La Langue Acadienne/ The Acadian Language
It is important to note that when the Acadians came to North America in the early 17th century, they came from a country that did not have a standardized language. Depending on the area of France they came from, would determine their dialect, or “patois” as known by the French. Most of the Acadians originated from the western part of France, mostly from Poitou-Charentes, therefore, their patois mainly originates from that region.
It was grammatically accepted/correct to say the following:
“J’irogne ce soir”–”Nous irons ce soir”–We will go this evening/tonight
”J’aurogne de la misère avec ça”–”Nous aurons de la misère avec celà”–We will have problems with that.
Those examples combine the 1st person singular with the 1st person plural and that was accepted grammar of the day and known as ”la langue de l’époque”, or the language of the time period. It is akin to speaking Shakespearean English today. Example: ”Do as thou willst”.
Another point to consider:
The Acadians had very little, or nothing, in the way of the written language and formal education being far removed from their Mother Country. Therefore, their language did not evolve, but was “frozen in time”. The entire Industrial Revolution information did not come to them in French, but at that time the new vocabulary came to them in English. Results: “car”, became “le car”; “truck”, “le truck”, etc. Now, they not only spoke an “old French”, they also spoke a “franglais”, a mix of French and English.
Summary: We should not be ashamed of the language we speak/spoke, but appreciate it, understand it and know its roots. It takes very little to adapt what we grew up with to a “Français standard”, or ”Standard French”.
Des mots et des expressions utilisés par les Acadiens de la région de Tor Baie. (Words and expressions used by Tor Bay area Acadians)
Ici vous trouverez des mots et des expressions qui furent utilisés par nos ancêtres et par nous, les aînés de cette région. On va essayer de vous donner,
- l’orthographe phonétique,
- une expression moderne, et
- une traduction. (Here you will find words and expressions that were used by our ancestors and by us, the elders of this region. We will try to provide you with a phonetic spelling and a modern french word, as well as an English translation.)
Les fêtes (feasts)
- le jour de l’an–New Year’s Day
- le carême–lent
- la mi-carême–mid-lenten reprieve from self-imposed sacrifice and sombre moods.
- Pâques–Easter
- la fête de l’Assomption- le 15 août–National Feast Day of Acadians
- Action de Grâces–Thanksgiving Day
- Jour de Souvenir–Remembrance Day
- la veille de Noël–Christmas Eve
- Noël–Christmas Day
L’église/religion:
J’va payer mes jims. —Je vais payer mes dîmes. —-I am going to pay for my church pew/dues —Dîmes–Tenth/Tithe–an old Catholic Church practice. This was a New Year’s Day event where church pews were auctioned off.
Les jouets – toys
des trics-à-tracs—a single wheel attached at the end of a long handle. This simple toy (jouet) would be pushed and guided by a child as he/she walked, or ran, about the village.
des brise-pognes—–des brise-ponts—-door-step breakers/small wooden carts
”Des pognes” were raised platforms allowing people to cross over from one point to another. Therefore, it was the word used for both a bridge, or a door step. The oral story has it that a local elder, Peter Joe Petitpas, lived at the base of a steep hill named after his wife, Madeleine, and became known as ”la butte à Madeleine”. This hill was a popular community sledding spot, and as such caused many headaches to its foothill residents for many ”sledders” would strike and often break their ”pogne”. They were undoubtedly happy when the sledding season ended providing them with a reprieve from their constant winter ”pogne ” repairs. However, two young locals invented a ”bare land” cart, consisting of a wooden base sitting on 4 wooden wheels and a pivoting front axle. This invention was possibly a modest take of Henry Ford’s Model T and permitted youngsters to once more frequent ”la butte à Madeleine” for summer-time adrenaline rides down its steep slopes. For Peter Joe, this meant more step repairs prompting him to coin the expression and name for this new step-breaker when he said, ”Dis-moi pas– un autre maugit brise-pogne”. (Don’t tell me–another darn step breaker!) Thus the name attached itself to this new toy invention which evolved over time as better materials became available. Gordon and Mary Pellerin live on that site today without the menacing winter sledders and summer time brise-pognes riders.
les graines–les baies– berries:
- des belvets–des bluets–blueberries
- des poummes de pré–des canneberges–cranberries
- des blekbières–bakeapples
- des birries–des baies de renard–foxberries
- des grisettes (des baies grises)–spice berries (grey in colour)
- des griselles (vertes)–goose berries (green)
générale – general
- la vase–la boue–mud
- à kechagne–chaussures au mauvais pieds–footwear on wrong feet
- immanquable—à ne pas manquer–bien sûr–of course
- tchuque amancheur—quelque chose–something
- tchuque-affaire–quelque chose–something
- quoi s’ tchu ramanches—de quoi est-ce que tu parles–What are you talking about?
