I will write this post entirely in Cajun, except of course for these introductory words. All who are sincerely interested could perhaps translate this post. If one has A Cajun Dictionary, it would be a great aid in doing the translating. I have tried to use many nouns that are related to the equestrian.

Premièr(e)ment, avant d’commencer (à) d’atteler le ch(e)val pour aller s’promener comme un cavalier, il faut faire qu(el)que choses. On va choisir un ch(e)val qu’est bien dompté. Pas un qu’est rétif qui va peut-être nous sacré parterre!

Moi, j’vas choisir la couleur rougêat(re) pour mon ch(e)val et un qu’a pas la taille comme un chaqueta (chacta), créole ou craquelin et non plus comme un normand. Un ch(e)val utilisé (usé) par un vacher ou un ch(e)val de course va être ma choix.

J’vas mett(re) une bride dans la gueule de mon ch(e)val pour le guider à l’écurie pour commencer à l’atteler. J’vas pas user un bosale ou un bridon parce qu’on les use justement équand on attelle les ch(e)vaux pour les travailler dans les clos.

J’vas prend(re) une étrille, avant de n’importe d’aut(re) chose, et j’vas étriller son crin. J’vas bien étriller le crin alentour de son cou et sur sa queque (chueue). J’aim(e)rai faire sûr qu’il y aura pus d’arcoquins (arcochins) n’import ayeou sur mon ch(e)val à selle. J’vas brosser le duvet sur son corp, tout partout. J’vas examiner sa gueule* pour voir si il y a peut-être pas des blessures alentour d’elle. J’voudrai pas donner (faire) du mal au ch(e)val dans cette place-là équand j’userai (j’vas user) la bride. J’voudrai pas irriter (limer) sa machoir équand j’vas haler sur le mors attaché sur la bride.

*Dans mon coin de la Louisiane on prononcait (prénoncait) le mot “gueule” en usant le son du “j” plutôt (p(l)tôt que le “g,” dur. E.g. “Fermes ta [jeule] putôt que “fermes ta gueule [bouche]. [Comme des p'tits on entendait des sons qu'étaient pas là. Des fois on disait "frèmer, plutôt de fermer." La même chose se trouvait vraie pour le mot "fourmi." Plus que pas on disait "froumi, ou fromi."] On usait les deux prononciations sans regards du sujet, humain ou animal (bête). On échangeait les mots sur un coup d’tête ou capric(e)ment.

Après le brosage et l’examination été (vont être) fini j’irai à la phase suivante; ça c’est à dire de mett(re) la soutadaire [en espagnol le mot pour "sweatshirt" est "sudadera" Le français des Cajuns été influencé par les espagnols qu'étaient en Louisiane.] J’userai cette couverte pour empêcher le dos de mon ch(e)val d’avoir (attraper) trop d’frott(e)ments, alors, y pouvaient faire des bobos d’selles. La soutadaire est assez épaisse pour offert (offrir) une protection cont(re) l’irritation (agac(e)ment) par moyen d’une selle sur le dos de mon ch(e)val simplement sur le duvet.

Ô oui, y faut pas que j’oublie d’examiner chaque de ses pattes pour êt(re) sûr qu’il est feré, ou qu’il a un fer à ch(e)val sur ses quat(res) pattes. J’voudrai pas aller sur un ch(e)min d’gravois sans des fers à ch(e)val et peut-êt(re) comme-ça faire du mal à ses pattes.

Mais quoi c’est que j’vas faire (j’ferai) asteur. J’vas prend(re) précaution et examiner ma selle. J’voudrai pas rien d’êt(re) sous la selle, comme un caillou ou un arcochin.  Mon ch(e)val est pas un pour êt(re) rétif, mais un arcochin pourra bien le faire s’corcobier. Épis gardes, moi j’sus pas une qu’est instruit dans l’art de rester assiss sur selle pendant un corcobage de ch(e)val! J’vas toujours faire sûr que ma selle sera bien graissé avec du ’savane d’selle,’ après chaque fois que j’la use.

