Cajun French Language Tutorials
Jim Leger teaches the Cajun language
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Categories
Latest News
- L’Équipage (Équip(e)ment) Du Cavalier
- Enfin, Ain? Et D’Autres Tites Picoch(e)ries*
- Quizlet Set To Previous Post “N’Importe De Quoi”
- N’Importe De Quoi…Et Cetera
- A Few Audios From The Past
- Soyez Sur Le Qui Vive Pour Les Accents Français Dans Mes Posts
- Reculer, Culer, Appuyer, Presser, Gargariser, Gargoler, Couloir, Corridor, Remise
- New Design Problems
- Tant, Tant Que, Pourtant, Quand-Mème, Toutefois, Y, Il, Alle, Elle
- Le Postillon de Hier (Postman of Years Gone By)
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Cajun Use Of “Tant”- And In Adverbials - Et D’autres Choses
The adverb “tant” in SF French means so much or much. In Cajun that is also the case. As in SF it can be combined with prepositions or adverbs to form adverbials.
Using “tant” here are a few examples:
tant mieux=”so much the better.” Il est tant mieux de rester que d’aller. It is so much the better to stay than to go.
tant par heure=”so much per hour etc..” Sa salaire est figuré sur combien qu’alle est payé tant par heure. Her salary is figured or based on how much she is payed by the hour.
tant pire= “so much the worse.” Tant pire pour lui si y paierait pas ses dettes. To bad or so much the worse for him if he does not pay his debts.
tant qu’a pour lui= “as for him!” Tant qu’a pour lui, j’connais pas quoi qui va devenir de lui! As for him, I do not know what will become of him!
tant de fois= “so many times.” Mon père ma montré comment faire mes ouvrages, tant de fois, que j’peux bien les faire aujour’dhui.
tant que= “as long as.” Tant que cet homme fumera, il est possible qu’y va avoir du tracas avec ses poumons. As long as this man will smoke, it is possible that he will have trouble with his lungs.
tant qu’il faut= “as much as needed.” Ma mère va cuire tant qu’y faut pour nourrir tous les travaillants. My mother will cook as much as it is needed to feed all of the workers.
si je fais tant d’aller= “if I take the trouble to go.” Si je fais tant d’aller au village sur le samedi qui vient, j’vas m’acheter une nouvelle paire de soulier. If I happen or take the trouble to go to town next Saturday, I will buy myself a new pair of shoes.
mange pas tant (autant) que ça= “do not eat so much.” Si une personne mange tant (autant) que ça au midi, é va s’endormir droite (drèt)* après ça. If a person eats so much at noon, she or he will be sleepy right after that. (*Cajuns in my vicinity and others at times pronounce “droite,” feminine for straight away, right away, right direction, etc, as “drêt.” eg: J’l'ai mis drêt-là au plein vue. I put it right there in full view. Y veulent** aller à la droite plutôt que à la gauche. (When it comes to direction we generally pronounced as “droite.”) They wanted to go to the right rather than to the left.
Here are two adverbs using “tant”:
pourtant= “yet, still, nevertheless, even so, however, at any rate, despite, etc.” L’enfant connait qu’y va brûler sa main si y la mettrait sur le réchaud, pourtant, j’connais qu’y la mettrait. The child knows that he will burn his hand if he puts it on the heater, yet, I know that he will put it (on the heater).
Elle a essayé à prendre bien précaution avec sa santé, pourtant, elle a tombé malade avec la maladie de coeur. (She tried to take good care of her health, nevertheless, she came down with heart problems.)
Another adverbial is “quand même.” Cajuns generally pronounce this as “qu’a même.” It can mean nevertheless, anyhow, even if, etc.
Le tit bougre va aller qu’a même que son père l’a défendu d’aller! (The young man will go even if his father has forbidden him to go.)
Ça fait pas de différence qu’a même que le gaz est cher ou de bon marché, y faut l’avoir. (It makes no difference even if the gasoline is expensive or cheap, it is necessary to have.)
The adverb toutefois is also used for nevertheless, still, yet, etc. Ma grand-mère avait un che(v)al très rétif qui halait son boughait, toutefois, a pouvait le contrôler très aisé (aisément)
**I would like to restate that in many cases Cajuns use “Y” (pronounced like a long e) for the plural pronouns “ils and elles” (they).
Y vont aller demain pour payer ça qu’y doivent pour la dernière visite à l’office du docteur. They will go tomorrow to pay what they owe for the last visit to the doctor’s office.
