United States: Louisiana Cajuns are keen to preserve their identity | Revisited • FRANCE 24 English

[@nathangale7702]

This Cajun cowboy is super intense. You can just see the weight of his ancestors lying on his shoulders. I respect that.

[@speggeri90]

He loves his Cajun french so much, that I as a finnish person want to learn a bit of french!

[@nathangale7702]

@@speggeri90 I know, I felt the same way, and I promised myself in high school that I would never learn French...some promises were meant to be broken I guess...

[@Wooplot]

He's hot.

[@gotanygrapes831]

Weight of you’re ancestors bring you down. I get that we need this emotion as a human but it’s just a burden left to you from people that died long ago

[@apollo-eu4fk]

@@gotanygrapes831 i agree if every one in america acted like this man we would be speaking so many different languages and have so many different cultures that no one would be bonded as people the country would fall apart . there is nothing wrong with moving forward as americans you can bring the parts of your culture with you still like most americans did and use it to combine to american culture . culture should always be evolving not just doing things because your parents did them .

[@seannicholson9388]

Wow, as a French speaker, I have to say his accent is amazing... it's like Canadian French (Québécois French) mixed with a deep south accent

[@FlowerTrollSan]

Yeah, sounds very practical! I like it, it doesn't sound as pretentious as Parisian French (I still like all variations of French though, don't get me wrong).

[@GeneralGouda]

Hey. I’m Cajun, from south Louisiana. It’s interesting you mentioned the Canadian French comparison. Our ancestors were exhiled from Nova Scotia, by the English who were at war with the French at the time. They feared we were French sympathizers. So we moved to Louisiana which was controlled by the Spanish. We established a very inclusive community in Louisiana, which is what is present today.

[@sergenovikov7021]

It’s sounds more like the Acadian French, which makes sense since they were deported to Louisiana back in the day. In Cajun French as well as in the Acadian, you can hear the English influences

[@mnkff54]

As an Acadian myself it sounds more like Acadian French to me than Quebecois French. But I agree it is Acadian French with a southern accent.

[@armoredangel01]

I'm from the North Country in Upstate New York, and I hear and talk with a lot of French-Canadians. When one hears Canadian French, there is a hint of a North American accent to it

[@MohammedMuaawia]

Jourdan Thibodeaux may just be one of the most interesting men in the world. He's a Southern sausage making violin playing french speaking cowboy, and his passion for his history and culture and their preservation is unlike anything I've ever seen in a man his age. He's amazing.

[@tracifromshreveport7364]

My step father spoke Cajun French, Latin and didn't speak English until he was 11. Most of the men in my family are like Thibodaux.

[@MohammedMuaawia]

@@GrottoGroveGroves I only know him through this short doc, what does he believe in?

[@GrottoGroveGroves]

@@MohammedMuaawia Mr. Mohammed Sir, i completely misspoke here. attempted to erase my comment. have no idea how it remained, believed it did not actually post after reading the name correctly. glanced at your comment and immediately saw justin trudeau. Mr. Jourdan Thibodeaux is an exceptional individual, musician, father, and American business man. glad you responded so quickly, would have hated that comment to remain up without explanation. also for what ever reason, had you as a Canadian. wanted to put in my political 2cents (actual value of my opinion). been watching to many videos for too long today. need to give it a rest! my apology.

[@MohammedMuaawia]

@@GrottoGroveGroves it's all good man we all make mistakes 😂

[@leonamay8776]

It's interesting!! His accent as well. So different. Leblanc (the fisher) doesn't have the same accent as Thibodeaux either. It's really fascinating.

[@treydenby3810]

I’m Cajun and it’s sad to see our culture dying but I’ve vowed to learn French, mainly because it’s what my grandparents spoke and i miss it.

[@lvd9181]

Salut de France, cousin lointain

[@MJIZZEL]

I been saying that. My dad native language was Cajun french. Wish I would've learned more of it.

[@h0ot3r]

Same. My grandma is helping me learn every now and then but im going to try and teach myself as much as i can. I have to pass it down to my son and so forth.

[@allisonjuno7654]

my family used to be/is french canadian and i feel the same, language discrimination in my state (maine) meant that children were beat in school for speaking french, and my grandmother never taught my mother for fear of discrimination. now the language is basically dead in my family, so im trying to learn french

[@Demicleas]

@@lvd9181 Salut Bonjour!

[@calvinevans9547]

I admire these people for staying true to themselves and culture .

[@dafrasier1]

losers hiding in swamp, nothing to admire. French Catholic losers. mcg-truth blogspot com

[@Mattattak]

Almumin , Language is part of the culture

[@Mattattak]

Almumin , you’re laughing way too much for something that isn’t funny at all... you must be stupid

[@ryanhuntrajput474]

All the brave french speakers are in Quebec and the rest of canada . In Canada we take pride in calling ourselves a mosiac not a melting point everyone is allowed to speak and learn all languages and preserve their culture we have German towns french towns English towns Scottish towns Irish towns Greek towns Portuguese towns Spanish towns Ukrainian towns nobody can stop you from speaking in any language to your loved ones although the official languages are only English and French.🇨🇦

[@zeenuf00]

@Almumin 'Language is culture to you?' Language is a part of culture, idiot.

[@scottguidry8103]

Im from louisiana and wish they would offer a cajun french classes at the local schools !! My parents told me stories of being whipped at school for speaking it at school, very sad thing that happen to our people !!!

[@robertsontirado4478]

Won’t you start that class or write to the educational system maybe they’ll consider.

[@robellyosief8820]

@@robertsontirado4478 first write your congressmen to stop the active suppression of Africa’s raw resources.

[@MsJeanneMarie]

Yeah, my dad grew up in an Italian-American community in New Jersey. No one got whipped, but the schools told the families not to speak Italian at home because it would confuse the children. My dad didn’t learn Italian until he was an adult and he never became fluent.

[@cathyallen6541]

That's infuriating and should never have happened.

[@MsJeanneMarie]

@Hog Nutz hahaha I can’t tell if you’re a troll or just stupid.

[@JimmySilverFoot]

My family never passed down this part of our family history and I wish they would have. I live right down the road from these guys.

[@nobaddaystravel6855]

Neither did mine. My ancestors on my mom’s side were Robichaux, Simoneaux, Duplessis. I have ancestors from Nova Scotia and France

[@MrCanada1]

So you know Jourdan Thibodeaux? If you do tell him to make a youtube channel about his life business .etc to show the world French Louisiana and to preserve it for future generations.

[@robertrodes8884]

No time like the present to start learning. Just try and you'll be surprised what you pick up.

[@sainters7]

@@nobaddaystravel6855 my French family has been in Canada since the early 1600s, we have Acadian roots as well but avoided the expulsion. Cool how I have distant relatives in Louisiana.

[@thenikko8292]

from a french canadian's perspective. i think i could understand cajuns better than i do france's french lol

[@c.d.b6713]

C'est moins déplaisant à l'oreille que le français parisiens :)

[@inconnu4961]

@@c.d.b6713 mdr!

[@pundlik9012]

ya

[@Drkajavab]

I learned international french and then moved to Quebec and learned the local dialect. I agree that cajun french and Quebecois are more alike then either are to french in France. But that's likely because both Quebecois and Cajun French are a more "pure" original form. What you hear in France now is modernized version. Perfect example: I always hear Cajun people say "car" (pronounced char) for car like we do in Quebec instead of "voiture" or "auto" . The British/Americans have an incredibly long history of devastating/destroying a lot of cultures around the world. I hope the Cajuns preserve the language. Listening to Cajun sounds like riding ripples in the water...it's got a lovely, smooth character to it. Hopefully, it continues to be encouraged, taught, preserved!

[@HG-qo9cx]

I understand Cajuns more than I understand French Canadians lol. 😅

[@Louisiana1975]

Acadians didn't just "move", they were exiled.

[@benythjet]

Je me souvien

[@sunnyjim1355]

@@benythjet No you don't, because you weren't alive then! 🤣

[@sunnyjim1355]

Because France didn't give a crap about them... so why not take it up with France instead of the US? Oh, because France still doesn't give a crap about them. Hmmm, so instead, let's try and ride the 'muh identity politics oppression victimhood' train. Hahaha, bonne chance avec ça!

