Cajun French

Cajun French

Cajun French (derived from Acadian French), is a dialect of the French language, but differs in some areas of pronunciation, as well as in some areas of vocabulary, from Parisian or Metropolitan French. As of 2004, most of the older generations in Acadiana are bilingual, having grown up with French in the home and learning English in school.

As of 2004, in recent years the number of speakers of Cajun French has diminshed considerably, however efforts are being made to reintroduce the language among the youngest generations. CODOFIL (the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana) was established during the late 1960s, and continues to teach a version of French somewhere between the older Cajun dialect and "Parisian" or "Metropolitan" French. Today, Cajun areas of Louisiana often form partnerships with Acadians in Canada who send French teachers to reteach the language in schools.

Some differences

The same pronoun is used for first person singular and plural; je parle in French is the same in Cajun, but nous parlons in French is je parlons.
[a] is pronounced with tongue towards the back of the buccal cavity.
[k],[t] is pronounced [tsh].
[d] pronounced [dg], as in the word Acadian.
[wa] pronounced [we], similar to Quebecois French.

Over the years, Cajun French speakers have sometimes incorporated English vocabulary (such as truck) directly into the language instead of adopting the neologisms of the Acad�mie fran�aise. This can be disconcerting to non-natives.