; but no cajun french. Could you point him in the right direction as to how and where to find such a course. Any help is appreciated. Thanks,, Adele
Hi Jim,
Please help me I need to know what distiguishes cajuns from the resst of mainstream cultures for a presentation in my oral interperson comm. class. could we possiibly exchancge informatin
Jim,
I’m a native of Louisiana. My parents speak fluent cajun french but didn’t teach me or my siblings unfortunately. I would love to learn it. Are any classes given in the Lafourche area? Thanks, Lynn
Hello!!! I am so glad I found this site. I was born and raised in Lafayette/Carencro and I now live in Arkansas. I need some good websites to keep me in touch with my hometown. I am hoping to move back there one day. My grandmother and great-grandmother both spoke cajun french fluently and I regret not learning it while she was still alive. Anyways, thanx for making this site!!
Hi Jim,
My Popie grew up in New Orleans during the depression. Both of my Grandparents (Momie and Popie) told me stories of how they were not supposed to speak “cajun french,” in school, (only English) or else they were stereo typed and looked down upon. I would like to know more about this for a paper I am doing. Would you please let me know where I might find more information.
Merci!
Anne
Hi Jacques,
I was looking @ Cajun recipes and stumbled upon this web site & noticed your name. I once knew a Jean Jacques Mistrot that lived in Lubbock, Tx. many yrs. ago.
Are you any relation?
I noticed you live in Colorado. I live partime between
Colorado & Texas.
Thanks for any info you provide.
Linda
I LOVE THIS SITE! My uncle used to teach me bits and pieces when we’d get together for Mardi Gras but he’s now passed and I think it’s important for myself and my kids to learn to speak cajun french as well as learn more about our heritage to pass on for generations to come. Thanks!
Linda all mistrot’s are related, the first to come to louisiana was Jean Jacques Mistrot from beauchlot, France in 1839 threw the port of new orleans on the sailing ship the Talma, then to new iberia,La. married into the segura family and had a large family, then later 3 nephews came to La., 1, Jean Jacques Mistrot named after the uncle,Guilliaume andre Mistrot seddled in St. Bernard parish (Chalmette) and the other in New Orleans, died in an ambush of mexican bandits, all were farmers and planters, after the civil war the first Jean Jacques Mistrot that came to La. had a plantation in new iberia, that’s still standing to today,lost all his slaves, sold everything and moved to texas where you find most of us now.My great grand father is Guilliaum Andre Mistrot, where my grandpa and father were also vegetable farmers, in St. Bernard Parish cheif, crop (Creole Tomatoes).I still have relatives in France I, E-mail regulary.
Hi Jim,
I found this info from looking at Suire’s web page. I’m from Northeast Texas. I have been traveling to visit friends in Kaplan,LA. for almost 18 years! I butcher the Cajun Language very well!I love the music,language & especially the people there.I enjoy going as often as I can,& taking friends/family that haven’t been. I’ve always said that if I have to live in a “foreign country”, I’d move to Kaplan.
If any of you get a chance, be sure to stop by Suire’s. Great food, people & the best homemade sweets!
Hi Jim.
I too am 65 years of age and a retired lawman. I now am a writer of novels. I am presently involved in such a task in which one chapter is set in and around Breaux Bridge in 1940. The leading lady is of French descent but educated in English, her coworker and dear friend is strictly Cajun and wishes to be none other.
I feel it is extremely important to use the correct jargon of the location and times when I write, and there by am an enemy of the Political Correct clan, a quality of which I am rather proud.
My question is will you help me in recording proper Cajun phrases in constructing this chapter?
Thank you for your time.
T.H.Bear
i need to know how to say “It’s about time”
Seeking information for a Cajun presentation. Target audience are 50+ living in Southeast Texas.
Hello Jim,
My name is Phil I work for a major airline and live in Northern California.
I am man of color with parents from Texas and Alabama. I’ve always had an interest in different cultures I’m fifty years old and I’d like to learn cajun and creole french and visit cajun country.
As a little boy my dad a Preacher had a friend we called brother Jullian he was a creole from Rayne Louisiana every time he’d visit our home I’d ask him about his Language and culture I found to be interesting.
I just purchased cajun self-taught audio compact CD discs
by the late Rev. Jules O. Daigle, have you heard about his quest to perserve the cajun language and what do you think about it.
I’d like your advise on how I may learn cajun and contain since I dont have any cajun friends that I know in my area. Last but not least I think it would be great to learn to speak cajun french although I am a non cajun.
Sincerely,
Phil
comment on the music Lastfm.com got lots of good fiddledeaux
Happy Lundi Gras yall!
What is the correct way to say “Thank you for coming by”? And “May God bless you for doing so”? And “Thank you much”?
Hi,
I am from Louisiana. I currently live in WV. Both my mother’s and father’s side of the family are cajun. The french speaking ended with my grandparents on both sides of the family. I am wanting to know, is there any online classes or something I can order through the mail. I know some basics. I hope you can give my some information.
Thank you,
Susan