As stated before “il” (he) is pronounced “y” when it is before a word that begins with a consonant. Y veut pas attendre rien de ça! He does not want to hear anything about that! Remember that for “elle,” (she) we also follow that rule. Alle before a vowel, a before a consonant. Also é a consonant and elle before a vowel.
Alle est malade ce matin, alors, a peut pas aller à son école. (She is sick this morning, in that case she cannot go to her school.) É veut pas manquer ses études, pour ça, elle a demandé de sa maîtresse d’envoyer ses études du jour par moyen de son frère. (She does not want to miss her studies, for that reason, she asked of her teacher to send her studies of the day by way of her brother.)
Before a word that begins with a vowel it is pronounced “il.” Il a fait*** une erreur équand il a signé le certificat d’naissance de son fils. He made an error when he signed his son’s birth certificate.
Note that we more often than not use the “passé composé” for “to have,”with the verb “faire” than the simple past tense. (Y fit une erreur quand y signa le certificat d’naissance de son fils. Note for the verb “to sign” “signer” we also use more often than not a helper rather than the “passé simple” for the third person singular “il signa.”
Mon voisin a replacé sa vieille coverture sur son magasin avec du fer blanc. (passé composé) Mon voisin replaca sa vieille coverture sur son magasin avec du fer blanc. (Passé simple) My neighbor replaced his old roof covering on his barn with some zinc (galvanized iron, tin).
Why? To me it does not sound right to say “fit.” To say “signa” due to non-familiarity, also sounds strange. No doubt not being familiar with conjugations we avoided them due to sound.
For replaca (passé simple) it could be that it would be close to the future tense replacera so we avoided it. Anyway, not all Cajuns hold to that rule of thumb. Those who have had an education in SF no doubt would use the passé simple.
March 2007
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)
Aine (une) Visite En Arkansas
J’ai passé, dernièrement, deux semaines en Arkansas, comme j’ai expliqué dans ma écriture sur le 3 de mars, ah bien, asteur j’aimerais vous dire quelques choses relatif à ma visite.
La ville ayeou mon fils reste en Arkansas c’est une ville bien connu, Hot Springs. Beaucoup du monde va (vont) là pour voir et prendre plaisir dans ça que la ville offre.
Il y’a des sources d’eaux en Hot Springs ayeou que les visiteurs peuvent se baigner. Soi-disant, les eaux de les sources sont guérissante pour le corp. J’ai pas pu me baigner dans n’apporte de quelles sources pendant mes visites du passé.
Quand tu vas visiter la tour pour observer l’épaillage de la ville il est possible de lire la liste qui contient des noms de les personnes considéré comme importantes qu’ont visité cette place. Aujourd’hui la ville est toujours plein avec du monde qui sont là pour apprécier les sources d’eaux et d’autres choses.
La ville est situé allentour de trois lacs. Une personne peut aller prendre une embarcation qui resemble un tit bus, mais quand tu observes bien le bus tu peux voir qu’il est attélé avec aine hélice (propeller) aussi. Quand la route est fini j’pense que le tit bus devient un bateau pour aller sur aine des lacs au près de Hot Springs. Si j’me trompe pas, j’crois que le tit bateau est appelé “ Le Canard” ou en Anglais “Duck.” L’affiche imprimé sur le bord du bateau demande $5 pour l’embarquer.Â
Il y’a un chemin de course ayeou que les chevaux sont couru, qui attire un tas du monde pendant la fin de la semaine. Aussi il y’a aine belle cour de golf au long de la rue “golf link.”
La ville se trouve pas sur un térrain plate. Elle est situé sur des grandes buttes ou des tites montagnes. Il faut s’habituer de ce térrain quand on vient de le sud-ouest de la Louisiane.
Les habitants de Hot Springs ont des différents manières à gagner la vie. Leurs places de travails se trouvent dans la ville mème. Il faut qu’ils font du travail au service d’autres. Il y’a pas un tas de manufacture allentour de la ville. Cette aine ville qu’est soutenu par les activités de les visiteurs. La ville est connu comme aine place de repos ou vacance, ça s’fait*, elle attire du monde avec l’argent à dépenser. Il y’a un tas des places à manger et des grands magasins pour acheter toutes sortes de marchandises. Si vous-autres veut aller là pour se reposer ou prendre aine vacance, j’crois que vous-autres sera sans regret.