- se mettre marabouque—s’opposer et refuser tout–in a mood–refuses to do anything
- se greyer—se préparer/s’habiller–to prepare/get ready/get dressed
- radotter—parler incessablement–non-stop chattering/nagging
- baronker-ne pas arrêter de faire des remarques-to natter
- le caqouette—l’arrière du cou–the back of the neck
- se brequer—se mettre au contraire, ou se mettre sur tâche, ou partir–get in a mood/or get on task/ or start out
- du michcoui (maschoui)–l’écorce de bouleau (mot de racine Mi’kmaq)–birch bark
- des caspines pi des cobblers—des poisons vautours du fond–bottom fish vultures found around fish wharves
- des barli cakkos–pervenches–periwinkles
- se ponner—se battre–to fight
- le rapic—le sommet de montagnes–mountain/steep hill peak
- une bourne aux angies—une cage/étrape à anguille–eel trap
- fouinner des angies–harponner/lancer des anguilles–harpoon, or spear eels (done through ice holes)
- gaboter—voyager d’une place à l’autre au long de la mer–to travel about from place to place along the coast
- bazir—disparaître–to disappear
- suir—suivre–to follow
- témbé—tomber–to fall
- debouler—tomber–to fall
- grouiller—faire du mouvement–to move/movements
- faraud—être fier de soit même–to be proud of oneself
- fringuer—faire une danse de plaisir/sauter en plaisir–to prance about expressing pleasure
- amieler—attirer les autres à soit (surtout amoureusement)– sweet talk to attract someone to you
- atchiner—irriter les autres–to tease
- ashiner–ennuyer–to bore/annoy
- pigouiller—irriter les autres–to pick at and to irritate
- achaler—être tourmenté/ennuyé–to torment and annoy
- jongler—réflêchir–to reflect, or think
- tais-toi—ferme-la (bouche)–shut up
- ferme ta jholle!–ferme ta geule/ferme la–shut up!
- broyer—pleurer–to cry
- donter—rendre docile–to tame
- tapper—frapper–to hit, or strike
- carnage—du bruit fort–loud noise
- inquemode—ce qui dérange/rendre difficile–inconvenient
- en frais de–entrain de–in the process of/in the midst of
- frupper–lécher les lèvres–to lick one’s lips
- baronquer–parler continuellement–to natter/senseless talk
- charmer–venir proche/près de–to come close/almost
- tarzer–empêcher le progrès–to hold up progress
- embourrer–envelopper/couvrir un objet–to cover an object
- haler–tirer quelque chose–to pull something
- mouillasser–pleuvieux–rainy/drizzle
- subler–siffler–to whistle
- racmodder–réparer surtout les bas de laine–to repair holes in socks with yarn
- bardasser–gaspiller–to waste
- arrocher–prendre quelque chose de quelqu’un involontairement–to take something away from someone involuntarily
- ahider–aider–to help
- pentchir–souffrir–to suffer
- le rappic–le sommet d’une montagne/colline–mountain/hill peak
- le grand plonge–une partie plate du chemin–a level road area located at the bottom of the Look-Off
- la butte du cercle–un butte/colline où se trouvait des petits bouleaux qui servaient à faire des cercles de barils–a hill where small birch trees were found that served as barrel hoops. Barrels were greatly used for storage and transportation of food items, ie., fish, berries, molasses, flour, sugar, etc. Situated between ”le grand plonge” and Larry’s Rive
- aurat–près de/proche–near/by
- caler–couler–to sink
- benaise–content–happy
- chaviré–bouleverser, ou une crise de nerfs–to upset, or have a nervous breakdown
- ça fait zire–cela est détestable–that is distasteful/repulsive
- ne fait pas d’arrime–ne fait pas d’allure–makes no sense
- des féaux–des fevres/des haricots–beans
- une petterasse–beaucoup/plusieurs/un grand nombre–much /many/a whole lot
- Je m’abouté pi….–j’ai pris mes forces et…I gathered my strength and decided to/did…
- un buyau-un rondin/une bûche–a log
- la butte des mures—une colline où se trouve des baies mures en abondance–the side of a hill where ripe berries are found in abundance
- un canot rogne—un bateau qui sert à la fois comme bateau à rames, à la fois comme chaloupe–a round bottom boat that adapts as a rowboat, or small sail boat (a Basque design)
- un rein à maquereaux—un filet à maquereaux–mackeral net
- une bourne aux angilles—une cage à anguilles–eel trap
- le guernier de chusine—la chambre au dessus de la cuisine–kitchen loft
- des madwesses (mot Mi’Kmaq)—des porc-à-pics–porcupine
- des pouchines—des pâtes–dough-boys
- des pochognes—des barils–storage barrels
- s’émoyer–s’informer–to be informed
- virer–tourner–to turn
- larguer—laisser tomber–let fall
- gaboter—voyager d’une place à l’autre au long de la mer–going place to place along the coast
- carnage—du bruit fort–loud noise
- yucher/harler-crier-to yell
- fouiller–chercher intensivement–to do an intense search for a lost object, or information
- défichter–essayer interpreter de l’information fragmentée–to try to piece together fragmented information
- une claque–un homme tres docile–a sissy
- un pistolet de paille–???–quelque chose inutile????
