I had a good time at LAVIS5 / SECOL91 this weekend, a linguistics conference about the southern United States. Louisiana was well represented. Here’s my contribution.
Tag: louisiana (Page 1 of 2)
I always thought it was a bit strange when people in Louisiana called Lafayette a part of western Louisiana. In my opinion, Lafayette is central, New Orleans eastern, and Lake Charles, that’s western. However, my point of view is moot because the region that I consider to be to the east is disappearing. Eventually, Lafayette will become moreso the east of Louisiana due to an environmental nightmare.
This article mentions that someone didn’t want to see marks around New Orleans that showed the height of the floods during Hurrican Katrina because “it would scare people.” Well, I think that the marks, and the truth about the bayous of Louisiana, would humble people, and provide a reason to act, before they would become frightened. The people of Louisiana know hardship quite well, that’s not a good reason to hide the facts.
… in French.
I created a map of Louisiana, using Google Maps and a list from this Facebook group, that includes all the francophone businesses known by the users of said group. I think the use of a language in business is possibly the most effective way to safeguard it. One has to know that a language is useful outside of school before one will decide to learn it well. So, I give you this map.
I would be extremely happy to add more information if y’all would like to help me. Visit this link to see it and get more information.
This is a play from Louisiana that didn’t exist on the web before. It was written and recorded by Le Théâtre Cadien around the 70s or 80s with the help of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL). CODOFIL did these things in the past but, today, the majority of their efforts are in the schools. It’s a shame because I think the usage of Louisiana French in the arts is as important as teaching it in school, especially if the arts contribute to the economy. That’s why Cajun music has been around since so long ago.
Anyway, watch and enjoy.
Below is a wedding parade, common in New Orleans. I found it while a pride parade was happening nearby. Kind of ironic, kind of great.
Later that night, these guys from New York were offering five dollars for jokes.
Don’t we all.
Currently on the side of the Ogden Museum. The original was thought up by New Orleans artist Candy Chang and placed on the side of an abandoned building somewhere in the Bywater neighborhood.
“I hope this Acadian music and language too doesn’t ever die out because it’s too beautiful. People think that just because America is mainly English speaking that everything should be English speaking but I think that we’d lose something if we lost this.”
I gotta admit, I know next to nothing about Pete Seeger and I’m really not fond of the whole “now that he’s just died, lets all suddenly be his biggest fans” thing. However, I think it’s pretty great that he was not only aware of the culture of southern Louisiana even back in ’60s but that he enjoyed the music enough to put it on TV.
We were protesting against a noise ordinance which led us right into city hall and then into the council chamber where the musicians played a funeral dirge then The Tremé Song by John Boutté. (Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to save that video.)
This is an important issue for the people of New Orleans. If you want to learn more, visit maccno.com.
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