Cajun French Language Tutorials
Jim Leger teaches the Cajun language
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Assis Sur La Grande Branche Du Vieux Chêne, Qui TraÎnait Sur Terre
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Dans une grande savane, séparé par Le Bayou Boudreaux et près d’un tit ch’min terre, dans notre voisinage, se trouvait un vieux chêne éyeou les jeunes garçons se groupaient pour s’engager, surtout, dans des divers discours.
In a big pasture, separated by Bayou Boudreaux and next to a small dirt road, in our neighborhood, was found an old Oak (tree) where the young boys would group together to engage themselves in various discussions.
Sur l’écorce de c’arbre on pouvait voir des coquilles de cigale à bois (de bois). Ces tites bétailles faisaient un tas d’train pendant le tit bout d’temps qu’y vivaient. Le frott’ment de leurs jambes faisaient un train qui attirait l’attention pour se marconer une et l’autre en ordre de produire des oeufs pour être éclos et v’nir en vie dixsept années plus tard. Lorsque la cigale à bois pondait ces oeufs dans une tite branche sec, é coupait la branche qui tombait parterre pour laisser les larves s’enterrer pour dix-sept années avant de sortir pour continuer le cycle de leur vie. En faisant ce coupage les cigales à bois faisaient un service en qu’ils taillent (cisaillent) les arbres de leur branches sec, qu’été crevé.
On the bark of this tree we could find the shells of tree locusts. These creatures would make a lot of noise during the short period of their life time. The rubbing of their legs would make a noise that attracted the attention to mate one with the other in order to be able to produce eggs to be hatched and come to life seventeen years later. As soon as the female locust would lay her eggs in a dried up small branch then she would cut the branch that would fall onto the ground and allowed the larvae to burrow for seventeen years before coming out to continue their life cycle. In doing this cutting, the tree locusts would do a service in that they would prune the dried, dead, branches.
Le vieux chêne était très agée. J’connaisais pas l’âge de cet arbre, mais, par observant des racines, qui semblaient comme des lianes qui couraient du bas de l’arbre*, me quittaient connaître qu’il était très vieux.
*We always used “de l’arbre” rather than “d(u)’arbre.”
The old Oak Tree was very old (aged). I did not know the age of this tree, but by observing of the roots, that looked like vines (creepers) that would run from the base of the tree, would let me know that it was very old.
Tout partout sur la terre autour du vieux chêne on pouvait ramasser des glands en pleines poches. Si on aurait trouvé des glands qu’étaient convenable à faire des tites pipes, on les aurait emmené chez nous-autres pour les user plus tard. Ce ramassage de glands dépendait si les cochons auraient pas venu manger les glands avant qu’on soit arrivé.
All over on the ground around the old Oak Tree we could pick up some acorns by the pockets full. If we were to have found some acorns that were suitable to make some little pipes, we would have taken them home to use later. This picking up of acorns depended on if the pigs had not come to eat them before (that) we would had arrived.
Asteur, allons aller s’assir sur la grande branche qui traînait sur terre. Oui, il y avait une branche qu’était convenable pour s’assir sans trop d’tracas, parce qu’elle était très basse. On pouvait grimper cette grande branche, épis-la, nous rendre en haut d’l'arbre.
Now, let us go to sit ourselves on this big branch that dragged onto the ground. Yes, there was a branch that was convenient for us to sit on without much trouble, because it was very low. We could scamper that big branch, and then, render ourselves to the top of the tree.
Il y avait des fois que notre discussions pouvaient tourner en disputations. Comme jeunes garçons on avait notre propres idées sur des choses et si quelqu’un d’autre nous contrarieait on pensait qu’ils étaient dans le tort. Les cheveux se regrichaient et peut-être une colère s’apercevait. Mais, plus tard, cette animosité s’éteignait (s’aurait éteint) [aurait éteindu].*
*In my area the past participle for the verb “éteindre” (to put out, like a flame) was often “éteindu” rather than “éteint.” Also, sometimes the conditionel was used “s’aurait éteint or s’aurait éteindu,” even though it did not call for it.