[@Liv1nMohawk]

@@sunnyjim1355 its the british that deported them

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Lou'zan, You beat me to it, but were rather milder about it.

[@standdbyme]

A French TV with English presentation reporting on an endangered group of French speaking population in the US 🤩

[@2557carla]

There's a French version of this video

[@Dreadlock1227]

French inception

[@kemperrao3523]

Loved the way they glossed over why they left Acadia!

[@JM-nt5ex]

France 24 broadcasts in a lot of languages, this isn't only available in english

[@HenJack-vl5cb]

And me, watching it in Spain!!!

[@Tonton-Flingueur]

C'est incroyable de voir nos frères continuer à parler français après tant de temps. On vous aime !

[@andrewmurray409]

Mais je croire que c'est plus importante que les enfants apprendre Anglais, parce que ils vont devoir parler Anglais beaucoup dans la future (a la travaille, dans les restaurants) etc. Desole pour mon mal Francais, je suis Anglais (de Royaume Uni).

[@laurentcherrier8492]

@@andrewmurray409 C est vrai mais il n y a pas que l argent, la diversité des cultures est la seule vraie richesse.

[@andrewmurray409]

@@laurentcherrier8492 Peut-etre, mais ca c'est subjectif. Je croire que chaque personne devrais se decider ca qui c'est importante a lui, et quelles aspects de chaque culture sont bonnes ou malles. Puis on peut approprier les bonnes choses et jeter les mauvais. Aussi, c'est tres difficile avec tout les langues differents a communiquer entre les pays, donc on devrait essayer (tout le monde) a apprendre seulment une langue (ca ne va pas se passer pour au moins cent annés ou plus). Consolider nos cultures fondamentalement...

[@ronpoirier3153]

Merçi! Je parlait seulment en Français dans la maison quand j’était un petit içi en Rhode Island. Je suis Acadien.

[@BomDia759]

Vous devez parler anglais. La langue francais est mort

[@WChocoleta]

The last part of Jourdan's monologue really got me. Growing up in China with Mandarin as my native language, I cannot fathom the situation where my native language, and my ethnic identity that comes along with it, is dying out. Yet he is like a lone cavalier, trying to protect this identity. It doesn't matter what he does for a living or how much money he earns, his life has a purpose. The way he looked at his French-speaking daughter with a sense of pride really touched me. Huge respect for him, and would love to see a revival of the Cajun French culture in Louisiana thanks to people like him.

[@user-tz9jh6pv2j]

Eh... perhaps it already died out and you might not even be Han Chinese :P I'm Cantonese but born and raised in the US. My grandparents are from Guangzhou, which used to be heavily Cantonese speaking. But the news channels, TV shows, schools, are all done in Mandarin now. China is trying to do the same in Hong Kong. Over the past 20 years, they are teaching less and less Cantonese. Hong Kong is the last bastion against the destruction of the language. There are still a lot of us... but I'm afraid it won't be too long until my language dies out. The other language I speak is Quebec French. Man.... I really just grew up with all the languages getting destroyed, eh...

[@WChocoleta]

Actually I went to school in HK, so as a native Mandarin speaker I also learned to speak Cantonese, and I hope Hong Kong stays the way it is as a bastion of Cantonese. I always have an emotional attachment to Cantonese, and I'm happy to see that some efforts to revive Cantonese in Guangzhou and other Cantonese-speaking regions in the mainland are on the way.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Seems to me that Cantonese is harder than Mandarin. So... maybe Mandarin should win out? There are too many tones in Cantonese?

[@cleverfreckles]

Ah, I am Cantonese born in the north, between North Korea and USSR, in the part that had been called Manchuria. Cantonese is not spoken so widely anymore. And Manchurian is dying. I want to keep both alive.

[@ChrisCherchant]

It's like that for most of us, even if it's not at the surface. To know that the worldview and culture you grew up with will probably die with you is a haunting feeling. I'm trying to collect some memories and stories and make some original music to eventually share here on YT so if nothing else, there's a record of what some of our lives were like before the internet. I'm hoping to share more of the deeper emotional and psychological side of things; it's not all just boudin and accordions.

[@markibenny]

As a French guy that just recently became an American citizen, I feel great pride in finding out that our culture didn’t die in Louisiana and that our ancestors perpetuated the culture and language. Right now, I just wanna go there and learn more about it all.

[@guyindecatur]

@@woundedwarrior8916 Many of them Anglicized their surnames. For example, Juno, Reno, Rambo, Crapo, etc.

[@elisiaweimar4219]

Come on hun ❤️

[@jean-claudearsenault224]

Acadian historian's, have the Cajuns as the most Acadians of All. Even if some can't speak French, they are the ones that carried the Acadian culture, the best. That's hard in the US.

[@DolphinPain]

Lot's of areas from the Louisiana purchase and the upper Midwest were French colonies, so a lot of cities in that area are French names, like Des Moines and Detroit.

[@larryjones-emery9832]

F ZX

[@mityakatya]

The comments of the host at the beginning implies that the Acadians moved south on their own. On the contrary, they were exiled by the British for refusing allegiance to the Crown.

[@EdinburghFive]

True, but none were sent to Louisiana by the British.

[@adrianalainez8499]

They were accepted by the Spanish in Louisiana because they were catholic and the English colonies were protestant and denied them entry.

[@jacobmaxey6588]

And they also didn't get straight to Louisiana. They were pushed out of many different places before they were offered refuge in Louisiana. Cajuns are a tough people, and they suffered a lot as they fought against cultural erosion

[@QueenetBowie]

They clarified that later on when they say they were chased out

[@daviddauza]

'Ethnically cleansed'' is a more accurate term for what took place. During the French & Indian War (=7 Years War) about 10,000 Acadians were put on ships and sent to England, France & the lower colonies. Mortality was about 50% because of ships sinking in storms in North Atlantic, or exposure from being held for months on those ships in the ports of the southern colonies. Only about 3,000 made it down to the Spanish colony of Louisiana. The Acadians' lands, animals & buildings in Canada were given to Anglo settlers from the northeast colonies. The few Acadians that returned to Nova Scotia found their former homes in the possession of Anglos. {Sounds like current day Palestine doesn't it]

[@queencerseilannister3519]

As a proud Louisianaian I wish the Cajun French would be taught again. It's our history!!!

[@nachc6459]

That’s awesome!!! That’s so cool

[@jamesmilburn7569]

Watching his pride at seeing his daughter sing in french while he played the fiddle; Man that was intense. It was a mastersroke in the scene where he is sweating buckets before he picks up that fiddle to play. It set the scene for just how much hard work precedes what follows. This was an awesome segment of a slice of life people don't really know about. Props to this father maintaining a legacy for his kids and for the United States. We need so much more people to step forward, embrace who they are, and carry on such traditions.

[@TheHeartlessFour]

As an American I hope the Cajuns keep their culture, and their version of the French language alive. Diversity of language, ideas, culture is such an awesome thing to me. It really helps you keep an open mind.

[@johna3153]

"Socially you are considered a American legally you are a U.S. citizen not American." Know the difference between your social standing and your legal standing in law. It's not that hard to comprehend.

[@TheAutumnNetwork]

@@johna3153 shut up nerd

[@novaprime5976]

You're in America! Speak English!

[@TheHeartlessFour]

@@novaprime5976 You're not my dad

[@DeadGuye1995]

@@johna3153 Schizophrenia?

[@maksdorleans]

As a french canadian, im happy that my long lost brother's are trying to keep the traditions alive like we do in the north. Long live to the French Americans minorities! I'd really like to go to louisiana someday, what a beautiful place y'all american's have!!

[@Yayayaya-ok8te]

Québec, Louisiana... French power

[@maem9246]

🐊🐢} " Greetings from New Iberia, Louisiana ! " {💚

[@theresagilmore7856]

Yes, we do have a beautiful state! Come visit us soon! You have a beautiful land also, I would like to visit there as well! I graduated high school in 1961, Golden Meadow, La., in Lafourche Parish. Though I am not of French descent, that is still home to me, the people always warm and welcoming. My father was employed by an oil company and he went there for employment. I am still friends with people I went to school with and whenever I go back, they all treat me as if I never left.

