| How to Learn Louisiana French Jan 27th 2013, 00:00 Louisiana French (Cajun French, français de la Louisiane, Françé La Lwizyann) encompasses a mosaic of French dialects native to the American state of Louisiana. Louisiana French draws its colourful roots from the varieties of French spoken by early French colonialists from different parts of Québec and France, the Acadians, and plantation labourers from Haiti as well as influences from English, Spanish, and several local Native American languages. Louisiana French is the basis for Cajun Creole, and is spoken fluently and vibrantly by around 250,000 Louisianans of all colours and creeds. Today, French enjoys official status in Louisiana (alongside English) and is widely taught throughout the state in French Immersion schools, community programs, colleges, universities, and the homes of Cajuns themselves. - Take a course in or privately study Standard French. Louisiana French, like Québec French, Acadian French, Belgian French, and any other kind of French stems from the same one language in (most of) its vocabulary, grammar, and culture. Establish yourself a good base in Standard French first, as it will teach you the fundamentals needed to build rapid comprehension skills in Louisiana's mosaic of dialects.
- Immerse yourself in Cajun culture. The first key to understanding the nuances of Louisiana French is to throw yourself into all things Cajun: Cajun music, Cajun dance, Cajun cuisine, Cajun festivals, Cajun literature. Dive into it and adopt it as your own.
- Read as much as you can about Louisiana's French history and identity. You have to understand the past to understand the present. An excellent suggestion is Working the Field: Accounts from French Louisiana by Jacques Henry.
- Listen to and watch Louisiana French. There are many audio-visual resources available on internet documenting fluent/native speakers of the language to listen to, especially YouTube videos. Louisiana also has a range of online radio stations that broadcast daily or weekly in French.
- Obtain a Louisiana French Dictionary. The best reference guide on the language to date is Albert Valdman and Kevin J. Rottet's Dictionary of Louisana French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities. This masterwork is written for the linguist and the layperson and spans every region of Louisiana, listing words, concepts, and shades of meaning distinct to the dialects as well as a full history of Louisiana French.
- Travel to Louisiana. The best place to learn Louisiana French is to journey to Louisiana and speak with speakers themselves. Louisianans are more than proud of their French identity and are more than willing to share it with whoever is open to listening.
- Join and support CODOFIL. CODOFIL is the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (le Conseil pour le développement du français en Louisiane, Konséy pou Dévelopmen di françé en Lwizyàn). CODOFIL is Louisiana's state-created organization aimed at preserving and promoting its French linguistic and cultural heritage through actively developing, monitoring, and sponsoring an French-language education programs, infrastucture, and community events throughout the state.
- Louisiana French is not generally written, so when it does exist in writing, spelling can vary dependening on the level of French literacy of the speaker.
- Louisiana/Cajun French and Cajun Creole are two different languages but share the same roots. CODOFIL promotes both.
- Well regarded French/Cajun radio stations include KRVS 88.7 (Radio Acadie University of Louisiana), KBON 101.1 FM (Louisiana Proud) Eunice, KLEB 1600 AM, and KLRZ 100.3 FM (Rajun' Cajun).
Edit Related wikiHows |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment