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18% of people speak Cajun French in Vermillion, Mt. Martin, and Evangeline Parishes?
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:30 am
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:30 am
According to Wikipedia, 18% of the population speaks Cajun French in these parishes. LINK
Is this true? Are they all out in the country or what? I think that's awesome if true, but I've travelled through that area a little bit and I've never heard anyone speak a word of French.
Is this true? Are they all out in the country or what? I think that's awesome if true, but I've travelled through that area a little bit and I've never heard anyone speak a word of French.
21
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:30 am to LSUTigersVCURams
Fake news
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:31 am to LSUTigersVCURams
Might be a little high
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:33 am to LSUTigersVCURams
When you were the short pants, we get suspect us.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:33 am to LSUTigersVCURams
From that area. My grandmother didn't speak English, only French. Dad obviously spoke French as well as his two brothers. My mom not as well but some. I'm in my 30s so I guess it's possible but I don't really hear it often.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:33 am to LSUTigersVCURams
I don't think many people still speak French fluently at all any more. Sure, lots of folks know how to curse in French, but to say that they can still speak it fluently would be a stretch.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:35 am to LSUTigersVCURams
Lots of old people in that area, right? I'd imagine the old people can speak it.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:37 am to LSUTigersVCURams
quote:If that isn't true today (and the number is below that percentage) then it was true at some point in the past.
According to Wikipedia, 18% of the population speaks Cajun French in these parishes.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:40 am to LSUTigersVCURams
That stat is probably from a survey. The number is likely lower. First, because every day french speakers are dying and not being replaced. Second, people are likely to overstate their proficiency in the language
Posted on 4/30/17 at 9:44 am to LSUTigersVCURams
I would have thought it higher in Evangeline. My mother had not even heard English until first day of first grade. My grandmother on my father's side could only greet me in English. We never had a real conversation.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 10:05 am to LSUTigersVCURams
Mainly the older folks. Lot of them in Avoyelles, St. Landry and pointe coupee too.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 10:10 am to S
We do some work in Vermilion and just about every person I have met over 45 speaks French. Many of them switch between French and English when in conversation with each other.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 10:50 am to LSUTigersVCURams
I live in the area and I would guess at least half of folks over 70 can carry out a conversation in Cajun French. Two radio stations play majority Cajun music and both have shows where the DJ speaks all French. If you go to a coffee house or Barber shop early in the morning you will here lots of conversations in French.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 10:55 am to LSUTigersVCURams
Qui. C'est vrai.
The reason you don't see them is because most are old. Maw Maw and Paw Paw speak French to each other and to their kids. Their kids speak French to the parents and English to their kids. Their kids (the grandkids) speak only English.
The reason you don't see them is because most are old. Maw Maw and Paw Paw speak French to each other and to their kids. Their kids speak French to the parents and English to their kids. Their kids (the grandkids) speak only English.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 12:00 pm to LSUTigersVCURams
Both of my parents speak French and it was my mothers first language. 18 percent sounds about right. Several members my family speak French though it is more of the older folks.
This post was edited on 4/30/17 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 4/30/17 at 12:23 pm to LSUTigersVCURams
I would say that number is low for Evangeline parish.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 12:28 pm to LSUTigersVCURams
I live in rural St Martin parish, it's still common with the 60 and older crowd. Younger than that is mostly half fluent or just curse words. I'm almost 42 and in the half fluent crowd. I grew up in rural Terrebonne parish and it's about the same there, which is pretty much the case throughout South Louisiana.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 12:34 pm to LSUTigersVCURams
What "mountain" in Louisiana is Mt. Martin parish named for?
Posted on 4/30/17 at 12:40 pm to gthog61
I'm a native of Evangeline Parish and I used to hear Cajun French all the time when I was a kid. Unfortunately our parents were taught to be ashamed of speaking French and were punished in the schools for it.
My generation is probably the last one to have the opportunity to learn French in the home, but unfortunately it was mostly used to keep adult conversations from us kids.
My generation is probably the last one to have the opportunity to learn French in the home, but unfortunately it was mostly used to keep adult conversations from us kids.
Posted on 4/30/17 at 2:11 pm to LSUTigersVCURams
I'm 55 and from the Lafayette area. My brother is 8 years older than me and he speaks French as does my sister who is 65 and her late twin did as well, despite being mentally retard. Almost everyone I know their age and older who had French speaking grandparents also speak French. My younger sister and I do not. Both my parents spoke French (my mom is still alive) and English though my mom spoke only French when she started school. 18 % seems reasonable but I expect that number will rapidly decrease as a result aging speakers passing away. I also expect rural areas skew it up relative to cities like Lafayette.
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