[@fattoummihoubi1171]

Hi from France ! I'm from Lyon :)

[@subliminallime4321]

Louisiana is indeed very beautiful & is one of the places in America with a real culture. Highly recommend visiting!

[@RichForeign-ze2tx]

A proud Haitian/French 🇭🇹🇫🇷🤍 preserving our French Legacy which shall never die.

[@cusoonmyfriend3738]

once u have 0,01 % haitian DNA, you are not french

[@bluewescott4631]

I love how when he said American words (McDonald's, Burger King) he said them in a southern accent without skipping a beat. It's cool that that's just whats natural instead of saying them with a French accent like you hear French people say them. I'm from the south and I had to go back because I was taken aback for a second. 😂

[@Research0digo]

That's because they are proper nouns. :)

[@edwardcumpstey9061]

And yet, he failed to realize that that's NOT American culture...

[@tomaspabon2484]

@@edwardcumpstey9061 They're both massive food chains, across the entirety of the US. They're both often referenced in american pop culture. They're a big part of outside perception of the US. They are a BIG part of american culture by definition

[@edwardcumpstey9061]

@@tomaspabon2484 There's a difference between popular culture and actual culture. Know the difference; it may make you sound smarter.

[@edwardcumpstey9061]

@Oscar Ortiz Now we're thinking with our heads unlike some people...

[@onerider808]

When you enter the state, signs say “bienvenue a Louisienne”. I like that.

[@Alice-mb3xf]

N’est ce pas que c’est bienvenue en Louisianne?

[@jimcoulter5877]

I am With you, I also like it! The time has come to stop making Fun of the Cajun People.

[@collinlynch4569]

I’m from Southern Illinois, I went to Addis, Louisiana on vacation, I was blown away with people speaking Cajun French. Have been trying to learn it ever since. Cool language.

[@elintocable0072]

@M damm very sad story i hope the louisiana state preserve this language and put him as a oficial language . And i hope they show to the Kids in the scool this language.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

@M they killed it completely in New Orleans. French was spoken in the streets of New Orleans just 100 years ago.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Frankly Jourdan's French is impressive considering the fact French has pretty much disappeared in the US. Thanks for sharing this awesome clip

[@Dom-fx4kt]

It hasn't disappeared just yet, but very much dying for sure. Some parishes in Louisiana have still have higher number of speakers of it than some, but its still dying.

[@angiev1840]

I think so too. My mama spoke French and English. I wish we would have been taught both.

[@luisaymerich9675]

If it is dying off it is because it is not being used. Their culture can be recovered through art, music, literature, gastronomy, and using French within the family and in public.

[@JM-nt5ex]

It's alive and well in many households in south Louisiana, as well as in northern maine

[@satoshimiyazaki1658]

Many of the American counties bordering Quebec have rather large rates of French speakers

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

"But I'd rather be what I am than something else" AMEN! Don't let society tell you who you should be. Be YOU! Express yourself however you want to be! People should explore themselves and embrace their roots. Picking up the languages of your ancestors shows you're willing to open up and grow as a person and be against the norm. When I was younger, I was just like the painter in this video and didn't really care about learning Spanish because everyone else who surrounded me spoke English. I started to take it seriously in middle school once I came to realize that my grandma (who spoke in Spanish only) was declining in health and so I wanted to make her proud before she passed away by speaking Spanish fluently to her. Since then, I've also picked up Irish and Russian to honor my father's side. Of course learning a new language can be difficult but challenging yourself is part of life.

[@josepha.r5839]

Impressive!

[@infiniduck100]

Seriously how are you everywhere- Also, great job learning several languages!

[@joannbradford7736]

The pride in the father in his daughter singing was so beautiful ! I hate to see us loose these languages, slang, whatever you call it.....but the guy who mentioned that the mexicans are treated the same as cajuns were back in the day. What wisdom. We will regret it someday. Save your cultures, languages, slang, take pride in who you are and were raised as. God bless all.

[@LewisC-iu3hh]

Damn, I’m shocked to hear this from an Anglo woman? Especially since it’s your people who have been oppressing the Cajuns. Mexicans and native Americans! I am Mexican and Native American and you Anglos have caused so many problems for us in the southwest.

[@BigBoss-sm9xj]

I agree

[@HarryFromTheNorthSide]

❤❤

[@aphus8504]

i dont like how he said that the Acadians moved to Louisiana. They were deported en masse

[@wfcoaker1398]

The expulsion of the Acadians was ethnic cleansing. Many of the people who were expelled went back, but many more did not. Here in Newfoundland, there's a small French speaking community that is descended from Acadians who were expelled during Le Grand Derangement.

[@crystalbrame7886]

OH Brother!!! 🤦‍♂️

[@redlipstickmafia]

Kai, yes their homes were burned down and they had to flee.

[@redlipstickmafia]

Wf Coaker They call it le Grand Dérangement. It absolutely was ethnic cleansing. I used to play piano for an educational program with a Cajun fiddler. We played in the horribly damaged 9th Ward area shortly after Hurricane Katrina. The fiddle player was talking to a school full of kids who had just lost their homes to the floods. And in describing the comparisons between the 2, he says, “have you ever heard of something called ethnic cleansing?” I was a little shocked that he was going there, but he was absolutely correct in describing both le Grand Dérangement and the Katrina disaster that way.

[@crystalbrame7886]

Some one finally Gets it!!! Sheesh 🙂

[@PNZTX]

(15:50) "...and every time I hear my daughters speak French it makes me proud." Tu as bien fait, Jourdan.

[@palomino73]

That cowboy is one hell of a complete man - period

[@feruzyoldash137]

real man isn't cowboy but real man is who can connect people around him

[@ozzo870]

@@feruzyoldash137 shut up beta.

[@liviloo87]

LOL rite!! You comment made me laugh.

[@jeremymonin8343]

Je viens de France et cette vidéo est simplement magnifique. On ressent l'attachement de ces belles personnes pour l'héritage français. Sa me fait chaud au coeur

[@MonsieurPogo]

«Je viens de France» ... Cela me fait chaud au cœur ou ça me fait chaud au cœur, mais non pas «sa» me fait ...

[@no_life_wth_leafras949]

@@MonsieurPogo JHE ZUI FIERR DETR FRONcC MOA OSSI

[@marcbookpro607]

Norbert Leblanc is kind of a celebrity in the region, he's giving tours of the Bayou which I highly recommend. We also went to eat at his sister's restaurant in Lafayette (she opened just for us). Very genuine kind people !

[@jakeb.2990]

I hope I can visit soon after the lockdowns end

[@emeraldeleven8197]

No thanks.... saw his hat.

[@ChunkyShartSpray]

@@emeraldeleven8197 cry more

[@gmatthew1314]

@@emeraldeleven8197 And people wonder why we can’t unite. The guy’s from a rural area, what do you expect.

[@morganstud]

As a french, i'm happy to see that Cajuns are fighting to keep their culture alive ! And the french of the cowboy is perfect i can understand him without any translation ! wow !

[@azteka6103]

Are you happy for your football national team? Luisiana is more French than france.

[@maximeschmitt6589]

@@azteka6103 Most French people couldn't care less about football. Also, the state of Louisiana is less than 15% ethnic French while France is probably 60% ethnic French.

[@azteka6103]

@@maximeschmitt6589 45%

[@sana.4.a]

@@azteka6103 racist much, africans speak french…

[@azteka6103]

@@sana.4.a What was racist? stating the reality?

[@johnf-americanreacts1287]

This was great. I’ve been very interested in this ever since I visited NO 10 years ago. In Ireland, the British banned the Irish Gaelic language (which they simply call “Irish”) such that it almost died out. Now, kids learn it in school and signs are in Irish and English, etc. There is a movement from the government on down to revive the language and culture. I would love to see something like that for Louisiana.

[@SpartanChief2277]

I hear similar about Canada and Quebec for french. In New Mexico, government signs and documents are in English and Spanish, so there wasn't as much backlash if at all to spanish compare to other states from 10 to 15 years ago, tho i had an elementary teacher in 3rd grade tell me and my friends to only speak english, we still kept talking in playground lol.

[@jarodarmstrong509]

It's a bit different since the French speaking areas are basically one corner of the state. Louisiana is small but it's very very different as far a culture and lifestyle in different areas sometimes very close together.