- Il est tout agaré!—Il est tout excité!—He is all excited/wound up!
- Il a pas d’bourne!–Il est sans limite!–He does not know when to stop! (especially when eating)
- foutasie–gâter–to spoil (as in a child)
- une faux–une faux–a scythe
- une égouine–une scie à main–a hand saw
- des éclats–des petits bois d’allumage
- du sogne–sciure de bois–saw dust
- du coumant d’roches–du couvrement de roches–rockweed
- da boutarde–des algues–seaweed
- le pletin–les herbes qui poussent dans la boue d’une rivière–eel grass (grows in river mud)
- des calles de chaie–des fondations de quai–wharf cribs
- le cap de muroy–le cap de muraille/levée–a natural rock sea wall
- des cabaneaux–des cabanes abriteuses–shoreline shelter huts for fishing equipment storage, bait and repairs
- duette–manque d’endurance/ténacité–to lack toughness
- astar–à cette heure/à ce moment/maintenant–now
- J’irai te cri plus tard.–J’irai te chercher plus tard.–I will go to get you later.
- un petit brin–un petit peu–a little bit/very small amount
- C’est pas des affaires de bagatelles!– Ce n’est pas de petites choses!–It is no small thing!
- Il entend dur comme une haddeck!–Il est sourd comme un aiglefin.–He is as deaf as a haddock!
- des endroits–des sites nommés–places/sites with names
la butte des mûrs–une colline où se trouve des baies mûrs en abondance–a hill where ripened berries are found (more exposed to sun’s rays) - la look-off–belvédère–look-off with a clear view of Tor Bay
- le tchi basin–le petit basin–little basin (by the car bridge that crosses Larry’s River where kids swam)
- les etres montes–les entres-mons–a water system that runs between elevated areas–a series of still waters that empty into Larry’s River
- la hetarrière–un terrain de bois en arrière de la communauté–a grove, or woodland
les vêtements
- une collotte–une casquette–a cap
- un gilet–une veste–a jacket
- des souliers d’ chuire–des souliers de cuire–leather shoes/dress shoes
- un mouchwé–un fichu–a head kerchief
- des gagnes–des gants–gloves
- des carichteaux–des bottes de peaux–animal skin boots
- des chulottes–un pantalon–pants
la ferme
- des écoppeaux–des écoupeaux–wood chips
- des rips–des copeaux–wood shavings
- des éclats–petits bois d’allumage–kindling
- une égouine–une scie à main–a hand saw
- la bloc–la bloc à bois–chopping block
- d’ensagne de pruce–de la comme à mâcher d’épinette–spruce gum
- une laiche–un ver–a worm
- tet à poule–poulailler–hen coop
- l’air de la grange–une partie de la grange où on entre le foin–an area of the barn where hay is brought in/a thrashing space
- les cordeaux–les rênes–the reins
- tchirer les vaches–traire les vaches–to milk the cows
- une tirine de lait–une cuvette de lait–a large bowl container for milk
- le cliogne–la porte de clôture–the fence gate
- des lices de bouchures–les barres de clôture–fence poles
- des petaux–des poteaux–posts
- têter la vache–l’action d’un veau prenant du lait de sa mère–a calf drinking from his mother
- harser la terre–herser/gratter le sol–to harrow/to scrape to soil in preparation for seeding
- des choux-raves–des navets–turnips
la maison
- la couverture–le toit– the roof
- l’ambri–le mur– the wall
- la place–le plancher– the floor
- le guernier–le grenier– the upstairs
- les chassis–les fenêtres– the windows
- la paillasse–le matelas– the mattress
- le dorsoué–le buffet– the dresser/cabinet
- le fanal–la lanterne– the lantern
- la boucane–la fumée– smoke
- un barton–cendre– cinder/hot coal
- une chapine–une pinte–a pint
- le fourneau–le four–the oven
- un chedrogne–une marmite–a pot
- d’ensagne–de la gomme à mâcher–chewing gum
- d’ensagne de pruce–de la gomme à épinette–spruce gum
- d’ogagne–d’onguent-ointment
- l’essu mains–l’essuie mains–hand towel
- laver les plats–faire la vaisselle–wash/do dishes
- du butin/des hardes–des vêtements–clothing
- la feuille de chiau–la feuille de tuyau–length of stove pipe
- la cave–le sous-sol–the basement
- la ligne à harde–la ligne à linge–clothes line
- laver les hardes–faire la lessive–do a wash (clothes)
- pendrier les hardes–mettre la linge à sêcher sur la linge à linge–to dry/hang on the clothes line
- le rein à potates–un coffre de pommes de terre–a potato bin
- une bole de thé–une tasse de thé–a cup of tea