There were times that our discussions could turn into disputations. As young boys we had our own ideas on things and if someone else would contradict us we thought that they were in the wrong. The hair became razor-back and perhaps a fit of anger was realized. But, later, this animosity would have put itself out (fadded).
J’peux me rappeler d’une fois équand mon plus vieux frère a eu un désaccord avec un autre tit bougre de la bande. Ce tit bourgre là était très fâché après mon frère, et il l’a défendu de passer devant sa maison et dans une manière menaçante il a dit qu’il usera une hache sur lui.
I can remember of one time when my older brother had a disagreement with one of the young boys of the gang. That young lad there was very angry after my brother and he dared him to pass in front of his house and in a menacing manner he told him that he would be using an axe on him.
Naturellement son menaçe était justement donné au cours d’une colère et il a jamais accompli cette menaçe contre mon frère. Ça c’était les manières des jeunes garçon pendant ma jeunesse. Ça veut pas dire qu’il était pas possible pour le tit bougre qui s’a faché à faire ça, mais dans les jours là on avait plusse de contrôl de soi que d’aujourd’hui.
Of course his threat was simply given during the course of a fit of anger and he never did carry out that threat against my brother. That, that was the ways of the young boys during my youth. It is not to say that it was not possible for the young man that had angered himself to do that, but during those days we had more self-control than today.
La grande branche a servi son propos (dessein) pour nous-autres. J’pense que le vieux arbre est pu là , mais les memoires sont toujours frais dans mon idée (esprit). J’souhaite que vous-autres a pu apprendre des nouveaux mots par moyen de ce post. Usez les mots dans vos conversations ou répétez eux souvent à vous-mème.
The big branch served its purpose for us. I believe that the old tree is not there anymore, but the memories are still fresh in my mind. I hope that you have been able to learn some new words by means of this post. Use the words in your conversations or repeat them often to yourself (in an undertone).
Vocabulaire (Vocabulary) k-n
kabas (cabas) n.m. (valise, travel bag) Mom a préparé mon kabas que j’pouvais (pusse) aller prendre le bus. (Mom prepared my valise that I could go catch the bus.)
légèrement adv. (lightly, slightly) Il faut marcher légèrement équand pape et après prendre un tit somme. (It is necessary that we walk lightly when dad is taking a little nap.)
macaquerie n.f. (monkey shine, funny antics, cutting up) La macaquerie de mon tit ami a fait la maitresse le mettre à genoux. (The monkey shine of my little freind made the teacher put him on his knees.)
niche n.f. (nook, alcove, practical joke) Équand on s’a revenu on pouvait voir qu’une niche été joué contre nous-autres. (When we returned we could see that a practical joke had been played against us.)
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February 2008
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)
“Le Tit Chien D’Terre Qui M’Faissait Peur!
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J’peux pas m’rappeler si j’ai jamais vu un “tit chien d’terre” ou pas, mais j’connais que j’avais peur de cette tite bétaille!
I cannot remember if I had ever seen a “little mole cricket” or not, but I know that I had fear of this little creature!
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Mes parents me faisaient peur de cette tite affaire, en pensant, qu’alle était poison.
My parents made me fearful of this little thing, in thinking, that it was poisonous.
Si vous-autres regarderait à l’image présenté en haut, c’est pas drôle, alors, qu’on avait peur de cette tite cricket. Alle est ô si villaine!
If you were to look at the image presented above (link), it isn’t strange, therefore, that we were afraid of this little cricket. She is O so ugly!
J’peux m’souvenir d’une fois équand j’étais après m’peigner, en miroir de la armoire, et gardez donc quoi j’ai vu sur une de mes épaules; une tite bétaille* villaine comme les septs péchés capitaux! La pauvre tite bétaille, j’l'ai fait prendre une route en l’aire équand j’l'ai foutu une tape. Mon coeur a battu cents milles à l’heure pendant cette épisode. Dans mon idée j’avais vu un “tit chien d’terre” sur mon épaule.
*In my area “bétaille” was feminine.