[@DeadGuye1995]

Eyre-land, Our Land. Stolen by Germanic Romans, sadge

[@DeadGuye1995]

Luckily for all of us, France actually makes most of our cars parts, and all our hygiene products whether ppl ever notice it or not. We all subconsciously get to read french everytime you flip down your cars window shade. And on the back of every shampoo bottle.

[@Doodle-gfc]

There actually is a movement like that in Louisiana. Currently, our constitution states we are a bi-lingual state. Signs and publications from the government are in both French and English. CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana/Conseil pour le development de Francais en Louisiane) was established in 1968. It was funded partly by the French and Belgian governments until the 80s, I believe. It promotes French immersion schools around the state and recruits teachers from French-speaking Canada and other Francophone countries. The difference is that it is not taught in all schools in the state which is partly due to the fact that French was not the predominant language even before it was banned in the early 1900s. That's when my grandparents, who did not speak Cajun French but Louisiana French, were in school. Because of the stigma the policies created against French, they did not speak it in front of my father. Unfortunately, it's difficult to rebuild a culture after it was abandoned for a generation, so CODOFIL has only had limited success. Thank goodness for people like Jordan Thibodeaux.

[@paulbourguignon3632]

Love and respect from France. Jordan Thibaudo mérite notre plus profond respect. Sa déclaration d’amour à la langue français est très émouvante.

[@gomberteli4059]

Il parle de français cajun

[@scorpioninpink]

I love how the French wants Cajun French be preserved but their country is killing all dialect or language that is not Metropolitan Parisian French.

[@adrien5116]

@haven adventurer We did not chose french. French was forced upon us as well. That's why we are so much in favour of preservation. We know what it feels like to lose your local culture.

[@clips_a_la_menthe]

French people knows how it’s sad to lose your culture

[@SupaMeloDrama]

As stated by Dridri Bompao, French was forced to us too. I live in a city called Toulouse (in the southwest of the country) and here no one speaked french 150 years ago. They all speaked Occitan language, which was prominent in France at that time. Same goes for other areas in France, in Alsace they speak Alsacien, in the north some speaked Flamand, there was also Provençal, Breton, Basque, Catalan, Corse... They forced everyone to speak French and now these dialects are disappearing.

[@SupaMeloDrama]

Heck not even 100 years ago there was still most people speaking Occitan here. But it went the same as in Lousiana. Occitan became forbidden in schools and parents stopped teachung it to their children.

[@blackpine4517]

France offered to reintegrate them before and after the Louisiana purchase they chose to stay for the free laborers. Would have been nice if they included it in the documentary.

[@gideonhorwitz9434]

Louisiana needs a French language revival just as it was in Quebec.

[@marklittle8805]

The French language was never really in any danger in Quebec. They are stomping on English there with both feet however

[@TheVinc123]

Quebec is a majority French though and Louisiana is not

[@TheVinc123]

Also quebec is a hell hole beceause of french people , I live here so I know

[@klarissaclairiton9010]

French was never revived in Quebec. French was very widely spoken everywhere in the country and more English spoken in Montreal. French was spread more homogeneously throughout the province from the 1970s.

[@klarissaclairiton9010]

@@TheVinc123 that is because the Americans of the time made a law outlawing French.

[@joslynaarons6885]

Mes très cher amis de le Bayou. Vous m'avez apporté les larmes aux yeux. Je comprends votre dévouement à garder votre culture et votre tradition. Garder sa langue française est la clé et le fil conducteur d'une tradition profonde et vieille de 400 ans et plus. Je suis toujours fier des Acadiens. Je suis avec vous car je garde aussi le mien. J'ai toujours ce rêve de vous rendre visite à tous les Acadien en Louisiane. Je rappelle toujours aux autres l'histoire profonde de l'ancien territoire français qui a garder ses racines aux États-Unis. Je vous embrasse très fortement. Jocelyne Mirambeau

[@alitalanore3511]

I can feel the pride, love and accomplishment this DAD beems with. Jus BEAUTIFUL

[@Elwene2fr]

Their accents, the way they speak. All of these guys in the video...they have a different accent, and it tells so much. It's part of their identity and as a linguist who LOVES north-american francophonie it's so interesting to hear. Never stop speaking your language. Never give up. Be proud of who you are and be proud of your culture. The diversity of these French languages is so beautiful. Thank you for speaking your French and thank you for fighting for it.

[@acaydia2982]

Even our English is different from city to city.

[@jreifsnyder2225]

As a melting pot nation it would have been detrimental to a young country for all immigrants to continue speaking the languages of the country they came from - no-one would be able to understand each other - you had French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, Dutch, German, and more - there had to be a designated language so people could communicate

[@kay3141]

@@jreifsnyder2225 I agree there had to be a lingua franca, but it would have been great if they had continued local language courses in various school systems. Imagine taking German as a second language in Central Texas, or Cajun French in Louisiana or Finnish in the Northern Peninsula! We'd live in a much more culturally diverse and interesting country and we'd all still have English in common.

[@nicchauvin1096]

@@kay3141 Especially considering that when Congress voted for a national language, German narrowly beat out English as the proposed language.

[@fyrdman2185]

@@nicchauvin1096 That's a debunked myth. There were strong prejudice against germans back then

[@davidchicoine9209]

This young man's French is spoken without hesitation - Just remarkable! My Grandpa stopped speaking French because they were in Nebraska outside of the French community by that time. He always regretted losing his language.

[@aimes9524]

Gabriel Afonso what a weird and stupid comment. He was just telling his dad’s French history. Lighten up.

[@elainebmack]

Jourdan Thibodeaux has eyes like a hawk. Sharp, intense, and direct.

[@jesusraydelsanchezrodrigue8279]

Kudos to that Cajun cowboy´s family for keeping French alive. He is doing a fantastic job with his daughters, too. I have to pay Lafayette and New Orleans a visit!

[@kbflorida888]

I’ve never been to New Orleans or Louisiana. I really should visit too.

[@talljib]

Hope you do

[@genesis2936]

He also said he teaches his kids French via singing - I like the concept !

[@alexanderjohnson8800]

In my town of Welsh, Louisiana, one of the Priests, Father Daigle, in his older age knew the language and culture needed to be preserved so he wrote the Cajun French Dictionary and a Cajun French self taught book. His actions made Welsh “Home of the Cajun French Language” which the title was made official by the state some years ago.

[@stevenwanders7784]

My grandmother left me a copy if that dictionary when she passed.

[@ouestlelivre]

I have that book. It was a gift to me when I was a senior at LSU and won a prize as the best French education major. (December 1991) Nothing to applaud about... I was the only one graduating that semester!!

[@Coonass]

Never heard that and I'm from Jennings.

[@inconnu4961]

@@ouestlelivre Congratulations on being the BEST even if you were the only one! they could have just cancelled the award due to lack of interest, but felt you were worthy!

[@scotishjohn]

You Welsh have a weird language as well hahaha

[@morganetches3749]

The problem is that they're teaching metropolitan French, so the traditional language will still be lost - its essentially the same thing as forcing them to speak English. They should be teaching Cajun French and Louisiana Creole

[@StormWolf01]

True, but metropolitan french is the next best thing. It's still better than no french at all. I think the issue is that there aren't that many teachers of Cajun French. Also, although it's different, as a native french speaker, i understand what they are saying, so it's not that different.

[@morganetches3749]

@@StormWolf01 There aren't many Cajun French teachers that's true, but that's not really the problem. The French government has a policy of obliterating regional dialects, creoles and languages in favour of the official dialect of French, as I'm sure you know. So when they go out to promote French in America, they're not even going to bother to try and train Cajun French teachers, since they consider it a patois or substandard French, rather than valuing it as the cultural heritage of the Cajun people. In short, I think its a problem with the French government's hegemonic attitude to language, rather than simply a problem with a lack of teachers.

[@coletobola3142]

@@StormWolf01 put the old folk to work, metropolitan french has done its damage to enough regional french dialects as it is

[@rixille]

@@coletobola3142 Similar story can be said about how Hochdeutsch (High German) is being widely adopted throughout Germany and causing many regional dialects to become less popular.

