Getting Started
So you want to learn Cajun French? So do I. And I want to teach my son the language of his ancestors. The problem is that we don't live in Louisiana anymore, so it's not so easy getting access to teaching and learning materials. I hope the materials and information provided here can help get you started.
If you don't already have a solid working knowledge of "international" French, then you would do well by starting there. Based on my experience with Cajun French, the overlap between Cajun French and "regular" or "mainstream" French is so large that it doesn't hurt to make use of the learning resources available to you. I started learning French about twenty-five years ago and it's only in the last couple of years that I've made an effort to learn the Cajun variants.
Learning Cajun French is a bit of an academic challenge for me, but there is also a cultural reason for attempting to embrace the language that our family lost fifty years ago. You've probably read elsewhere how speaking French was discouraged in Louisiana after WWII. An entire generation lost their language. They thought they were doing the right thing at the time; but looking back on it, I think it's a shame that our grandparents did not pass on their culture and their knowledge. I'd like to help correct the loss, but attempting to resurrect the use of Cajun French in our home.
In addition to the materials I will be posting here on this site, you whould do well getting your own copies of the books listed in the next section.
Reference Materials
To prepare the Cajun French lessons for my son, I use a number of printed resources. I recommend you get your own copies so you can check to make sure I didn't make any mistakes.
The two books I use everyday are Cajun
Self-Taught and A Dictionary of the Cajun Language both by
Rev. Msgr. Jules O. Daigle. Both books are still in print and you should
be able to find them at the online book retailer of your choice.
Cajun Self-Taught has a companion set of three CDs which are good
for practice and working on your Cajun pronunciation.
Another book (coming soon) is the Dictionary of Louisiana French, an 800 page tome that catalogs the French language "as Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities." As soon as it's published I'm ordering a copy.
Allons-y!
That's enough introduction. Let's get started! If you planning on studying along with us, I suggest you join our mailing list.
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We'll use the group for exchanging tips, lessons, corrections, and to practice the Cajun we learn.
I'm continuously putting new word sets and "quizzes" on Quizlet. Please join the Fran\c{c}ais Cadien/Cajun French group to have all the word sets listed on your Quizlet dashboard.
Regardez Ça
The following video will give you a little taste of what Cajun French sounds like and a little of the current situation in Louisiana. It's sub-titled in English. Enjoy!