I can recall of a time when I was combing myself, at the mirror, of the armoire, and look take a look please at what I saw on one of my shoulders; a little creature as ugly as the seven capital sins. The poor little creature, I made it take a flight when I socked it a slap. My heart beat one hundred miles an hour during this episode. In my mind had had seen a little mole cricket on my shoulder.
Équand on entendait les mots “chien d’terre” on s’effarouchait, épis-là , après ça, on était sur le qui vive presque pour toute la balance de la journée. Ça, ça, il y avait pas d’apparence en ça. Mais, on avait apris par l’instruction de nos parents que le chien d’terre pouvait nous piquer ou nous mordre.
When we would hear the words “mole cricket” we got wild, and then, after that, we were on the alert for nearly the rest of the day. That, that, there was no sense in that. But, we had learned by the instruction of our parents that the mole cricket could sting us or bite us.
La même chose, d’être mal instruit, se trouvait dans la croyance qu’il était dangereux pour boire du lait équand qu’on mangait du poisson. Comme enfants, on était défendu de manger les deux ensemble. Aujourd’hui on connait que ça c’était, comme on dit en anglais, an old wive’s tale (un conte des vieilles femmes.)
The same thing, of being badly instructed, found itself in the belief that it is dangerous to drink some milk when that we eat some fish. As children, we were forbidden to eat the two together. Today we know that, that there was, like we say in English, an old wive’s tale.
J’vas fermé (fremé) ce post asteur, mais j’aimrais inviter tous qui aimeront présenter leur tite histoire comme la mienne, de faire ça par moyen d’envoyer leurs remarques à mon site.
I will close this post for now, but I would like to invite all who would like to present their little account like mine, to do that by means of sending their comments to my site.
Merci.
Le vocabulaire (the vocabulary) (G-J)
galeux: adj. mangy, itchy, scabby) Le vieux chien était galeux. (The old dog was mangy.)
l’hibou: mas. noun (the owl, all types) L’hibou à venu griffé un tit poulet dans la cour. (The owl came and clawed (caught) a little chick in the yard.)
infecter: v.t. (to infect) Une aiguille sale peut infecter le sang d’une personne.
le jabot: mas. noun (the bust, bosom, chest) Ma grand-mère portait (apportait) un tit porte-monnaie dans son jabot.
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February 2008
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)
A Few Cajunisms
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As I have stated before there are many words or sayings in Cajun that are strictly Cajun. So, again, if you are students of SF take that into consideration. Some may be used in SF also. Here are just a few e.g.s.:
“Déparler” is a Cajun verb that is such. It means to “ramble or to talk too much. “Le vendeur (commis voyageur) de poires qui vient vendre dans la campagne quand les poires sont mûr, déparle et c’est ça qu’il fait perdre des ventes.” (We could also say “il parle de trop.”) The traveling pear salesman who sells his pears in the country when the pears are ripe, rambles too much which makes him lose some sales.“L’habitude de déparler est pas apprécié par le vaillant monde.” The habit of rambling in speech is not appreciated by nice folks.
“Vous-êtes après déparler, Monsieur Homer, c’est pour ça que vous avez vendu que justement un boisseau d’ poires.” You are talking too much Mr. Homer that is why you sold only one bushel of pears.
“Déparler” can be likened to “dépasser” which means to go too far or over the limit etc. E.g. “J’ai dépassé la place que j’allais, (j’étais après), surtout, pour trouver ayeou que mon grand noncle restait.”** “Le jeune bougre a dépassé la limite de vitesse, donc, la loi l’a donné un tiquette et son fine était très cher.” The young fellow went over the speed limit, therefore, the officer gave him a ticket and his fine was very costly. (”dépasser” has many shades of meanings: project (jut), overtake, overstep etc.)
E.g “Un examen de compte de mon check book (chéquier) m’a quitté connaître que j’avais dépassé la quantité d’argent j’avais dans mon compte de banque.” An audit of my check book let me know that I had passed the limit (overdrawn) the amount of money that I had in my bank account.