[@BP-or2iu]

@@morganetches3749 That's not it. The CODIFIl program, that started teaching French in schools again in the 80s, of which I was a student, is the one who organizes it. They have said many times they would like to have Cajun teachers... but that's not really possible. They're farmers. Regular people. They have other jobs. They're not teachers.

[@dwrighte1]

As a black person who is mostly descended from people from West Africa and few parts of northern Europe, and now live in the USA, it is immensely important that these people protect their way of life, language, heritage, and culture. They are Americans and should be treated no differently than anyone else. Louisiana is a fascinating part of the country and it is people like the Cajuns, Creoles, and others that help to make it so.

[@SK-tr1wo]

@Phillip Banes the language of America is me doing your mom, boomer.

[@Ptitnain2]

@Phillip Banes There's no official language in the USA.

[@tylernaturalist6437]

@Phillip Banes You must be trolling, are the Chinese or the Russians running this account?

[@Kirasfox]

​@Phillip Banes This is America, a melting pot of cultures and languages

[@Niko-yb9pt]

@@phillipbanes5484 native americans had their own indiegnous languages before english for you to say that is wild same with the cajuns in louisiana who spoke french before english but some white anglo-americans simply have beef with anybody who speaks anything other than english and to see you think like them as a native is sad I'm a naturalized immigrant from mecca and i'm not gonna abandon my native arabic also i'm still learning spanish too btw

[@kurtwalters4386]

My mother's family were French speakers from New England. It's sad to see the language disappear. Of the five boys in my family, I was the only one who took an interest in learning French. My wife and I try to keep it alive in our home. I want my children to know their roots. It takes work.

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

"The French speakers living in the Northern region, known as Acadia, **moved** South." English telling "their version" of history. Leaving out the part where they burned down the homes and forced Acadian French onto ships (where a large percentage died during the trip) and dumping them in various places. One being Louisiana. The English left them there to die, but Cajuns proved themselves to be the tough people they are and they not only survived, but thrived! My family were Acadian French who managed to escape being forced onto the ships and fled into the forests and tried to fight back. They did live in Quebec for some yrs, but eventually my family all moved to Maine and remained French speaking till my generation. Sadly our father never taught us French. Probably because we were looked down upon by English in the U.S. So my family kept to themselves and have only ever married other French till (once again) my generation. My father moved to California and met my mother there. Sending love from California to all my Cajun brothers and sisters!

[@EdinburghFive]

No Acadians were, as you put it 'dumped' by the British in Louisiana. The deported Acadians were sent to the other British North American colonies, to England, and to France. Also keep in mind the deportations were largely carried out by New England colonial militias.

[@Vingul]

She did say they were forced to leave.

[@EdinburghFive]

@@Vingul - "Forced to leave" doesn't really describe what happened. Forced to leave implies they may of had a choice as to where they went. This was not the case. They were rounded up, put on ships, and sent to where the British sent them. There was no choice in the matter.

[@Vingul]

@@EdinburghFive I kept my previous comment short, though I might have added that an elaboration was certainly in its place. Out of curiosity, is it really correct that they were "dumped" in Louisiana, though? I've heard that they walked on foot most of the way, and ended up in Louisiana where they felt at home among the French, Scots etc that lived there already. But perhaps that's a romanticised account. I first found out about the Cajuns through Les Blank's lovely film "Spend it All" from the early 70s. Instantly fell in love with their culture. In case you're keen to hear a really beautiful cajun music record, I'd like to recommend "The Early Recordings of Dennis McGee". Not to say that there aren't many other great performers, but McGee is really special.

[@EdinburghFive]

Hi@@Vingul The Acadians were not dumped in Louisiana. The Acadians who end up in Louisiana did so largely of their own accord. The biggest influx of Acadians to Louisiana arrive in the 1780s from France. These settlers arrived by ship. Other, smaller groups did arrive by ship, boats on the rivers, and some did indeed walk from the more northerly colonies at times. Under the initial deportations, Acadians are sent to the other British North American colonies, to England, and to France. Louisiana at the time was a Spanish colony but mostly colonized by French speakers as it had previously been a French colony.

[@jameskulevich8907]

Love talking to the Cajuns. You can hear a French accent when they speak English even having never been to France.

[@Jefff72]

You just made me think of SNL Cajun Man by Adam Sandler. Inebriatiiioo

[@Research0digo]

lol ... 'France'

[@Trinxeraire]

Most Americans speak English and have never been to England.

[@genesis2936]

@@Trinxeraire Many many Americans speak Spanish and never been to Spain ! What’s ur poin5 ?

[@joselira9342]

I speak English and Spanish and never once been to europe

[@daviswall3319]

Love the part where he sings with his daughter. I've lived most of my life in Baton Rouge and my exwife is a Thibodeaux. I feel where he's coming from and respect it very much.

[@castiglione3024]

Do you know what they're singing? I've been trying to hunt down this song

[@rhondagiles2484]

Here in Lafayette, we have French immersion classes which we hope will carry on the language as well. ❤️

[@pomade34]

❤

[@luongo7886]

Keep your culture, history and language, everyone! - With love from Việt-Nam

[@Pat323232]

Plural marriage is still outlawed 😥 when will people start respecting us??

[@GiDD504]

I’m Cajun through and through. (Guidry) and when my grandpa was coming up (born in 1919) the kids were punished for speaking French. They were fluent in it but would be hit for speaking. Till the day he died, he never spoke French again because it was instilled in him that it was a bad thing. Luckily my dad and I learned from other family members.

[@inconnu4961]

This is very sad, but a common story. Here in new England we had a large influx of French-Canadiens to work the mill towns, and the experiences are similar: Must speak english! So there certainly was a reluctance to hold onto the language and culture.

[@GiDD504]

@@inconnu4961 It is just so sad to me when anybody has to hide their heritage like that. I get the having to speak enough English for working but to abolish their cultural tongue completely is so wrong to me.

[@triarb5790]

@@GiDD504 Colonisers have done this to peoples all over the world. It's all about control

[@rogerlewis7770]

Related 2 Ron?

[@GiDD504]

@@rogerlewis7770 Second cousin! That side lived in Lafayette and we were in Norco, Laplace, Destrehan area.

[@clintduplechain6942]

Watching this from LA,California. I was born and raised south of Lafayette, Louisiana. Made me tear up because I could feel that French part of me longing to reconnect and learn more. I came and sat in my car and found this video Because I just met a girl from France, and there was an instant connection. More in like a family level. I’ll never forget that. Proud to be a Cajun

[@bernardmichel2100]

As a French speaker from France I find their accent a lot easier to understand than that of Quebec. Vive le français!

[@bobduvar]

Benjamin Franklin, the very first american ambassador in Paris used to say : "American ppl have two countries : their own and Paris"

[@Angell_Lee]

This made me cry, whatever your roots, whatever your skin color, gender, whatever your accent and where you are from. Please know you are made perfect, be proud, you shine. Much love on your journey. xo

[@fleurynicolas7833]

They are perfectly understandable to a swiss french speaker, like me. Some expressions are absolutely great: I love the "mouche à miel" to mean abeille. I find their accent a bit more difficult to understand than the Canadian French. I guess it's also that Cajuns are much less present on our streets and TVs and radios, than the Québécois, who are particularly good at keeping their own version of the French language lively and known outside Québec. I think the challenge for the Cajuns will be to preserve their inheritage without turning it into standard French soup. In that regard, the young guys in New Orleans interviewed in the middle of the show frankly speak absolutely "standard" French, unlike the more "rural" people interviewed.

[@shadowartist8892]

My French Canadian grandfather was in WW1 and fought in the trenches in Normandy. He said they French they speak in Canada comes from there.