L’opération fait sur ma tite fille par les docteurs a eu du succès. A peut souffle au soir facilement asteur. Alle s’a retourné à son école bien plein de joie. Pour deux semaines alle était enfermé en maison, et pour un enfant ça c’est dur à faire. J’sus très contend d’avoir l’occasion d’aider à la relever.
Je vous souhaite tous du bon temps. À plus tard.Â
This expression is used for the adverb “therefore.” The following word combination can be used: Pour cette raison (for this reason), alors, à cause de ça (due to that), ça s’fait (literally “that itself makes or as a result of that), and par conséquence (by consequence).
All of these adverbial expressions were used among the Cajun folks in my locale. However, “ça s’fait” was used very often. So you see that Cajuns are not limited in their vocabulary or expressions.
March 2007
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)
Opération Des Amygdales Et Des Glandes Lympyhatiques De La Gorge (Les Adénite)
I am going to be with my grand daughter on the 6th of March to be with her after her tonsilectomy, adenoids removal and tubes in her ears.  I will remain until she can return to her school.Â
J’vas aller (irai) pour être avec ma tite-fille (tite-enfant) sur le six de Mars et étant là jusqu’alle puisse (peut) retourner à son école. Les docteurs vont opérer (opéront) sur elle pour ôter ses amygdales et ses glandes lymphatiques(les adénite) de sa gorge. Au même temps y vont mettre des tits tuyaus, qui resemblent un tit morceau de macaroni, dans ses oreilles pour aider à dessécher la partie (la section) moyenne de l’oreille (le milieu d’l'oreille).
Au présent, au soir, alle a un tas de tracas pour souffler.  Pendant ce débattement, alle use une grande quantité de sa force pour essayer d’attraper assez d’l'aire. Cette lutte la fait perdre du poid et la laisse fatiqué.  Son docteur (médecin) dit à son père qu’il avait jamais vu autant de liquide en arrière d’un tympan (eardrum) comme dans son cas. Les pauvres enfants avec leurs allergies!
Quand moi j’étais jeune j’avais un tas d’problèmes avec mes oreilles et ma gorge. Mes amygdales sont toujours là après filtrer les poisons qu’on boit et souffle. Pas d’opération pour ôter mes amygdales m’a aidé, peut-être, à être capable à bloquer des choses penibles à ma santé.
J’vas resté avec mon fils pour l’aider à  relever sa chère tite fille. Dans les années passé (les aut(re)fois) quand les grande-mères restent avec un malade on appela ça “après relever le malade.”
Quand ma mère a donné naissance à mon dernier tit frère ma grande-mère a venu et alle a relevé ma mère. Ordinairement ce relèvement a pris allentour de deux semaines. La mère pouvait pas sortir du lit pour longtemps. Cette requête a affordé la mère d’être capable d’établir une relation très précieuse entre elle est son nouveau-né. Des belles tendresses ont developé entre la maman et son bébé, particulièrement quand le bébé tétait et alle le caresser. Aujourd’hui les docteurs voulent (veuillent) que la mère sorte du lit carrément. La bouteille est usé souvent plutôt que user la manière naturelle à nourrir le nouveau-né. Comment donc que les temps ont changé!
J’vas essayer d’écrire sur d’autres choses plus tard. En attendant, pourquoi pas prendre le temps, vous-autres, pour faire une revue de toutes les postes sur mon site. Aussi, essayez de traduire ce poste.     Â
March 2007
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)
“Mardi-Gras” Et “Les Salles De Danse”
The carnival spirit of mardi-gras did not originate in New Orleans.  It had predecessors many centuries ago during Roman times and afterward. If one wants to know the origin look it up on line or in any good encyclopedia. The carnival does not seem to have had a good moral beginning. It is true that New Orleans has made the modern day carnival popular. It is no more only a New Orleans affair.
I will not go into details about it’s origin only what I remember about the carnival when I was in my pre-teens.
In our vicinity there was what was called by Cajuns “courir le mardi-gras.” Literally meaning to run the mardi-gras. It resembled the Halloween activities. It was not as popular where I grew up as far as going from home to home demanding something or “une niche aurait été joué.” I remember my folks telling me of “les courants” in some cases would heap some havoc. They would steal chickens and pigs etc.  The young folks generally went around asking for “un tit cinq-sous.” (asking for a nickel) ”Y faisent pas des tours ou des niches. Leurs parents auraient*  chauffé leurs fonds d’culottes si ils auraient trouvé que leurs enfants ont eu fait ça.” They would not play tricks on the neighbors otherwise their parents would have warmed up their bottoms.
