Please, help a poor french master's student !

[Saphyrine]

Hey everyone !
I m trying to create stats about how Cajuns are seen by people an
themselves for my master's thesis, but i haven't had many cajuns replie
yet... Could you answer this survey ? ( and try to pass it on ?? )
Please, do not take offence if ever, nothing is meant to be mean o
anything like that, I just don't phrase sentences very well sometimes.

You can put an X in front of your answer.

Thanks a lot !


 State and city where you have spent most of your life : ( this wil
help me create stats city by city, or state by state.)

 Age and sex :

 Do you consider yourself as a Cajun ?


What is a Cajun ?

* is it : - genealogical
- uniquely genealogical
- not uniquely genealogical

* is it : - behavioural
- uniquely behavioural
- not uniquely behavioural

* is it : - a matter of language
- uniquely a matter of language
- not uniquely a matter of language

* is it : - of French origins
- uniquely of French origins
- not uniquely of French origins

* is it : - of Acadian origins
- uniquely of Acadian origins
- not uniquely of Acadian origins

* is it : - of Créole origins
- uniquely of Créole origins
- not uniquely of Créole origins

* is it : - of other origins
- uniquely of other origins
- not uniquely of other origins




* is it : - territorial
- if yes, which territory
- Louisiana
- South Louisiana
- North Louisiana
- Mid Louisiana
- on the bayous
- specific cities
If yes, which :
- other :
- uniquely territorial
- not uniquely territorial

* is it : - derogatory
- really derogatory
- derogatory in specific sentences

* You don’t know what it is :



* Any comments or ideas ?



-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutculture.com/group/alt.culture.cajun
More information at http://www.talkaboutculture.com/faq.htm

[R. G.]

Post by Saphyrine
What is a Cajun ?
* is it : - genealogical
- uniquely genealogical
- not uniquely genealogical
* is it : - behavioural
- uniquely behavioural
- not uniquely behavioural
* is it : - a matter of language
- uniquely a matter of language
- not uniquely a matter of language
* is it : - of French origins
- uniquely of French origins
- not uniquely of French origins
* is it : - of Acadian origins
- uniquely of Acadian origins
- not uniquely of Acadian origins
* is it : - of Créole origins
- uniquely of Créole origins
- not uniquely of Créole origins
* is it : - of other origins
- uniquely of other origins
- not uniquely of other origins
* is it : - territorial
- if yes, which territory
- Louisiana
- South Louisiana
- North Louisiana
- Mid Louisiana
- on the bayous
- specific cities
- uniquely territorial
- not uniquely territorial
* is it : - derogatory
- really derogatory
- derogatory in specific sentences
* Any comments or ideas ?

Not being a Cajun myself, I won't answer your survey. Having lived in
Louisiana for 35 years, I will make a few comments and a suggestion or
two.

I've been on (and off) of this newsgroup for many years as Darrel and
a few other newsgroup old-timers will know. So I can say with a fair
amount of accuracy that this newsgroup is mostly dead. Very few people
ever post here. Whether or not there are many readers, however, I
couldn't say. If you're looking for answers to your questions, this is
not likely to garner much results.

Part of the time I lived in Louisiana, I did live in Acadiana
(Terrebone Parish). I also worked as a chief cook for many a Cajun on
offshore oil rigs and platforms for about 10 years.

Later, I learned a lot about the history of Louisiana in general as
well as the Cajuns particularly while working as a tour guide.

Cajuns (at least in my understanding) are descendants of French people
who once lived in the area known as Acadia (or Acadie) in Canada. I
won't bore you with the history as you should be able to research that
easily enough anyway.

Basically, however, they were basically kicked out of the area by the
British unless they were willing to give up their religion and way of
life. They found their way to coastal Louisiana in the south-western
area of the state.

Some remained pure French; at least for many years. Others
intermarried with native American Indians, Germans, Africans,
Americans and other Europeans who'd either settled in the area or
later moved there.

For much of modern history, the Cajuns (for the most part) remained in
the 22 parishes of south-western Louisiana known collectively as
Acadiana along with those who lived in south-eastern Texas.

While their language and lifestyle was French-based, it was uniquely
influenced by the blend of other people who lived along side and
intermarried with them.

After the oil boom of the mid-1900s and the coming of Interstate
Highway system, there was more exposure to the American culture (if
you can call it that - smile). Many more than ever before learned
English; especially those who made their living in the oil field.

Today, most every Cajun (if not all) can speak English though some
still prefer to speak the dialect of French that is unique to
Louisiana and Texas Cajuns.

One thing the a Cajun is definitely not is a Creole, though I'm sure
many Creoles and Cajuns intermarried. Many will say that Creoles are
black or a mix of black and white which (of course) many of them are.

By true definition, however, Creoles are Louisianans who are a blend
of those people who were born anywhere in the "New World" (including
some in South America), but at least one of their parents came from
Europe.

While Creoles are mostly from the city and mostly from the New Orleans
area, they can be black, white or mixed race. While the Cajuns are
primarily from small-town coastal Louisiana, Creoles are primarily
from the New Orleans area.

Their dialects are different. Their musical style is different. Their
food is different along with their culture and way of life.

Though there are many similarities and intermarriages between the two
cultures, they are (more or less) distinctly different.

The differences between Cajuns and Creole are much to vast to discuss
and/or assimilate overnight and from afar. The only true way to know
is to live in Louisiana and experience it for yourself.