“Il y a beaucoup du monde qui dépassent leur borne (limite).* (”la borne” is a stone marker in SF, it is used by Cajuns) “Il y a un tas du monde qui dépassent leur droit légitime.” A lot of people overstep their legitimate rights. *In this e.g. it could be that they went beyond their limit.
**I overshot or passed the place, especially, the one that I went to find that belongs to my great uncle.
Cajuns use “la boucle d’oreille” for an earring, but we can also use “la pendrioche.” Though the first is most commonly used the latter is also used in reference not only to earrings, but something that just hangs loose.
“Les pendrioches sur ses oreilles (les lobes d’oreilles) percé la convient pas (sont pas convenant à elle). The hanging ear rings in her pierced ears do not become her.
Here is an expression “comment ça roule?” We of course hear “comment ça va?” also. But in this case the thought of “rolling” or going forward is meant.
“Hé là -bas Monsier Albert, comment ça roule aujourd’hui avec vous (toi). Hey there Mr. Albert how are things going (rolling) with you today.
“Difficile” means to be difficult or hard to please, picky etc. There is another adjective used “regardant.”
“La vieille fille (spinster) est une personne qu’est très regardante.” The spinster is a person who is very picky (fault-finding etc). “La vieille fille est très difficile a faire plaire.” The spinster is very difficult to please.
“La postume” is used by Cajuns to mean “the pus.” That seems to be a Cajunism. “Quand le docteur a lancé le clou sur la jambe du tit garçon la postume a sorti affreux.” When the doctor lanced the boil on the little boy’s leg the pus gushed out.
This is used in SF but you hear this a lot in Cajun speech. “Un bon ou gros gaillard.” That is a robust fellow. “Mais, gardes ce “gros gaillard” après galloper ô si vite.” Just look at that big fellow running oh so fast!
“Une chauffe” in Cajun can mean a severe reprimand or a scolding. “Sa mère l’a foutu une chaufe quand il a revenu de se battre avec son cousin.” His mother scolded him severely when he came in from fighting with his cousin.
“Ça chauffe” means that it is difficult to do. “Ça chauffe le veux homme d’aller loins à pied.” It is difficult for the old man to go a long ways on foot.
“La charogne” the carrion. “Chaque fois qu’une de les (des) bêtes de mon grand-père a crevé il appelait le truck (SF camion) de charogne de la pariosse pour v’nir et la ramasser.” Every time one of my grandfather’s animal (large) would die he called on the carrion truck of the parish to come and pick it up.
“Crever (créver)” is used for animals “to die” not “mourir.”
“Dérober” is a neat verb. It means to unrobe. We used that a lot when we were speaking about shucking corn. “Il faut dérober l’épi d’maïs avant qu’on peut ôter la grain sur l’épi.” It is necessary to take the corn shucks off of the ear of corn before the grain can be removed.
“Mais jamais d’la vie!” This is a phrase that I heard many times when I was growing up. It can take on different meanings. “Mais jamais d’la vie, Jacques, tu connait mieux que ça!” “Oh never of the life, James, you know better than that! (Literally the expression mean “but never in life or something like “oh but never” etc.)
“Mais jamais d’la vie, Henri, boit pas ô si tant!” “Oh but never, Henry, don’t drink oh so much!”
When we wanted to say “not nearly enough” we used “pas proche assez (assez proche).” E.g. “J’ai pas proche assez d’argent pour m’acheter un nouveau soute.” I do not nearly have enough money to buy a new suit. “Il a pas proche assez d’argent mit à coté pour faire le paiment qu’est dû bienvite sur son assurance.” He does not have nearly enough money set aside to make his insurance payment that is due shortly.
Here is a Cajun verb that is straight to the point “bajeuler.” A variant verb used is “bavarder.” Both spell out “to blab or use your jaws to gossip. In SF the verb “bavarder” can take on the meaning of just chit-chat or twaddle.
