- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
0
Posted on 4/21/25 at 9:43 am to Nole Man
I just want to know where the term “Speed Lumps” comes from. Saw this on a sign in a Lafayette neighborhood. Everywhere else in this country I’ve ever seen this sign, it said “Speed Humps” or “Speed Bumps”.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 9:48 am to auwaterfowler
Maybe a typo
Posted on 4/21/25 at 9:50 am to Espritdescorps
quote:
comes from the french term descende la voiture - to to get down from the car
The car was invented in the early 1900s, but the vast majority of French immigrants (whether directly from France, Nova Scotia, or elsewhere) came before then. I have never heard an older French speaking person in Louisiana use the word voiture. Their word for car was 'char' (unsure of spelling). I spoke with a person who is from France about this and he said 'char' means 'cart' (or maybe horse-drawn wagon).
Posted on 4/21/25 at 9:53 am to NotYourDaddy
quote:
All my aunts and uncles spoke cajun French
They spoke it for sure when they didn’t want the kids to hear
It’s sad that it hasn’t carried generations
Once it is gone- it’s gone
Lot of memories sitting on the porch and French chatter
Posted on 4/21/25 at 10:06 am to Jim bean xxx
It’s my assumption and hope that Lafayette is going to save Cajun French, as in taking concrete steps and spending money to be sure it survives even if it’s not common.
Growing up in the 80s in Jeff Davis Parish, our only foreign language option was French. It was sometimes taught by Cajuns and sometimes (more often) by French people.
I don’t know when Spanish began being offered.
Growing up in the 80s in Jeff Davis Parish, our only foreign language option was French. It was sometimes taught by Cajuns and sometimes (more often) by French people.
I don’t know when Spanish began being offered.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 10:42 am to Espritdescorps
quote:This is the one that puzzled my cenla friends the most.
Another one ..why we say “get down” when we get out of the car..
Posted on 4/21/25 at 10:44 am to Champagne
quote:
I watched it and the most interesting fact to take from it is that the young lady says that Cajun French is traditional French, just like they speak in France. It is not "patois", it is not a dialect. The accent is a bit different, but, she says it is like the French that is spoken in many places out in the rural areas of France.
Which is interesting because I was having a conversation with a cab driver in Paris and he asked me for some Cajun words or phrases and then said they were total nonsense
Posted on 4/21/25 at 10:51 am to Nole Man
My wife's father didn't want his kids speaking French, although he still spoke it at home with his older relatives. He was one of those who were punished for speaking French at school or on the bus. He had those printed memes of the day hanging on the wall that remarked, "A-bear or Hebert?"
A large number of native born Louisianians have French ancestors but may carry an Anglo, Italian, or Spanish last name.
My wife sorta wishes that she learned and I grew up in one of the non-French parishes, but but a few years ago, I gave it a noble attempt with Duo-Lingo and still think it is a cool gesture.
My grand daughter and I could communicate a bit but somehow, we lost our way. We know words but in actual conversation, we can't put anything together.
The idea is romantic but the language of the world is business English and like everything else, unless you use it regularly, you'll have nothing.
A large number of native born Louisianians have French ancestors but may carry an Anglo, Italian, or Spanish last name.
My wife sorta wishes that she learned and I grew up in one of the non-French parishes, but but a few years ago, I gave it a noble attempt with Duo-Lingo and still think it is a cool gesture.
My grand daughter and I could communicate a bit but somehow, we lost our way. We know words but in actual conversation, we can't put anything together.
The idea is romantic but the language of the world is business English and like everything else, unless you use it regularly, you'll have nothing.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:18 am to Saunson69
quote:
Yes because Spain had a way bigger colonization/population in the Americas than France
Yes, especially after 30 - 50 million Spanish speaking illegals immigrated here in the last 25 years!
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:23 am to F1y0n7h3W4LL
quote:
The idea is romantic but the language of the world is business English and like everything else, unless you use it regularly, you'll have nothing.
Correct! It's not evil forcing my parents and grandparents to speak English over French. English is the language of international law, mucho importanto!
It's a grave injustice for any immigrant NOT to be required to learn English!
Having said that, I do wish my family would have taught me French when I was younger.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:34 am to Fun Bunch
quote:
asked me for some Cajun words or phrases and then said they were total nonsense
Well what did you say
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:34 am to Nole Man
I spoke it pretty good until great grandparents and one set of grands as well as other older relatives died off.
Sadly I know many words but have largely lost it.
Sadly I know many words but have largely lost it.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:41 am to choupiquesushi
People don’t often cite this as a factor in how the language disappeared, but the fact that louisianian francophones were largely illiterate in French (by both natural and artificial forces) played a big part in how the language went away. I can get my grandpa to SAY some things but the second I ask him to spell something, or even to separate a sentence into individual words, he has literally no idea. Kinda interesting to see actually how much writing helps your brain “see” the language.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 11:41 am to Champagne
quote:
The accent is a bit different, but, she says it is like the French that is spoken in many places out in the rural areas of France.
I took French in high school from one Mr. Hebert, then went on to take another year in college from a lady who was French. As soon as she heard my accent, she asked me where I got it and said it was certainly not Parisian but would be easily understood in rural France.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 12:25 pm to WestSideTiger
quote:
I’d think idioms would come in to play to explain some of the differences as well.
In addition to different idioms, European settlers in the Americas spoke a French that was common in a region of France in the 17th -19th centuries. The onset of national radio and then television, led to the standardization of languages in all the rural areas of Europe.
For example, the Italian that many grandparents still speak in Brooklyn are common dialects from 1900-1920s Sicily, Puglia or Calabria that are no longer spoken in those regions in Italy.
When Italian speakers hear them their reaction is much like the girl in the video, it's Italian but seems like it's from some rural region that I've not been.
A linguistic time capsule. Really interesting.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 12:32 pm to Champagne
I had a great uncle who grew up in a house where his mother and her family spoke French most of the time. He spoke French very well and took it in high school.... Fast forward to 1943 ,-44 and flying over France.
He gets shot down and evaded capture to get to the Underground. He went through German checkpoints speaking French.....they thought him a country boy.
He gets shot down and evaded capture to get to the Underground. He went through German checkpoints speaking French.....they thought him a country boy.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 3:06 pm to NotYourDaddy
quote:
The car was invented in the early 1900s, but the vast majority of French immigrants (whether directly from France, Nova Scotia, or elsewhere) came before then. I have never heard an older French speaking person in Louisiana use the word voiture. Their word for car was 'char' (unsure of spelling). I spoke with a person who is from France about this and he said 'char' means 'cart' (or maybe horse-drawn wagon).
Hence the word "chariot". I have always been fascinated by the anthropology of language. English has incorporated at least 7,000 French words, and another 3,000 or more in both languages have Latin roots. Predominant areas of shared words are government and law.
Anyone hear the phrase "petit morte" referring to orgasm? One of those idioms I suppose. I once told someone from Eastern Europe who spoke English very well that an attractive mutual acquaintance was a "tall drink of water", and got a puzzled look. Many of the O-T may be too young for that old one.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 3:31 pm to Kafka
No point.
French might not last in the world another 100 years, such pussies.
French might not last in the world another 100 years, such pussies.
Posted on 4/21/25 at 3:59 pm to One72
Back in the late 80's at USL I had a buddy from Port Barre. He knew some older folks that spoke pidgen English but fluent in Louisiana French.
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News