[@Elwene2fr]

@@shadowartist8892Many French Canadian families came from Normandy and I can recognize some of our expressions (I'm from Normandy) when I hear French Canadians speak :)

[@Elwene2fr]

Les québécois qui viennent de Montréal c'est assez facile de les comprendre mais je t'assure qu'il y a d'autres accents du Québec qui sont pas si évidents que ça. Et si tu prends les Acadiens (au Canada) leur accent sera pas plus facile à comprendre que les Cajuns ^^' Je pense que quand on dit "québécois" on pense "Montréal". Comme quand on dit "accent français" on pense à l'accent parisien (c'est rare, même pour nous français, d'entendre un accent alsacien/ch'ti/toulousain, etc. à la télé). C'est juste que tout est centralisé à Montréal (comme à Paris en France) mais leur accent est pas du tout représentatifs de tous les accents québécois (et encore moins des accents franco-canadiens !! Y a tellement de beaux accents dans les différentes parties du Canada qu'on rien à voir avec l'accent de Montréal)

[@antoinem4401]

« mouches à miel » pour dire « abeilles » c’est juste génial 😂 ça donne envie de reprendre quelques expression

[@EmpressLilith222]

New Orleans is not Cajun that’s why. In the Acadiana region which is a several hours drive from New Orleans you’ll hear Acadian French

A huge thank you to Fanny Allard and the team at France 24 ! We are so proud of our gumbo of cultural influences - including Cajun, Creole, French, Spanish, West African, and Native American - here in Louisiana, and we are always happy to share it with visitors through our language, food, music, history, festivals, traditions, and more. Anyway, bienvenue en Louisiane y'all. #OnlyLouisiana #LâchePas #IcitteOnParleFrançais

[@ucmdesigns]

Cajun is also a Racial Slur. The people who are called Cajuns are Creoles and addressed as such before the 1970s by the United States of America and the Older Generation of "Cajuns" of that time. They never referred to themselves as Cajuns But Creoles. They Did not like the term Cajun because they knew this word as a Race Slur. When a campaign was developed and carried out to Cajunize everything that was classified and labelled Creole to seperate themselves from "Black" Creoles (Mixed Race Group) so that they can be seen by Americans as "White". "Get in where you fit in." This was in the Jim Crow era and in our culture, there was Not the thought of Dual/Binary thinking about Race such as White and everything else or White and Black. This campaign was done to help Lafayette with growth of tourism and the romancization of Evangeline (who like most Acadians, were Not "White" but Metis people (Mixed Raced people of French and Native American decent). It was also known in our cultural history with labelling and classification, that the Metis people were also classified as Black because of being French And Native American. This is also why the Acadian Parishes were renamed as such, yet, these parishes were originally named Creole Parishes. The original commenter's post is trying to reflect that this culture depicted and shown in this video is shining a light on a group, our culture, our Race, has many in our group But are One And The Same. Creoles of Acadian decent assimilated into well established Creoles society through the Germanic French Creoles that were here in the Louisiana Territory before the Acadians were cast out of Novia Scotia, New Brunswick and etc. Like the Spanish Creoles, the Germanic French Creoles were the first to assimilate into Creole way of life and taught the Creoles from Acadia. Germanic-French Creoles are constantly left out of our cultural conversation, yet they are the missing link to the Topic of Creoles of Acadian decent and Creoles. We most unify in order to Save our Language (s) and this division is a hindrance. So yes, this video is about us all (Creoles) and if you look closely, it is disguised as "Cajun". I would also like to take the time to note that there is a Mixed Raced Group of people named Cajan. They have No affiliation with Creoles or Creoles of Acadian decent. The Cajans reside in Alabama and don 't get recognized. And the Cajans recognize and not deny their All of their Racial admixtures. (Just a little trivia.)

[@IslenoGutierrez]

Télé-Louisiane We are all Creoles here in south Louisiana... well most of us...meaning we are descendants of the colonial Louisiana population, regardless of race ...and they used it to mean native born to Louisiana (or another French, Spanish or Portuguese colony) in the new world, regardless of race. Every time I see someone separate cajun from Creole and make Creole a race, I think about how ignorant that is to separate the Acadian Creoles from their French creole, Spanish creole, German creole, creole of color and Afro creole neighbors in Louisiana. We can’t keep pushing this ignorance...there has to be some form of correcting this falsehood at some point moving forward...we are all Creoles, including the Cajuns.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

John Simard I’m not talking creole language, I’m talking about creole people. There is a creole people. It’s in historical Louisiana documents, it’s recorded from history. Creole in colonial Louisiana meant born in the new world (in this case, colonial Louisiana) but of old world ancestry, regardless of race. It’s a term that also doubled as an identity. After the colonial period, creole was the identity of the descendants from the colonial period because incoming Americans didn’t use it, it was a term from colonial Louisiana and hence it’s colonial connection to the colonial ancestors of post colonial Louisianians. The Louisiana born children of the Acadian immigrants to colonial Louisiana became Creoles and every generation of Cajuns from that pint on were Creoles. Acadian Creoles to be exact. This is also documented in historical Louisiana records. We have evidence, can’t deny it when we have evidence.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

haven oludawole Some Creoles were/are Cajuns. Cajuns before being called cajun were called Acadian Creoles. This is documented in historical Louisiana records and is known by many elderly Cajuns. Creole is not a race, it just means you descend from the colonial population of Louisiana and they used the term to mean born in Louisiana (or other french, spanish or portuguese colony in the American continent) but of old world ancestry.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

John Simard the term cajun in French is cadien

[@HugoLacchiaOfficial]

hold my joint... he learned the violin BY EAR ! I've had 12 years of piano classes, believe me this man is incredible. He has absolute pitch.

[@tylerleblanc4305]

I am so happy that my last name comes with such a story and a history. Although I was not born in Louisiana and am definitely disconnected from the culture, it is still very dear to me and I hope to learn more.

[@morganstud]

It’s not too late

[@radtech21]

3:46 - “But I’d rather be what I am than something else.” I wish everybody felt this way. It took a long time for me.

[@lql1094]

That's cool, but descendants of those who assimilated are American and English-speaking and should be thought of by him in the same respectful manner. I say this as a Black American who doesn't consider herself African, and prefers Black American to African American. However, I do not deny my ancestors were most likely African.

[@LM-dl3yx]

A lot of us do feel that way. Most of us are American and English speaking and have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of for it. Its others that are always putting down the English language and being American.

[@bennettbrabham219]

I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thank you France24 for always exemplifying quality journalism and sharing this gem of a story from our great State!

[@rawyouout]

I hope Baton Rouge picks itself back up, NBR is falling apart, but there is hope

[@Daevoz]

@@rawyouout not rlly I live in Baton Rouge as well it’s the same as it’s always been

[@rawyouout]

@@Daevoz yeah that's the issue, BR ain't progressing, what part you from, I used to stay in Zion City

[@Daevoz]

@@rawyouout I live in downtown Baton Rouge it’s not bad it’s a big city just pretty ghetto overall but that’s on the individuals yk

[@rawyouout]

@@Daevoz Yea i get you, downtown is cool

[@caitlynmorrison5736]

oh my, him singing with his daughter made me tear up for real

[@Agoateeman]

What an inspiring story. Good for you Jourdan Thibodeaux that you are dedicated to saving your language and culture.

[@jromeo8247]

This dude....is an absolute gem. So present in his skin, language and culture. And beautiful

[@b.brave.b.aware00965]

I married into the Cajun culture, I absolutely love it. I have so much admiration for those who keep this way of life alive and working hard to pass on the language and culture to our children.

[@JM-nt5ex]

You should encourage your family to pass on the language as well, it starts in the home

[@Epoch11]

I love how he says in one breath how it is not just French but other cultures changed and added to it and in the next he says I do not change anything from what my grandparents taught me because then it isn't part of the culture....... I LOVE people, lol....Tres magnifique.

[@TheMVCoho]

I had the exact same thought!

[@cocoplagette7360]

C’est tellement agréable d’entendre la langue française pratiquée en Louisiane. J’aime beaucoup et c’est une fierté que des jeunes continuent à parler la français, à transmettre la langue ⭐️

[@Bayoubebe]

Nearly 40 and grew up in south Louisiana. My great grandparents spoke nothing but cajun French, they communicated to the kids in English, but the adult conversations were purely in cajun french. Same at doctors offices. I miss that. The family and community culture is unbeatable. The mixture of ppl in south Louisiana is unified in our melting pot of shared heritage.

[@Preservestlandry]

When you can't understand anything, except your own name, and you know they're talking about you. LoL That used to make me so mad! Now I think back and laugh.😂

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Does it get really hot there? The cowboy was sweating

[@sinepari9160]

@@nofurtherwest3474 90% humidity...

