I believe quite some time ago twistedchick posted a link which discussed the term "shuck and jive", where street sellers would sit shucking oysters for customers on the spot in places like NOLA. Shucking was scooping oysters out with a knife, and jive was talking to the customers while you did the shucking for them. The impression I've gathered is that historically Creole didn't get a lot of respect on its home turf, because it's still a touchy subject for folks who play Cajun and zydeco music, for instance. Up until the late sixties or early seventies or so, I understand that kids were actively punished for speaking Creole French in schools in the Southern states (Cajun/Creole, as distinguished from other types of pidgins/creoles, such as African or Caribbean ones.) I understand there's a unique language inthe Carolinas too (I'm blanking on the name of it, though.) There's a greater respect for native languages and more academic interest in creoles now, but it still doesn't get any respect in business and states out here do not treat it as another language in the bilingual sense here on the West Coast--never mind that we have a lot of Katrina refugees out here. Ebonics as an idea gets ridiculed outright by ring-wing commentators in the media too.
no subject
Date: 31 Jan 2011 12:23 am (UTC)The impression I've gathered is that historically Creole didn't get a lot of respect on its home turf, because it's still a touchy subject for folks who play Cajun and zydeco music, for instance. Up until the late sixties or early seventies or so, I understand that kids were actively punished for speaking Creole French in schools in the Southern states (Cajun/Creole, as distinguished from other types of pidgins/creoles, such as African or Caribbean ones.) I understand there's a unique language inthe Carolinas too (I'm blanking on the name of it, though.) There's a greater respect for native languages and more academic interest in creoles now, but it still doesn't get any respect in business and states out here do not treat it as another language in the bilingual sense here on the West Coast--never mind that we have a lot of Katrina refugees out here. Ebonics as an idea gets ridiculed outright by ring-wing commentators in the media too.