Eh bien, allons mett(re) la selle. J’vas tirer la selle sur le dos de mon ch(e)val avec soin. J’voudrai pas le faire peur parce qu’après cette escousse y pourra bien êt(re) éfarouché par moyen de n’importe de quel mouv(e)ment de tout d’un coup alentour de lui.

Après la selle sera mis avec précaution sur le dos de mon ch(e)val j’vas le sangler. J’ferai sûr que la sangle (ceinture de selle) sera pas trop serré pour causer une malaise à mon ch(e)val et au même temps pas trop lâche que la selle pourra (puisse) peut-êt(re) se défaire épis-là glisser sous le vent(re) du ch(e)val, et j’vous demande, ayeou que moi, le cavalier, se trouv(e)ra (va se trouver), ain?

Les éprons apporté sur les bottes des cavaliers vont pas êt(re) apporté par moi. Quoi-faire? Moi j’trouves qu’il est trop cruel d’user les éprons pour faire mon ch(é)val aller. J’vas avoir un tit fouet pour, temps en temps, quitter mon ch(e)val connaître que moi j’sus son maît(re), mais j’vas pas le bucher en colère. J’crois que mon ch(e)val va obéir mes ord(res) sans d’êt(re) nécessaire à le masacrer avec un fouet ou des éprons.

Asteur j’vas monter mon ch(e)val et j’vas aller me promener dans le voisinage. J’vas commencer à marcher mon ch(e)val pour un tit bout pour étirer les muscles dans ses jambes. Après cette activité j’vas le faire aller dans un tit gallop. Pour me mett(re) plus à mon aise, j’vas manière me mettre débout dans les étriers, comme ça, mon derrière va pas frapper la selle aussi souvent.

Équand j’vas croire que mon ch(e)val va être paré pour aller le plein gallop, j’vas l’donner un command(e)ment en usant un de mes talons, et peut-êt(re) un tit coup d’fouet sur une de ses haunches. Si y commencerait d’aller trop vite à cause de s’exciter, j’vas haler un tit brin sur les rênes, pas trop fort, assez pour le quitter connaïtre d’aller plus douc(e)ment.

C’est une belle experience d’aller à ch(e)val et sentir le vent contre la figure [face] et de sentir l’energie créé par l’esprit et la force de mon ch(e)val. Ses narines, après expirer son souffle humide, ressemble le brouillard du matin dans les cyprières. Le train de son haletant va enlever des frissons sous ma peau. Peut-être j’vas faire accroire que j’sus un chevalier après défend(re) le royaume de mon roi!

Mais là, j’vas m’réveiller de c’espèce de rêve et j’vas commencer à me mett(re) en réalité épis la j’vas m’apercevoir de mes voisins qu’étaient après essayer de me saluer. La suer sur le corp de mon ch(e)val me quitte connaït(re) qu’il est temps d’arrêter d’aller au plein gallop et diminuer au tit trot jusqu’a à la marche.

En retournant chez-moi j’irai à l’écurie avec mon ch(e)val et j’vas le laisser se rafraichir avant de le donner d’l'eau à boire. J’ôterai (vas ôter) la selle et la soutadaire premièr(e)ment. J’vas essuyer la suer de dessus son dos et j’vas le brosser très bien. Après cette chose-là, j’vas ôter sa bride, mais j’vas pas le quitter sortir de l’écurie. J’vas aller dans le grenier du magasin et j’vas jeter du foin dans la crêche de l’écurie. Si, j’aurais d’l'avoine, j’metterai un tit brin dans l’auge comme la gniappe (lagniappe) à mon ch(e)val pour le bon tour qu’il m’a fait.