[@Phoenixhunter157]

@@nofurtherwest3474yes, reaches temperatures over 100

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@Phoenixhunter157 yikes, plus humidity

[@scotverdin9401]

I got transferred for a job to Lafayette not knowing anything about it and at first was dismayed how 'small' it was....I had just lived in houston. But wow! Two of the most wonderful years of my life. Food, people, history, bayous....I've never forgotten it

[@gerrit2409]

I spent a few months living in Lafayette myself - but from Canada! It was an awesome time - I miss it dearly!

[@nobusmanrbbj]

I lived in Lafayette and when u pull up to someone's house Americans would ask,"Would u like to come in"? But in Lafayette they ask,"Would u like to get down"? This had a different connotation in the 1960's so I was taken aback! They meant were u going to get down from ur car onto the ground! This came from climbing down from a horse or carriage! If u u climbed down then u were gonna go in and visit. See?

[@ashkay7950]

That's basically my life so I'm used to it 😂 I'm glad you enjoyed it there

[@ariareveluv]

As an Acadian this makes me grateful our culture/language is alive and well in the Maritimes. I didn't know our Cajun cousins to the south were struggling to keep it...

[@nicchauvin1096]

Our schools have immersion trips to places like St. Anne's, but only a few get to go. We need to ramp up capacity.

[@hismajesty6272]

My great grandparents were beaten for speaking French in school. My great grandmother had a thick Cajun accent, while my grandmother has none. It’s honestly depressing to me that I’ll most likely be fed Parisian French instead of our beautiful local dialect, but that’s how it goes I guess.

[@dubonett8239]

I love how they are all aware of their ancestry, and how this mixture makes who they are today.

[@lloovvaallee]

I knew a cajun guy once who lived in France for a while. He was treated wretchedly because of the type of French he spoke and he now refuses to ever use the language.

[@michelen5728]

Ow lord! What a slap in the face! He had his welcome back to reality. France is not a bisounours land. I feel sorry for him tough.

[@benlhyenethehyena9947]

As a French, I can sadly confirm that most people in France are extremely snobbish with a superior complex when it comes to the language. They are sure it is the best in the world, refuse or are very reluctant to learn another when going for tourism, they are very disdainful for people who are learning it and make mistakes/have an accent and mock/insult instead of helping progress, regional accents (since all regions have their accent, standard French is basically Parisian) are mocked and have to be unlearnt if you want more chances to work in a higher spot in a big city, there is a huge disdain for regional languages since all regions have one and try to survive but it's been more than a century that the French state does everything to smudge them (forbidden in school, no co-officiality of any language... it was the same for sign language that is barely becoming something now and was forbidden because "not the French language, these deaf retards can read on lips and make an effort to respect it !" Roughly summed up, it stopped to be illegal in the 70's only and is still not co official today)... a very big mess

[@lloovvaallee]

@@benlhyenethehyena9947 Hatred is not too strong of a word to describe my cajun friend's opinion of the French. "Those bastards can damned well talk to me in English", he would say ...

[@benlhyenethehyena9947]

@@lloovvaallee that is very sad he came to loathe a whole people because of dumb snobbish bullies

[@lloovvaallee]

@@benlhyenethehyena9947 This was many years ago now. Maybe things have changed with a younger generation.

[@thelowlytrinity]

um....the moment when Jourdan sheds a tear when singing with his daughter. What a beautiful man!!

[@lapdawg60]

That segment at 13:19 singing with his daughter is just too precious. This was a nice piece.

[@desertstar7664]

American speaking French sounds so mesmerizing

[@gavindoyle692]

As an Irishman I can relate to this, as the British almost wiped out the native Irish language. And my Irish, which I was taught in school, is pidgin at best. But the more languages one can learn the richer one’s life is. I now speak completely fluent French, German, Italian and Spanish. It’s never too late to start learning. And to the man raising his daughters en français, j’aimerais bien dire à lui, chapeau bas, Monsieur. 👍🏼

[@ocomaing]

@SLAMO wasps?

[@tomviktorsson5052]

actually no lol , the Brits didnt wipe out the French language and cultures , the Yanks did .... look at Canada , they still preserve their language and culture.

[@gavindoyle692]

Tom viktorsson I never wrote that the British wiped out the French language spoken in Louisiana. That was the work of their American descendants. I said that the British wiped out the Irish language. That is all.

[@JM-nt5ex]

@SLAMO Same deal, the Louisiana state government was a foreign power to French Americans

[@blackpine4517]

Gavin Doyle What remains of the original Appalachia’s still speaks Gaelic and Celtic languages. Most of them being from north and western Ireland around the 1690-1760s. Dublin university has voice recordings on file. You likely heard George Washington tried to genocide them after the war of independence out of fear of they’re willingness to fight back against threats. GW said it was taxes. The Louisiana French doesn’t really compare.

[@gumbogallery985]

This is beautiful. I am dedicating myself to learning French. I'm so sad. I imagine that I have let my ancestors down. I know it isn't my fault, but I feel stupid to have been tricked into giving up my identity. My grandparents spoke French, my dad did too, but I never was taught/learned. I am determined to reverse that.

[@ZeTemple]

I can help you if you need help in French! I’m French Canadian!

[@gumbogallery985]

@@ZeTemple That is kind of you. I need to get to work! Thanks for your comment. It has reminded me. :D

[@Galifamackus]

Cajun here that moved up to the Appalachians. Sad that I’m only now getting into French & the Cajun culture as a 19 year old, but better to start now than never 💯

[@xanimationsyt7423]

I feel exactly the same way

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

I don't understand why the government wanted to ban y'all from speaking your own native language! It's outrageous!

[@80sChick80s]

I truly adore his story, my heart is full, his daughters will surely carry it on with their children.

[@sarahwilson7825]

As a descendent of those whom came from Acadiana, I live through the severed ties, and that generational pain is real. Its always been a missing piece to my puzzle, I'm sure many people can relate, no matter where they may come from. Thank you for making this video.

[@judykinsman3258]

Excellent segment. Amazing we get better insight into the rich historic cultures of America on France 24 than on any US media outlet. I grew up on the bayous & in New Orleans in the 50’s. French was taught as a 2nd language in elementary. To this day it’s in my bones and music is always in my head. What a blessing.

[@blackpine4517]

No we don’t. She didn’t tell y’all why they stayed after the Louisiana purchase when France renter grated it’s citizens.

[@karmakanic]

This is the most in-depth look at the state of Cajun Louisiana French I've seen-well done.

[@amitexo]

That story was ominous in the beginning but ended with a hint of hopefulness and full of inspiration. Even though i do not own a cool cowboy hat, i'd say hats off to that fella!

[@suzy2time]

My father also was forbidden to speak French in school. He said the nuns would hit them if they did. As a result he didn't teach us French. He spoke it again before he died and regretted not teaching us. We regret it too.

[@wackyruss]

It's rare to see such a young dude fluent in Cajun French. Wow. The language still lives!

[@norbertkaussen1516]

It's not that rare down here! As the man said 250000 Louisiana wide, halve of them Cajuns .

[@neddoubarli3324]

When I heard some people in Louisiana speak French, I was expecting some sort of broken French. I’m really surprised to understand these guys without needing a translation.

[@tim.a.k.mertens]

Same, I didn't notice the subtitles until like half way through

[@tkso.philly3879]

I love to see people respect,treasure and preserve their culture,language and traditions.Hats off to The Cajun Cowboy...

[@robwalsh9843]

It can be difficult to preserve minority languages in some nations. As an American, I hope my Cajun countrymen can maintain their distinct culture.

[@brookewatkins9509]

As a Lafayette native, I’m so glad this video happened upon me.

[@GradyRoy]

same

[@davejeanbaptiste197]

Je vien de Montréal je suis haïtien am happy the culture is still there wow I never knew about this j’apprends à chaque jour

[@maksdorleans]

Les Québecois, Acadien, Cajun et Haïtiens devraient s'unir mon ami!

[@maksdorleans]

Nous sommes tous frères d'une certaines façon!