{*Note that form of “avoir” is in the present conditional. In our Cajun conversations we used the present conditional ”un tas” for all six persons. I know that perhaps at times we may have used it instead of “auront” for the “simple future” with the sixth person, “mais cher, l’oreille était la chose qui nous guidait dans nos prénonciations pas les règles de conjugaison Français.”
E.g. avec “auront.” “Les femmes auront recu des compliments pour leurs biens faites, (belles tailles). The ladies would have received compliments for their nice (lady-like) shapes.
The biggest event for the carnival was the “le bal de mardi-gras.,” ”the mardi-gras ball.”  The young ladies would dress in beautiful gowns (robes de bals) and much sequins and a small eye-mask to match.
The young men dressed up as well in various suits and wore a small mask. Gloves were worn by the gents as long as the mask was one that simply covered the eyes.Â
Generally the dance started with the “la marche de mardi-gras.” The Cajun band played that number. The couples would line up, usually a long ways outside of the dance hall in pairs and would enter and march into a circle like formation.
Once “la marche de mardi-gras” was finished the couples were judged by a judge or two and the best dressed and follow-up were chosen. This was done in a very orderly fashion. I can’t remember if there were a prize, but I would imagine so.
[The dance halls in my area were numerous but I remember the one around Bristol called "The China Ball Club" ("La Graine à Lilas.") There was one between Bristol and Mier or Bosco called "Tit Maurice's." There was one in Lewisburg, but I cannot remember the name of that one at the moment. Many of the young folks from our area went there. (I believe that there is also a Lewisburg in Nova Scotia.) There was a small hall between Rayne and Lafayette called "The Four Roses." The one in Rayne was called the "O.S.T.," due to the fact that "The Old Spanish Trial" (Hwy 90) went right by it. Anyway there were plenty of these dance halls in SW Louisiana. There was one around Sunset called "The Sunset Game Club." This was not only a dance hall but also where cocks were fought. I remember going with my parents when I was real young and a famous Cajun accordion player and his band were playing the Cajun music. He had a female vocalist, but I cannot remember her name. She was well known at the time. (The name of the player will come back to me and I will post his name.) (The name just came back to me, I believe it was "Joe Falcon.")
The one called "Tit Maurice's" had a race track also. Many of the country western singers were invited to play and sing there. There was  a large room with a number of cots for the children to sleep in. (Faire fait do-do).) One thing I remembered is that there was a piano on the bandstand. That is the only hall I can remember seeing that piece of musical instrument. I remember that the owner had two famous country singers one Saturday night perform. The female vocalist was ("Goldie Hill") and her brother ("Tommy Hill ?")  They were well known in the fifties.]
After the judging all sat at tables and of course partook of “de la boisson.” Of course you never knew what the liquor would end up doing to those “mardi-gras.”
No participants wore a full-face mask that I can remember.
The young ladies spent a lot of time preparing for “le bal de mardi-gras” as well as the young gents.
This is what was the height of that carnival in our area. There were no parades. Only later was a parade initiated in Lafayette, perhaps in the middle fifties? I remember when I was in the 7th grade our teacher took us all to his home to watch the parade, but the only thing we saw was snow on the old TV screen. No dish at that time or cable!
The carnival of today seems to be more like the ancient carnivals, with a lot of fanfare and at times perhaps dangerous activities.
Yes, “mardi-gras” means fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. I am not going to comment on the religious attachment to it. It is best that one determines that for himself.Â
More “sur le suject des salles de danses.”Â
Most of the dance halls had pool tables and of course card tables. Some may have had the slot machines before one particular attorney general of Louisiana put an end to that. We had slot machines in the 40’s and 50’s in the local grocery stores. I remember my older brother playing them. I believe a nickel was the coin used then.
There were tables all around the dance floor section. The dance floor was very slick. Some cornmeal like substance was spread on it before each dance night.
There was a “constable” to keep the peace. Many fights broke out in those days. Some people were seriously hurt either by fist fights or by the use of knives. “Le bon temps rouler” was not so “bon” when the alcohol went to work.
At the “Chinaball Club” for a while there was a boxing ring placed outside on week-ends. I can remember my dad getting into the ring and knocking out the poor old joe he was sparring.
Anyway, every Saturday nights these dance halls were filled to capacity. Later it became necessary by law to separate the dancing floor section from the bar room by building a wall in between them. I believe that had to do with the “minor” laws that were put into force.
Â
March 2007
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)