Learn the Cajun Accent

(72.4MB, 72 minutes) 2011 Edition

This download includes a written examination to learn the Cajun accent, and the following sound files featuring Accent Help coach Jim Johnson:

Play Audio Sample:

1. Introduction to Sound Placement, Intonation, and Helpful Hints (9:15)
2. Consonant sound changes for learning a Cajun accent (16:26)
3. Vowel sound changes in a Cajun accent (7:42)
4. changes to Diphthongs for a Cajun accent (4:13)
5. Alternate Pronunciations of Cajun words (1:33)
6. Wrap up to learn a Cajun accent (2:28)
7. Lafayette Louisiana Male conversation (6:21)
8. Henderson / Breaux Bridge Louisiana Female reading (:59)
9.   + her conversation (1:55)
10. Carencro / Breaux Bridge Louisiana Male reading (1:44)
11.  + his conversation (3:08)
12.  + discussion of Cajun accents (1:33)
13. Eunice Louisiana Female reading (:58)
14.  + her conversation (1:10)
15. Lafayette Louisiana Female conversation (3:46)
16. Lafayette Male conversation (heavier Cajun French) (3:36)
17. Abbeville Louisiana Female conversation (very heavy Cajun French) (6:10)

Cajun speakers are concentrated in southern Louisiana and into southeast Texas, though their origins are in southeast Canada, otherwise known as "Acadia."  When the Acadians were forced out of the areas in and around Nova Scotia, many of them settled in southern Louisiana swampland because the land was largely unclaimed or unwanted, and because they knew how to live in coastal marshland.  They had a large influence on the New Orleans accent, and there are elements of West Louisiana & East Texas accents that are present in many Cajun speakers.  Notice that there are a couple of heavily French-influenced speakers included.  Cajun French is a carryover from French Canadian speakers, but it's very similar to the influence the Parisian French accent has on English speakers.

Cajun is considered largely non-rhotic, meaning that R's after vowel sounds are dropped, much like many British accents, such as Standard British/Received Pronunciation, London Cockney and modern Estuary, Welsh, and northern accents.  There are many other American accents that are also non-rhotic, such as varieties of the American Southern accent and many accents of New England, such as the accents in and near New York City, urban accents of Boston, and the "Downeast" Maine accent.

Though these sound files have been remastered to reduce background noise, most of these recordings are made "in the field" so you will hear such things as birds, cars or other people in the background.  A transcription of the conversations is included to help you follow along.   This download also contains four versions of the written materials:  A printer-friendly pdf, a pdf that is in a larger format for use on a portable reading device, and both mobi and epub editions for other portable readers.