Voyez, donc, comment le cavalier équipe son ch(e)val avant de le monter pour aller faire un tour dans son voisinage. Le ch(e)val est un beau bétail et un qui peut nous donner un tas d’plaisir. Il faut se souvenir au même temps, du fait, que le ch(e)val et aussi un animal qu’est très fort et un qui peut nous faire du mal si on serait pas attentif à ses manières.

Eh bien, traduisez donc voir ce post en anglais, et j’connais que vous-autres v’avoir un bon temps en faisant ça. Merci.

“C’mot-là été usé équand on était après charer ou causer en famille.” (This word there was used when we were chattering or egaged in light conversations in family atmospheres.)

“Picocher” is a Cajun verb that means to pick at something, like a bird does. We carried that over into the field of nit-picking or being nosy. “Cette vieille femme aime picocher dans les affaires des autres. On a un proverbe qui va comme ça-ici, “Y faut pas aller brasser dans les chaudières qui appartiennent à les aut(res), il faut brasser dans not(res) propres chaudières.” (This old woman likes to pick in other peoples’ affaires. We have a proverb that goes like that here, “One should not stir in the pots that belong to others, one must stir in his own pots.)*

*Of course that would mean to keep your nose out of other people’s business!

Standard French uses “picoter” for “to peck at” or “to bicker” rather than “picocher” as do Cajuns. Cajun: “Arrêtes de picocher après ta tite soeur, ain!” (Stop (thou) picking (of picking) at your little sister.) “Arrêtez d’ostiner!” (You stop that quarrelling or bickering!)

In Cajun “la picote” is used for the chicken pox or small pox. I see in SF “la variole” is used for Small Pox and “la varicelle” is used for Chicken Pox. Could the term in Cajun “la picote” have come from “to peck” or “to scratch?” “À chaque la sienne.” (To each his own.)

The French adverb “enfin” was used often in my family’s daily conversation. It was used in a way that sounded to me simply as an expression that meant “oh well.” As I reflect on how it was used, I can see now why my folks used it so often.

This Cajun word was used alone at times. My mother would make a statement like, “j’connais pas quoi qui va arriver avec ça, non.” Then she would simply say, “enfin” in a perhaps acquiescent manner and that would be it. We surmised that she meant “after all” or “we’ll see.”

At times a shoulder shrug was made along with hands going into gesture while enunciating that adverb. That was a more forceful way of letting ones know that “whatever, we’ll see” was revolving in the speaker’s head.

“Cette affaire qu’il est après faire vaut pas d’la peine. Enfin, on va voir si j’sus correct ou pas.” (This thing that he is doing is not worthwhile [not worth the pain]. At the end, we will see if I am right [correct] or not.)

“Mais gardez-donc ça, oui, j’ai trouvé une aut(re) tite affaire dans laquelle j’peux picocher” (But look please at that, yes, I have found another little thing in the which I can pick or peck.)

“Justement* pour renouveler la mémoire,” when I place a letter or letters in ( ) it, or they, are not pronounced but elided, usually by Cajuns.

*Here is where we break away from eliding, not pronouncing, the “e.” If I were to elide the first “e” in “just(e)ment.” rather than pronouncing it, the Cajun ear would pick up a discordance. In most cases the middle “e” is elided but not in “justement.” (justment-would be sounded and that was never heard.)

Where I grew up sometimes I would hear different pronunciations for the French word “bien.” At times when “bien” [well] was used in front of a word that began with a silent “h” followed by a vowel or when the word began with a vowel we would express it in various ways. E.g. “Mais gardes* il est bien (h)abiller aujourd’hui, oui.” (But look [thou] he is well dressed today, yes.) The “n” consonant was not run into the vowel “a” in “(h)abiller.” All you heard was “bien (h)abiller,” the “n” was slightly sounded. (The Cajun ‘n’ is sent to the nasal passage and has a slight “ain” sound.) At other times the “n” in “bien” was run into the “a” in “(h)abiller” and the tongue would roll to say “bien-a” [biena] “bien(h)abiller.”