E.g. “Parce qu’elle été faché après la fille qu’avait prit son beau, elle a commencé à la bajeuler. “Elle a commencé de bavarder après d’la fille qu’a prit son beau.” Because she was angry after (with) the girl that had stolen her boyfriend she started to bad mouth her. She commenced to gab (in a bad sense) about the girl that stole her beau.
Cajuns add an ending to a noun that makes it participate in the meaning of the noun but perhaps in a diminutive or other way.
E.g. “Quand mon père a bâti son kiln à patat il avait un tas des “boutailles” (de bois) que j’pouvais jouer avec et bâtir des affaires.” When my father built his potato kiln there were a lot of wood scrapes with which I could play with and build things.
“J’ai pris les morceau de bois laissé après mon père a bâti sa remise et j’ai bâti ma propre tite remise.” I took the pieces of wood left, after my father built his carriage shed and built my own little shed.
“Rapiquer” is a Cajun verb which denotes being stuck up or huffy. “Se rapiquer est pas une belle chose.” For one to be stuck-up or huffy is not a pretty thing. Another adjective of course is “fier.” That one can be used to denote something good or not so good.
“La femme était fier avec son beau chapeau.” The woman was stuck up with her new handsome hat. “Le nouveau papa a marché fier comme un paon après qu’il a su que sa femme avait donné naisance à une jolite tite fille.” The new papa walked proud as a peacock when he found out that his wife gave birth to a beautiful little girl.
“Le tac-tac” is strictly a Cajun expression we used in our area. “Pendant l’hiver on a fait des boules de tac-tac.” During the winter we made popcorn balls. “Le tac-tac goûte mieux quand on met un tas d’beurre dessus.” The popcorn tastes better when one puts a lot of butter over it. Interestingly SF simply use the English word pop-corn. For popcorn balls, “des flocons de pop-corn” ??? Va voir comprendre le monde Français ain!
In SF “un brin” is a blade or strand of something. Where I grew up the Cajun folks used it mostly in another manner. E.g. “J’ai bu justement un “tit brin” de café et asteur j’sus nerveux comme un chat à grande cheue dans une chambre pleine de berseurs.” I simply drank a little bit of coffee and now I am nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (rockers, people that are rocking).
I will post more of these sayings at a later date. C’est assez pour asteur!
HERE ARE A FEW MORE WORDS THAT ARE VERY CAJUN IN ORIGIN
amarrer: to tie (from nautical term, “to moor”)
les boutailles: odds and ends (from “bout” with the “ailles” denoting frequency)
le cap-cap: the click beetle
la carvelle: the railway spike (we used these to make harrows driven in timbers and dragged over fresh plowed rows to break up “les mottes de terres” (clumps of earth)
le casseburgau: the gaspergou (fish)
le compotier: the syrup or honey server
la couverture: the roof
l’éssuie-place: the floor mop, wiper rag (my mother always had hers in a small foot tub to clean the entrance steps to the house.)
la frappe d’abord: the deerfly (”frappe” comes from “frapper” to hit or strike, “d’abord” comes from “aborder” which means to strike or run into, so there you have it “a fly that “runs into you” and how true are these words. If you have ever been pestered by one then you know why Cajuns gave the “deerfly” that name.)
le goujon-caille: Opelousas, or spotted catfish also known as “la barbue” (caille is adjective for spotted)
le graton: the crackling
le gumbo: when used with “fevi” the “okra” is meant
la lavure: the dishwater slop (other animal foods were mixed with it and fed to the pigs)
la macaquerie: the monkey shine (”macaque” is the generic term used for monkey by Cajuns)
la mûre trainante: the dew berry (”la mûre” is “the berry” and the adjective “trainante,” which comes from the verb “trainer” (to drag), describes the berry as being on a low vine dragging the ground)
le mirliton (merliton): the vegetable pear
le zipper: the zipper (to emphasize that Cajuns have adopted English words, and when they are enunciated by them it sounds like a French word. It is easier to remember “le zipper” than “la fermeture glissière,” which stands for “the closer runner” [the verb "glisser" gives the French noun "la glissière" which means that it "slides"]
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February 2008
- Author: Jim Leger | Category: Learn Cajun French | Comments(0)