I wonder why some Cajun words fell out of popular use and
some remained. I mentioned the other day
that a big stupid aigrette almost hit my car when it started flying away. My friend asked me to repeat what I had said and
I did. My friend then asked me, “you mean a
cow bird?” The same thing happens when
cabane is used. I laughed when I asked
where a manager for a store was and a worker said to me, “Oh, go look in the
back. I think he’s in his little cabane thingy.” My
co-worker had no idea what she was talking about. But gratons became cracklins, chaoui became
raccoon, etc, etc. Many people say they
don’t know any French words yet will easily say, I went to Ville Platte and
bought two pounds of boudin because Mere Mere is coming down from Baton Rouge. Several
French words are said daily. I like
looking through the LSU Cajun site and reading some words in the glossary. Some of them I had forgotten about but I
remember Mom and them saying several of those words all the time. I can remember words and phrases but when it
came to them speaking in French I got lost.
It was all the adults talking and us kids went play outside or watched
cartoons. When we were older and took part
in conversations more English, of course, was used. Actually, it was pretty much all English.