*Another example here where the “s” may or may not have been pronounced and run into the vowel “i” in “il.” Usually in my locale the “s” in “gardes” was dropped. ["gardes" to mean "thou look"] However, the “l” in “il” was pronounced and run into “est” and we sounded it out as one word “ilest” (ilé). Generally, if the “t” were followed by a vowel it was elided. “Il es(t) après aller trop douc(e)ment .” (He is going too slow.) “Douc(e)ment” is used by Cajuns to mean “slowly,” in the sense of velocity or speed. In SF it seems to be used for “slowly” also, but not in the sense that Cajuns use it. “Vas doucement avec le vin!” (Go slowly or gently with the wine was used.) Cajuns also use that adverb as in SF to denote “mildly, softly, gently etc.” “Marches douc(e)ment cher pour pas réveiller ton tit frère qu’est après dormir dans la grande chamb(re) à coucher.” (Walk softly dear for not to wake up your little brother who is sleeping in the master bedroom.)

The French adverb “lentement” was seldom heard in my household. I may have heard my elders say, “Lent(e)ment, lent(e)ment avec ça cher.” Or, “Douc(e)ment, douc(e)ment avec les mulets mon garçon.” (Take it easy, take it easy, dear one, with the mules.) If you didn’t those little Creole mules would rebel and do what they wanted to do!

So if you want to convince a Cajun to slow down in the driving of his car, use “douc(e)ment” rather than “lent(e)ment” and you will have better results.

Something unique in our area was the addition of a “s” at the end of “bien.” So we would say “biens-(h)abiller” [biensa]. The “s” was run into the “a” [biens(h)abiller, was sounded]. The “s” had the “zed or z” sound.

“J’étais biens-habiller (biens(h)abiller) équand j’ai reçu mon diplôme, mais aujourd’hui le linge sur mon dos, que j’apporte, est [sont] justement des haillons*.” (I was well dressed when I received my diploma, but today the clothes on my back, that I wear, are simply rags.)

*In many cases the French “h” is aspirated by Cajuns. This is the case in the word “haillons” for [rags]. Another example would be in the French verb “to hate,” [haïr]. The “ha” is heard. Another e.g. would be the verb “to pull,” [haler], The “ha” is heard, [ha-lay, not a-lay]. If I heard the latter, I would have thought that someone was saying “aller,” meaning to go rather than to pull.

I reiterate that we learned our mother tongue by “ear” not by the book.

“Très” (very or very much) was employed in our daily conversations. “J’me sens très bien asteur (à cette heure) mais ça peut s’faire qu’après j’vas finir mon ouvrage j’vas pas me sentir aussi bien.” (I feel very well now, but it could be that after I will finish (have finished) my work I will not be feeling so well.)

The adverb “trop” was used at times in the place of “très” as we used it in our English. “J’me sens pas trop bien aujourd’hui.” (I do not feel too much well today.) “J’sus pas trop gaillard.” (I am not too much hale, well, hardy etc.)

“Il est très dommage qu’é peut pas v(e)nir avec nous-aut(res).” (It is very much a pity that she cannot come with us.) “Il est trop dommage qu’a peut pas nous joind(re) au village.” (It is too much of a pity that she cannot join us in (at the) town.) [Remember in Cajun the pronoun for "she" (elle) can be pronounced in four different ways.]

“É veut aller avec toi pour s’acheter du linge pour les noce de sa fille, à bientôt (bétôt, bienvite).” She wants to go with you so she can buy herself some clothes for the soon wedding of her daughter.)

“A veut aller…” is used in the above as well. The rule for using “é or a” is this: before a word that begins with a consonant Cajuns use “é or a” in some areas. Before a vowel like “é est malade” is not euphonious. It would sound like a musical dissonance or discord.

Now we have two other “elles.” In front of a vowel Cajuns will use “elle” or “alle.” “Elle est très belle.” (She is very beautiful.) “Alle est..” is used also. In my area, “a” and “alle” were used more often than “elle” or “é.” However, I had an aunt who used the latter due to the area from which she came.

