Date:  Wed, 20 Apr 1994 10:03:47 CDT

From:  Glen Accardo <glen[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SOFTINT.COM>

Subject: Re: Cajun query



While I'm not the best to answer all of your questions, I grew up in southern

LA, Cajun Country on some maps I've seen, and went to school at the University

of Southwestern Louisiana.



If you would like more detailed information on Cajun Venacular English,

including several publications, contact Dr. Ann Scott at the U.S.L. English

Department -- ams8950[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]usl.edu



> 1. Should Cajun language be labelled as a language or as a dialect?

dialect, maybe two. There is cajun french and cajun english. Since the

native language is different, and there is varying level of french and

english, I'd say there are two separate dialects, and a range in between.



> 2. Is Cajun language a composition of several languages, and if so, which

> languages?

The expressions are French and English, and I assume that many things along

the journey from England to The Netherlands to Canada to Louisiana influenced

the dialect greatly.



> 3. Is Cajun language still spoken on a large scale in Louisiana? Is it still

> being used in, for instance, local newspapers, local radio and TV stations,

> etc.?

It is like most dialects in that it is considered a bastard language. It is

heard, but my opinion is that most people consider it cute or quaint, and

would rather news anchors sound like Dan Rather or someone more "generic."

There are Cajun French radio programs, there is news in French, and plenty

of Cajun music.



I would hesitate to call the dialect "large scale." Geographically, I've

seen a majority of it concentrated in an area about twice the size of

Houston, TX. However, even though many areas are geographically isolated,

the language seems to be rather consistent throughout, perhaps suggesting

that its development is somewhat static compared to other dialects.



> 7. Is Cajun language also spoken in schools in Louisiana or should standard

> American English only be spoke in schools?

When I was in high school (grad '82), I never heard a Cajun dialect. In

college, I heard a few, but they were generally rather faint cajun accents.

My parents, and others of their age but different areas, say that speaking

French was roughly the same as cursing. That is, saying shit or oui would

get you slapped.



> 8. Also, if there is some sort of Cajun (cultural) institution, could you

> send me the name and the address of this institution?

There are several. Dr. Scott could give you a bit more information.



------------

glen accardo             glen[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]softint.com

Software Interfaces, Inc.      (713) 492-0707

Houston, TX 77084



Did the Corinthians ever write back?