[@IslenoGutierrez]

John Simard Also there are white descendants in the New Orleans area of Louisiana that are descendants of the white St. Domingans that fled St. Domingue (French colonial Haiti) before it became Haiti (Haiti is the post colonial black republic), due to the slave revolt so all of its white population left and fled to Louisiana and Cuba (which the ones in Cuba ended up in Louisiana after Spain and France had agreement, Spain kicked them out of Cuba and they went to Louisiana). So probably half the people of “Haitian” descent (it’s really St. Domingue descendants, they fled St. Domingue before it became Haiti) in Louisiana are white while the other half are either black or mixed race. But no one ever gives that one any thought and they automatically assume all of the “Haitian” (actually St. Domingue) descendants in the New Orleans area of Louisiana are black or mixed race because that’s what Haiti is made up of today..,but colonial Haiti (St. Domingue) was multicultural and there were whites, blacks and mixed race. That’s an interesting fact no one ever mentions. Louisiana’s St. Domingue descendants their ancestors never stepped foot in the post-colonial black republic of Haiti, that was formed after they left the island. So the French cultured population of Louisiana today mainly exists in the south of the state (except for certain areas in the north of the state) and is composed of descendants of the French from France, Acadian French from Acadie (present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada), Québécois (during early settlement of Louisiana, some early settlers were Québécois while others were French from France) as well as white St. Domingans (French colonial Haiti), mixed race St. Domingans, black St. Domingans, French speaking black slaves of Louisiana and Native American Indians that traded with the early French and picked up the French language. A very small minority were whites, blacks and mixed race from Martinique. French background Louisianians can be any of these or any mixture of these.

[@IslenoGutierrez]

John Simard I’m not confused, I’m born and raised in south Louisiana. I never said Cajuns are Caribbean Creoles, I said they are Louisiana Creoles and so were the Louisiana born children of the Québécois that settled in early Louisiana. Creole in Louisiana means to be colonial descent and the colonial population used it to mean born in Louisiana, regardless of race.

[@elbrouse1]

Next,please do the same for Haitian people:Preserving Haitian people's language!

[@salomonavilapelayo9031]

Je suis descendante française par part de ma mère. Seulement qui mon famille c’est du Mexique. Une grande salutation pour toutes les personnes dans Louisiana et la France.

[@salomonavilapelayo9031]

@TRTWorId . Salut à vous. Mon français n’est pas le meilleur, mais je sais la importance de avoir sang française en moi et en touts nous. Un grand salutaire à toi.

[@LazierSophie]

Not te preocupes! Tu francés es comprensible. Sigue estudiando el francés! No dejes de estudiarlo! Saludos de un francés de origen peruano (e italiano).

[@salomonavilapelayo9031]

@@LazierSophie Muchas gracias. Espero que así sea. Gracias por la motivación y un cordial abrazo hasta el Perú. 🇫🇷 🇵🇪 🇲🇽

[@lallali2249]

@@salomonavilapelayo9031 you wish te Miras muy mexa

[@salomonavilapelayo9031]

@@lallali2249 took a dna test, and it confirmed it.

[@lalaloopsley4376]

The language of my people was stripped from us, unfortunately my mother was of the generation that if they spoke their "bastardized" French they were chastised and outcast. As a result they allowed themselves to be acclimated to English as they were taught. Today I am learning our language (whilst helping her to remember) and I strive to pass it on to my children so that they can remember where they came from.

[@CDNSMOKEJUMPER]

Acadian checking in, some of us escaped the Brits. Nice to see my cousins to the South holding fast.

[@lilianmcleod7099]

I love their pronunciation of the R. It’s neither French nor American. Fascinating.

[@gobanito]

Rolling "R' was much more common in old French.

[@m.a.118]

It's Canadian. Acadian, Franco-Ontarian, and Quebec dialects do this. Especially the older generations and rural areas.

[@Abebe345]

It must be an older French as immigrants often preserve the customs of their culture at the time their ancestors left

[@janvierprado8876]

@@gobanito "Old French". No , 40 years ago ( barely ) in France ( and a little now).

[@flirtinggracefullplatypus8496]

le français cajun est basé sur les parlés français de l'ouest de la France au 17ème siècle.

[@ScarsUnseen24]

I'm moving to southern Louisiana soon. Definitely gonna learn some French!

[@AlyssaQ420]

I love that they're preserving their Cajun roots and keeping the French language alive. "I believe language is the most important, because without it we have nothing" - As a native English speaker who's learning Esperanto and Latin American Spanish, I wholeheartedly agree.

[@c.e.richard7855]

Thank you for this story. Our French heritage is very precious to us.

[@ferriscemila8912]

Forcing your "superiour" language on millions of Africans is truly precious indeed

[@guillaumechevallier2545]

Lol pal the British did the same with almost 50% of the globe : British Raj (India + Pakistan + Bangladesh), Australia, New Zeland, South Africa, Nigeria, 30% of Africa, thousands of Islands, USA, Canada, Middle East, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, pacific islands, half of the Caribbean...etc and even more Oh and btw the biggest "French" speaking country in Africa is Democratic Republic of the Congo... And it wasn't colonized by the French but by Belgium@@ferriscemila8912

[@davidchristensen6908]

This is the best part of being an American. These folks and the people that live in the “hills” and other groups that have come to the USA and have kept or combined old languages with English they come with different dress sometimes and different foods. I love the fact we have all these different communities across our land. I hope they can keep their traditions and language up. It is harder and harder over time.

[@mojomike]

Yeah we have something similar in Texas with German and Czech communities losing their language and identity - lots of Cajuns in East Texas too

[@judyhosey4060]

Should be speaking both languages, English of the America that you're in and French of the heritage that flows through your veins. Be Proud of Both. I love Louisiana. ! One day I hope I get to return. !

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Cajuns and Appalachian hillbillys are the nicest people on earth. I'm from Kentucky hill country and always loved visiting Cajun country. We speak a lot differently but our kindness is the same 👍

[@JohnnyRebKy]

@@trashdotcom753 yea I don't really consider Louisville as " the south" either lol. You don't get into Kentucky until about 30 miles south of Louisville 😂. I'm down on the KY TN state line between bowling green and Nashville

[@Goldenstu]

Im hispanic from Texas, going to high school my peers would all flock to a Spanish class, thet said it was an easy credit since they knew the language, I was perplexed, of all the students in my French class I was the only Mexican, I love the language however I did not keep up with it,I would love to be fluent in French as Im fluent in Spanish and English 😃

[@leaftie2756]

I only speak English and I would've loooooooooooooooved to have learned another language in my upbringing. Speaking another language is like entering another world.

[@DNA350ppm]

Do start immediately - in some ways learning is easier as a child, in other ways grown-up experience is so very helpful when learning even in old age! Let your dream come true and no regrets! :-) You can do it!

[@castingemail740]

Trust me u dnt

[@DNA350ppm]

@@castingemail740 Rather trust me, because I have more positive experience in this field. Learning a language is more important than speaking it without an accent, people who believe accent is the hallmark of language learning are ignorant. If you don't have dementia, you can still learn a lot, but not in a child's way, but in an adult way. Find the right teacher!

[@DNA350ppm]

@Truth Is Eternal The key to learn a lot of French and being happy about it, is simply: never speak with a Parisian. :-D Perfection is not the reason to learn any language, it is actually all about communication, establishing contact, understanding, sharing - that's all possible without perfect grammar or perfect accent-free pronunciation. In the above little message, the following French loanwords were already included: message, simple, perfection, reason, language, actual, communication, establish, contact, possible, grammar, accent, pronuncation, message, include. Just start using French phrases here and there in your everyday speach! You will succeed, without doubt! Vous réussirez, sans doute!

[@DNA350ppm]

@American Freedom World Peace it is never too late to get started - reproaches are not at all helpful - there's nothing unamerican in minority-languages being upheld, remember it is the United States - not the Dictatorships of America. Promote bilingualism in all realms !

[@d3j051]

I grew up in south Louisiana and it makes me sad that they never allowed French to be spoken while I went to school as a child, we would have all benefitted tremendously if they had just taught both English and French. I did know a few Cajuns like Jourdan that were Cajun through and through and what a nice culture that we need to keep alive.

[@jaysim3253]

I'm from southeast Texas but like most people in this area we have a lot of connection with southern Louisiana. My family is originally from Jeanerette, not too far from Lafayette. My grandfather's original language was Louisiana creole, like the Cajuns they were pretty much forced to speak English instead of French. The culture still runs deep in the music, cuisine, etc but the old time speakers of creole and cajun are dying out, it's refreshing to see a sort of revival in people wanting to learn the language.