Using “alle” in front of a word that begins with a consonant does not sound right to me. E.g., “Alle veut pas manger.” (She does not want to eat.) “A veut pas manger” sounds better. “Elle veut pas manger” sounded too foreign to us, or “out of the neighborhood.” You see you could tell where individual Cajuns lived by listening to their speech.

We always of course used “elle” when an action was to be passed on or received (object). “Donne-cette plotte à elle.” (Give this ball to her.) Never did we use “alle” “é” or “a”!

“Mais gardez mes amis si une personne croirait que la langue des Cajuns est un mélée mélange, é devrait la étudier pour elle-même, et après ça, a pourra arriver à sa décision.” (But look all of you, my friends, if a person were to think that the Cajun tongue is just a mish mash, he or she should study it for himself or herself, and after that, he or she will be able to arrive at his or her decision.)

“Eh bien, assez sur c’sujet-là.” (Oh well, enought on this there subject.)

Cajuns in my area used “galancer,” meaning to swing, rather than “balancer.” “Balancer” was used when we would “balance” something or ourselves. “La galance” was used for “the swing.” In SF “la balançoire” (park swing) is used for “the swing.”

“Presque chaque maison dans la compagne avait une galance (SF balancelle) sous la gal(e)rie. “Équand la brune se faisait on s’asseyait sous la vieille gal(e)rie et on se galancait et au même temps on chantait des belles tites chansons.” (When dusk would appear we would sit under the old porch and we would swing ourselves and at the same time singing some beautiful little songs.)

“Réell(e)ment mon enfant, sois pas aussi brute avec ton tit frère!” (Really my child do not be so rough with your little brother.) “Réell(e)ment,” an adverb which was used for “really” was employed all during the day in our Cajun conversations. It was used often in a statement of surprise or by itself as an interjection. “Réell(e)ment cher, pourquoi que t’as fait ça?” (Really my dear why did you do that?) “Mais gardes, il a été se marrié soudain(e)ment, sans avoir parlé avec sa chère pauv(re) maman pour la quitter connaît(re) de sa décision!” Reply, “Réell(e)ment! Ça, ça donc! J’connais pas quoi que le jeune monde d’aujourd’hui ont dans leur idée!” (Really! That, that, [what next]. I don’t know what the young people of today are thinking about!)

In Cajun the adjective “brute” was used mainly to mean “rough.” “Il est trop brute, lui-là, oui.” (He is too rough him-there, yes.) In SF it can mean ‘raw, crude, unrefined, gross and rough. However, in our Cajun vicinity I heard it used mainly to denote roughness.

For “raw” we employed “cru.” “Naturel” and “pas rafiné (unrefined) was used when speaking about food. When describing an individual who was crude, we said, “il est très “grossier.” I would also often hear “ça, ça, c’est mal élevé, oui!” (That, that is one who is not raised up with manners, who is crude or ill-mannered.)

“Un tit bout d’temps” was used commonly in our Cajun speech. Of course it means “a little piece (bit) of time” and was used to mean “in a while, etc.” Another Cajun noun used for “in a short period of time” is “un élan.” In SF it takes on other related meanings but in my Cajun circle “l’élan” was used primarily to mean “a short time.”

“Mom, j’ai faim, équand donc que le diner va être mis sur la table?” “Dans un élan mon enfant, aies d’la patience. J’crois pas que t’es à la crêve de faim.” (Mom, I am hungry, when please will the dinner be put on the table? In a moment my child, be patient! I do not believe that you are starving.)

“Y faut que t’espères un tit bout d’temps avant d’alumer la mêche (SF méthanier) avec une allumette quand tu tourneras le gaz parce que la veilleuse (le pilot light) travaille pus (plus).” (It is necessary to wait a little bit of time before lighting the burner with a match when you turn on the gas because the pilot light does not work any longer.)