Maybe some Cajuns like Darrel or others I've known (but can't recall
their names right now) will chime in with more. If not (or even if),
here are a few urls (in no particular order or importance) that might
give you some much-needed insight. They can all be found in a split
second using Google. At least, these should get you started.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cajun

http://www.cajunculture.com/

http://www.nps.gov/Jela

http://www.acadianmuseum.com/

http://www.acadianmemorial.org/

http://www.acadian-cajun.com/hiscaj1.htm

http://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/

The next one is a radio station in Eunice, LA dedicated to Cajun
music, etc. You can listen live if you'd like.

http://www.kbon.com/

This next one has a lot of good links to discussion groups and other
sites primarily devoted to Cajun music, but there are also links to
many other things Cajun and I'm sure some of the musicians in some of
the discussion groups might be interested in your survey.

http://www.cajunradio.org/cajunjams.html

The next one is Chuck Taggart's web page dedicated to both Creole and
Cajun culture.

http://www.gumbopages.com/recipe-page.html

[Saphyrine]

Thanks for your reply R.G.
I ve already studied Cajun history, ( it's been three years that i work o
the thesis ) and know pretty much everything on history; i m no
concentrating on ethnicity in cookery and how cajuns are viewed and vie
themselves. That last part is quite hard cuz no one would answer th
survey ;-( Well, i have 70 answers so far, but it's not enough to creat
statistics...

Could you try to send it to some people you know ?

Oh, also, thanks for telling me the newsgroup was quite dead, i won't ge
my hopes up... *sight

-
Message posted using http://www.talkaboutculture.com/group/alt.culture.cajun
More information at http://www.talkaboutculture.com/faq.htm

[R. G.]

Post by Saphyrine
Could you try to send it to some people you know ?
Oh, also, thanks for telling me the newsgroup was quite dead, i won't get
my hopes up... *sight*

I moved from Louisiana some time ago. I no longer have any e-mail
addresses to send to anyone Cajun.

However, several of the links (urls) I sent you, have discussion
groups you could send your question to or links where you might find
links to some people to answer your questions.

You might also try the newsgroup neworleans.general

I doubt if there's anyone Cajun in that newsgroup and you may get a
lot of satirical or witty replies, but it's worth a shot.

[Darrel Toepfer]

Post by R. G.
You might also try the newsgroup neworleans.general
I doubt if there's anyone Cajun in that newsgroup and you may get a
lot of satirical or witty replies, but it's worth a shot.

"Don't geaux there" or so I was told... ;-)

[R. G.]

Post by Darrel Toepfer

Post by R. G.
You might also try the newsgroup neworleans.general
I doubt if there's anyone Cajun in that newsgroup and you may get a
lot of satirical or witty replies, but it's worth a shot.

"Don't geaux there" or so I was told... ;-)

Hi Darrel.

I was wondering when you were going to poke your head out.

[Darrel Toepfer]

Post by R. G.
Hi Darrel.
I was wondering when you were going to poke your head out.

Got back from Cozumel alittle over a week ago (spent the better part of 2
months there sofar this year: Jan, Feb, March and July). Still making
progress on the airplane restoration. All the completed pieces are at the
airport for final painting execept for the fuselage, which just got into
the rotisary this week for priming and rewiring...

[Toby Guidry]

Post by Saphyrine
Hey everyone !
I m trying to create stats about how Cajuns are seen by people and
themselves for my master's thesis, but i haven't had many cajuns
replies yet... Could you answer this survey ? ( and try to pass it on
?? ) Please, do not take offence if ever, nothing is meant to be mean
or anything like that, I just don't phrase sentences very well
sometimes.

Well, as you've been told, this newsgroup (and lately it seems newsgroups
as a whole) is pretty dead. I don't know how many answers besides mine
you'll get here, but here goes...

Post by Saphyrine
You can put an X in front of your answer.
Thanks a lot !
 State and city where you have spent most of your life : ( this
will help me create stats city by city, or state by state.)

Hometown and majority of my life (for another few years anyway): Larose,
LA
Currently residing in Ascension parish.
38 yr old male

Post by Saphyrine
 Do you consider yourself as a Cajun ?

Yes

Post by Saphyrine
What is a Cajun ?
* is it : - genealogical
- uniquely genealogical
- not uniquely genealogical

genealogical

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - behavioural
- uniquely behavioural
- not uniquely behavioural

not behavioural

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - a matter of language
- uniquely a matter of language
- not uniquely a matter of language

not a matter of language

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - of French origins
- uniquely of French origins
- not uniquely of French origins

primarily of French origins

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - of Acadian origins
- uniquely of Acadian origins
- not uniquely of Acadian origins

of Acadian origins

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - of Créole origins
- uniquely of Créole origins
- not uniquely of Créole origins

not of Creole origins

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - of other origins
- uniquely of other origins
- not uniquely of other origins

it has other influences, but not origins

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - territorial
- if yes, which territory
- Louisiana
- South Louisiana
- North Louisiana
- Mid Louisiana
- on the bayous
- specific cities
- uniquely territorial
- not uniquely territorial

not territorial, although geographically concentrated

Post by Saphyrine
* is it : - derogatory
- really derogatory
- derogatory in specific sentences

Not used in a derogatory sense much anymore. Bigger problem is faux
Cajun stuff (cooking, merchandise, etc.) confusing the issue.

Post by Saphyrine
* Any comments or ideas ?

I have a hard time sticking to your specific choices since I think there
could have been a couple more options. Hope it was useful information
anyway.