N’Importe De Quoi…Et Cetera
Letters in ( ) are generally not pronounced in informal Cajun.
In this post I will be using the French familiar expression “n’importe,” which means “it doesn’t matter” (or of no importance).
In this expression is found the French “ne,” (negative) which is one of the few places in which Cajuns used and pronounced in my locale.
“N’importe de quoi” (it doesn’t matter what)
“Ça fait pas d’difference, n’importe de quoi qui v’aller manquer, l’homme connu comme un coquin va êt(re) blamé.” (It makes no difference, it doesn’t matter, what will come up missing, a man known as a rascal of a thief will be blamed.)
“N’importe d’quoi que tu va’me dire, j’vas pas t’croire.” (It doesn’t matter what you (thou) will tell me, I will not believe you (thou).
“N’import d’éyeou [ayeou, où] que j’vas [j'aille] j’entends (attends)* parler de ton bon charactère.” (It doesn’t matter where [that] I go, I hear talking of your good personality [character].)
*”Entend(re)” (to hear) was pronounced “attend(re).” “Entend(re)” was used but I heard “attend(re)” more often.
“N’importe de qui peut user les liv(re)s dans la bibliothèque après avoir signé pour eux.” (It doesn’t matter [makes no difference] anyone can use the books in the library after having signed for them.)
“J’vas êt(re) satisfait avec n’importe quelle heure que vous-autres va choisir pour aller visiter les malades à la maison de vieux monde.” I will be satisfied with any (no matter) which time that you will choose to go to visit the sick at the old folks home.)
“On peut pas se comporter dans n’importe quelle manière qu’on aime en publique. Y faut obeir les lois.” (We cannot behave [comport] ourselves in just any manner that we like in public. We must obey the laws.)
“N’importe quel sort de gumbo que maman fait (fasse), j’l'aime assez pour me servir deux ou trois fois avant d’arrêter [d'arrêtant] d’l'manger.” (It makes no different what sort of gumbo that momma makes, I like it so much to serve myself two or three times before of to stop of to eat it [stopping of to eat it].)
“N’importe quand pendant la journée que t’aimes v(e)nir chez-moi j’vas êt(re) ici [icit].”** (It makes no matter when (at any time) during the day that you would like to come to my home, I will be here.)
**”Ici” is pronounced in many cases as “icit.” An interesting feature of Cajun.
“N’importe comment mon enfant, équand la pendule va sonner midi, y faut que tu sois revenu [ervenu-at times we invert the "re."] à la maison.” (Hit or miss, or whatever, when the clock will strike noon, it is a must that you be back at the house.)
“Dans n’importe quel jour de la s(e)maine, si la pluie commencerait (va commencer), j’vas planter mes patates douces.) (In or during any day of the week, if the rain starts, I will plant my sweet potatoes.)
“Dans n’importe façon (manière) que vous arrangiez (allez arranger) ce plat d’pomme de terre, j’connais que j’vas l’apprécier.” (It makes no difference in whatever fashion that you will fix this dish of potatoes (Irish), I know that I will appreciate it.)
“Y faut pas que t’amènes*** du bruit (train) dans n’importe quelle manière, parce que tu vas réveiller ton tit frère.” (You must not make or bring about noise in any manner, because you will wake up your little brother.)
***In Cajun “to bring” (am(e)ner, pronounced “am’ner” in Cajun) is interchanged with (apporter) which can also mean “to take away from one place to another, to bring about etc.) “Apportes-moi donc voir cette ch(e)mise que j’peux (puisse) la raccommoder.” (Please bring me this shirt so that I can mend it.) “Il a apporté du déshonneur à sa famille à cause de sa mauvaise conduite.” (He brought about dishonor on his family due to his bad behavior.)
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