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Articles

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2006)

Le français louisianais hors de l’Acadiana

  • Michael D. Picone
Submitted
October 15, 2012

Abstract

Generally speaking, interviews conducted at the periphery of Acadiana seem to reinforce the notion that linguistic leveling has taken place in the region. Nevertheless, concerning variation between the inanimate interrogative pronouns qui and quoi, data from Natchitoches Parish might also suggest that so-called “Cajun” French corresponds, in fact, to a form of popular French whose dialect area, from the beginning, extended beyond the geographic limits traditionally associated with the Acadian population, thus putting into question, at least partially, the notion of leveling. Also of interest, data from Grand Isle and Plaquemines Parish suggest that certain features of Plantation Society French, the former prestige dialect, remain in evidence.