Since Cajuns were used to the old kerosene burner with a wick “la mêche” was adopted for “the burner.” Of course “le méthanier” was never heard in my household. We did not start to use “methane” or “butane” stoves until I was in my teens. Note too, the adverb “pus” in Cajun. Remember how we use “plus” as an adverb or preposition (more).

“J’en ai plusse que toi.” (I have more than you have.) “J’ai pus d’argent qui me reste après j’paie mes dettes.” (I have no more money left after I pay my debts.) “Mes douleurs augmentents de plus en plus.” (My pains increase more and more.) “É ou a fait ni plus ni moins qu’é ou a devrait faire.” (She [é or a] does neither more nor less that she has too.) “Il faut que tu vas plus vite que ça pour arriver sur [à] l’heure.” (It is necessary for you to go [more fast] faster than that to arrive on time.) “J’peux pas espérer, pas plus que ça, équand le tit bougre vien faire mes ouvrages au magasin.” (I cannot hope for more than that when the little guy comes to do the chores at the barn.) “Mais gardes, moi non plus, j’crois pas en ça!” (But look, me neither, I do not believe in that!)

“Assez asteur sur “plus” avant que j’vous gène avec “plus” des paroles sur ça!” (Enough now on “more” before that I annoy you with “more” words on that!)

“J’souhaite que tous ça en haut va peut-être vous donner un idée dans une manière ou un aut(re) comment que moi j’appris [j’ai appris ma premiêre langue.” (I hope that all the above will perhaps give you insight in one manner or another how that I learned my mother tongue.)

A QUIZLET SET TO THIS POST WILL FOLLOW “DANS UN TIT BOUT (DE) TEMPS.” (iN A LITTLE WHILE, OR SHORT PIECE OF TIME)

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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So far I have not been able to go back and correct all of my previous posts with regard to the accent marks. I am in hopes that it can be done in the future.

An example to the above warning is found in my last post. The verb “gargoter,” in Cajun, in the past tense, is missing the (é) at the end. I will have to be very careful and keep “sur le qui vive” with regard to “les fautes.”

“Sur le qui vive” is I believe in SF an expression meaning “being on the alert.” A military guard may say (”qui vive?” or “who goes there?) Literally, “who lives there.”

“J’sus pas une personne avec le capacité ou d’la connaisance de corriger (correcter, Cajun) les fautes qui se presentent sur mon site. Y faut que j’dépend sur l’aide de mes fils équand du tracas s’en lève appartenant à les problèmes de faire courir mon site correctement.” (I am not a person with the capacity or knowledge to correct errors that present themsleves on my site. I must rely on the aid or help of my sons when some trouble arises pertaining to the problems of making my site run correctly.)

“J’sus après apprendre, quand même, un tit brin à la fois en regard du sujet d’en haut.” (I am learning, nevertheless, a little bit at a time in regard to the above subject.)

“Les changements qui se trouvent sur le web sont aperçu souvent. Alors, un personne à besoin d’être ’sur ses orteils’ pour être capable de faire les choses aller sur son ordinateur (computer).” Moi, enduré, mon idée (esprit) est planté fermement dans la connaisance des choses qui courent dans une manière méchaniquement (machinalement). (The changes that find themselves on the web are often perceived. Therefore, a person has the need of being ‘on his toes’ to be able to make computer related things run. Me, it seems, my mind is firmly planted in the knowledge of things that run in a mechanical manner.)

“Équand que moi j’étais (sois) jeune, il y avait pas des ordinateurs (computers).” Les machines à écrires etaient courru à la main. On avait pas un tas des choses courru électroniquement. Eh bien, il a fallut de changer notre idée, et essayer d’apprendre des nouvelles choses.” (When I was young, there were no computers. The typewriters were operated by hand. We did not have many things that were operated electronically. Oh well, it became necessary to change our mind and to try to learn new things.)

“Une personne est jamais trop vieux (vieille) pour apprendre des nouvelles choses, ain? Y faut continuer à user notre esprit (idée) est jamais croire qu’on est trop vieux (vieille) pour apprendre d’autres choses. Si on arrêterait d’essayer d’apprendre des choses de nouveau la vieille cervelle va justement végéter, et j’connais qu’on veut pas ça.” (A person is never too old to learn new things, huh? It is necessary to continue to use our mind and never think that we are too old to learn other things. If we were to stop trying to learn things of new the brain will simply vegetate, and I know that we (I) do not want that.)

http://quizlet.com/set/315746/

I am going to comment on the above verbs and nouns and how they were used in my Cajun Locale, as I was growing up, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Again, I reiterate, I am not setting down a norm or rule, because the Cajun language is spoken based on local usages.

“J’compte sur ma memoire pour essayer de vous donner la manière qu’on parlait (parle) le Cajun pendant ma jeunesse, eh bien, il y a des fois que j’peux (puisse) faire des erreurs.” (I rely or count on my memory to try and give you the way we spoke the Cajun during my youth, so, there are times it could be that I do make errors.) “Si vous plait pardonnez-moi de ça!”
(Please pardon me of that!)

Remember, Cajun was not written in those days, so I go by what my brain remembers.

“Reculer” to us meant “to back up, to back, to retreat, to fall back and to draw back”. However, we also used the verb “culer” for such action. In fact, in my area, I was more apt to hear “culer” than “reculer.” When driving “une voiture” (carriage of some sort) we used “reculer” to back up or “aller en recule,” (to go in reverse).

The French noun or adverb “rebours” was heard in my grandmother’s conversation. “Il est parti en rebours plutôt d’advancer.” (He is gone in reverse rather than forward or advancing.)

Many times the English word “back” was used, such as “Y faut que j’back-up (aller back) avant que j’peux (puisse) avancer dans cette boue.” (I need to back-up or go in reverse before I can advance in this mud.)

“Culer” in one French Dictionary takes on a nautical action, such as “to veer astern, or go astern.” Since my locale was away from shipping activities, I never recall hearing that verb used to mean such.

“Cules-toi d’ici (de là )!” (Move yourself from here or there!) If something was in your way, you were told “simplement cules-lé (ça).” (Simply move it (that).) “T’as besoin de culer la chaise de là .” Or “cules la chaise d’ici, mon garçon.” (You need to move the chair from there, my son. Or, remove the chair from here, my boy.)

In standard French I notice where the verb “appuyer” expresses the action of “pushing, leaning, endorsing” or ‘appuyer sur le champignon,’ which literally means to ‘push on the mushroom’ but stands for ‘put the pedal to the metal.’

In our daily Cajun conversations I always heard it used mainly ‘to lean’ on something, both literally and not. We may have used it to mean “to push” as, “appuies ton épaul contre la porte et pousses trè¨s fort.” (Lean your shoulder against the door and push really hard.)

However, to push on a button to activate an action, the verb “presser” was used. “Y faut que tu presses (pousses) sur le bouton, là -là , pour faire cette machine courir (aller).” (It is necessary for you to press or push on this button, there, to make this machine run (go).) “Appuyez votre doigt sur le bouton…” was not heard.

It would sound rather funny to me to hear someone use the above, last expression. Why? I could just see a finger in a leaning position rather than precipitating a pushing action.

When I had a sore throat, my mother would have me “gargle” with warm salt water or perhaps warm water with a drop of Watkin Liniment and a crushed aspirin dropped in the solution. Some Cajuns would use the verb “gargariser” for “to gargle,” however, in my family the verb “gargoler” was used. “Mom j’vas gargoler ma gorge avant que j’vas aller me coucher.” (Mom I will gargle my throat before that I will go to bed.)

