Date: Tue, 31 Jan 1995 20:56:10 -0600

From: "DICK HEABERLIN, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT,

SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY" DH12[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SWT.EDU

Subject: Re: hmm.. what's cajun English, then?



Dick Heaberlin

English Dept.

SWTSU

San Marcos, Texas 78666



Listen Y'all,

I haven't made a study of Cajun English in Southeast Texas

(But it would be interesting.) All I can assert is that the

expressions "buku" and "bukuz of" were, in the forties and early

fifties, common expressions by both those who were undoubtedly

anglo and those recently from Louisiana many of whom could

and did regularly speak French. When I took French

in college, I learned the phrase "beaucoup de" and assumed that

"bukuz" was an English speaker's version. Orange was a Navy town, and the

phrase may have arrived in East Texas from the military connection. But

I think the Louisiana source is much more likely.



I never hear the phrase in central Texas. I wonder

if it is still part of Southeast Texas English.