The New Dictionary Of Louisiana French

Ils Nous Comprennent!: A Dictionary for the PeopleAs the title suggests, the researchers widened the
Several years ago as an intern for this magazine, Igeographic target and made it inclusive of many
was sent to the Museum Café in Erath to takeparishes, interviewing people who speak French but
photos of a Cajun jam session. What I knew would bewho would ethnically identify themselves as of Creole
a fun assignment turned into an unforgettableor Native American descent, as opposed to Cajuns
experience when I met an old gentleman and revealedfrom Acadia. Each term in the dictionary includes a list
that I speak French. Next thing you know I was gettingof parishes where it was found.
a personal tour of the museum next door entirely inOutside of this more formal investigation, LaFleur, a
Cajun French, my guide breathlessly explaining all ofnative of Ville Platte, said that friends and relatives
the items that had been donated by local Cajunwould call and leave voice messages to suggest a
families. As others walked into the museum he wouldword or phrase that had suddenly come to mind. She
stop mid-sentence and let them know, Elle mealso set up a mass e-mail contact list, so she could
comprend, elle me comprend!—"She understandsquickly consult with locals on the precise meaning of
me!" I left wondering what efforts would makecertain expressions. Multiply that networking times the
understanding Cajun French more than a novelty ineight other editors of this dictionary, and you arrive at
these parts.the final version's eight hundred pages.
The recent publication of Dictionary of LouisianaI asked LaFleur for her opinion on the state of French
French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and Nativein Louisiana. Despite the optimism that her profession
American Communities is a major step in thedemands, she did admit some disappointment that only
preservation, and possibly the utilization, of French ina few members of the "only French" generation
Louisiana. A team of nine researchers and linguists,remain, as the loss of those people means the loss, for
including Amanda LaFleur of LSU and Barry Anceletmany people, of a very real motivation to use the
of ULL and their students, worked on the project forlanguage. But she is encouraged by the success of
more than a decade, digging deep into Cajun-speakingFrench immersion programs and young Louisiana
communities to find locals who not only spoke fluently,French musicians. "French will be different in the next
but had a certain linguistic repertoire. LaFleur explainedgeneration, but that's always been the case.
this idea to me: "We wanted to speak with peopleLanguages evolve… In the 1960s, some predicted that
who knew the vocabulary of nature, for example, whoCajun French would be dead in twenty years. But here
could tell us the name of this flower or that tree. Wewe are, still speaking it."
spoke with farmers to find out the names of this partThe dictionary may be purchased from Amazon or
of the saddle, or that tool. We asked seamstressesBarnes and Noble, or ordered from the publisher, the
how to say ‘hem' in Cajun French."University of Mississippi Press. (800) 737-7788. $38.