As some people have mentioned before, the United States has had a history of making sure it's new immigrants "learn the language"--which is English.
Latinos, most of whom are newer immigrants, have a close tie to their language, and, because there are a lot of Latinos and Latino Americans in the United States, they are able to keep that history alive.
It hasn't been the same for other groups--that's to say, not in the way we think of when we think of Latinos speaking Spanish.
Unfortunately, a lot of Asians get this as well. Having an Asian last name always = "foreign".
La Petit Femme: You say you are MGM "Cajin.."? So you speak acadien?
Unfortunately, a lot of Asians get this as well. Having an Asian last name always = "foreign".
Same goes for French surnames as well. It was hard when France didn't jump into the war on terrorism. People can be very ugly sometimes. Some people even received crank calls saying go back to France, or you and your kind are cowards, we saved you during WWII, etc.
La Petit Femme: You say you are MGM "Cajin.."? So you speak acadien?
I understand Cajun French and French. My grandfather didn't want his children and grandchildren speaking Cajun due to the abuse he and siblings received. My dad knew some, so each generational knew less than the one before it. Many Creoles and Cajun families have the same problem, but there is a movement to correct the problem and reclaim the language, and hold on to the heritage.
What people do not understand about Cajun French vs. Standard French is that they are not two different languages, rather Cajun French is 18th century French, comparable to American English (elevator) and Queen's English (lift). Ex: in Standard French you would say la voiture for car, in Cajun French you would say le char. There's different vocabulary and pronounciation, but a Cajun could be understood by a Frenchman, and definitely by an Acadian.
My mom is not Cajun but she was raised around them, and married into the family--so family and friends say she's Cajun by marriage. But the neat thing about her is that she speaks Cajun English. The way she structures her sentences is cute.
Interesting stuff!!! Do you speak Cajun French, French and English equally?You learned French from...?
No, I'm by no means fluent in either Cajun French or Standard French. I think that's the problem. I end up code switching between Cajun and Standard and English. For language proficiency, I consider myself in the intermediate range or conversationalist. When I'm having a conversation in Standard French with someone who is a native I stumble and search for a word and a Cajun word may come out. Since I heard Cajun as a child and with my french speaking relatives passing away I can't speak fluently, but I can understand, and response accordingly. It's weird to explain.
I'm the same way with Spanish--I took Spanish (1 year in junior high, 2 years in high school; being rebellious against my dad who wanted me to take French) and I've lost the ability to speak it, but I can still understand some.
I learned my French from a friend who's a continuing education professor. She teaches classes, and she kept harassing me about joining because she knew I knew a little French--but she was cruel to me. She threw me in the advanced beginners' class. I didn't realize I knew as much as I did--like subconsciously. She does get mad at me because I won't listen to Radio France on the Web or watch TV5, but I will listen to Radio Canada on the Web. Canadian French rhythm of speech is closer to Cajun French.
Languages are like any other skill, practice makes perfect.
Famu wrote:
PS: Queen's English is not the same as Standard British English (written), which is what I think you meant.
I always get those confused. I know Queen's English is equivalent to Received Pronunciation--a pronunciation rather than a dialect; and that those who speak Queen's English normally speak Standard English, but the not vice versa. I think. Everybody, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
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I end up code switching between Cajun and Standard and English. For language proficiency, I consider myself in the intermediate range or conversationalist. When I'm having a conversation in Standard French with someone who is a native I stumble and search for a word and a Cajun word may come out. Since I heard Cajun as a child and with my french speaking relatives passing away I can't speak fluently, but I can understand, and response accordingly. It's weird to explain.