A related noun to the above verb is “le gargotant, (le gargoton)” which stands for “throat” or “windpipe.” If a person were to hit you around the adam’s apple, you would hear: “Y m’a frappé sur (dans) mon gargotant, et gardes, ça m’a fait du mal, oui! Enfin, j’ai perdu mon souffle (ma haleine) pour un élan!” (He hit me on (in) my windpipe area, and look, that did hurt me, yes. In brief, I lost my breath for a short time.)

Or I would hear, “Y m’a gargoté équand son bras m’a frappé dans la gorge. Il a pas fait exprès (en exprès), mais quand même, il aurait pu* me tuer avec c’coup là , là !” (He cut my breath off when his arm hit me in the throat. He did not do that on purpose, but however, he could have killed me with this blow, there, there!)

In SF “il aurait pu” is in the past conditionel tense, but we always used it, no doubt with the thought of “if” or conditionel. Perhpas, “if he were to hit me hard enough” was understood??

“Le couloir” (couloire Cajun Dictionary) to me was always “a strainer.” “Mom passait le lait au couloir chaque fois que pâpe tirait la vâche.” (Mom would strain the milk each time Pop would milk the cow.)

In SF “le couloir” can mean “a corridor,” “a passage” or “a lane.” It seems that “le passoire” is used for “the strainer.” I never heard “le couloir” used for “a lane” or “a passage” in our Cajun conversations. We used the nouns “le corridor,” and “l’allée,” instead of “le couloir.”

“Le corridor dans not(re) maison nous apportait une bonne fraiche pendant l’été.” (The corridor (breezeway) brought us a good breeze during the summer.) “Le corridor été usé pour serrer des utiles ou des voitures.” (The corridor (open shed) was used to put up tools and carriages (cars).)

“La remise” was used for a “storing shed,” but generally it had doors, whereas “le corridor” was mostly opened at least at one end. “Mon grand-père¨ usait sa remise pour serrer sa voiture et il avait sa forge dedans ça aussi.” (My grandfather would use the storing shed to put up his vehicle and he also had his forge in it.)

For a side passage, off of a main road, or a passage fenced off from the main pasture for the cattle to get to the main pasture, we used “la manche.” “La manche de terre” was used for a side dirt road off of a main road. “La manche de ch(e)mise” (the shirt sleeve) was used, as you can see it was used as a “passageway” for the arm, leading away from the body of the shirt.

“Une fois on restait dans une maison qu’été situé un peut loin du grand ch(e)min, alors, y fallait prendre un tit ch(e)min terre pour arriver à çulà . On marchait au bout du tit ch(e)min terre pour joindre le transfère d’école.” (One time we lived in a house that was situtated a long way from the main road, therefore, it was necessary to take a little dirt road to arrive at that one. We would walk at the end of the little dirt road to meet the school bus.)

(An after thought: The Cajun sentence structure may have changed in style with the generation that began to attend American schools. I am one of those who was affected by my English education. I tend to pattern my sentences by the way Americans speak English. I believe that my grandparents’ generation and their parents’ and grandparents’ generations constructed their sentences a bit differently due to the fact that they were not educated in English at all. Just a thought.)

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http://quizlet.com/set/310130/

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. “Il est tant mieux pour toi, mon ami.” (It is so good for you.) “Tant pis pour vous…” “C’est trop dommage.” (It is too bad for you.) “Il est tant pire pour toi.” (It is too bad (worse) for you.)

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 aujourd’hui.”

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. (va la mettre).” 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).” (My grandmother had a horse that was very balky or stubborn that would pull her buggy, nevertheless, she could control it very easily.)

**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 (alle) 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.)

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.”) (”Il a fait une erreur quand il a signé 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. “Alle a replacé le goblet qu’alle a cassé” (She replaced the glass that she broke. We used “le goblet” and “le verre” for “drinking glass”.)

“Hier” is used by Cajuns for yesterday, but also for days in the past. The same is true with “demain” for tomorrow, but also used for days in the future.