The Sociolinguistic Situation of Creoles in South Louisiana: Identity, Characteristics, Attitudes
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 2000 The oS ciolinguistic Situation of Creoles in South Louisiana: Identity, Characteristics, Attitudes. Megan Elizabeth Melancon Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Melancon, Megan Elizabeth, "The ocS iolinguistic Situation of Creoles in South Louisiana: Identity, Characteristics, Attitudes." (2000). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 7283. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/7283 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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THE SOCIOLINGUISTIC SITUATION OF CREOLES IN SOUTH LOUISIANA: IDENTITY, CHARACTERISTICS, A T T IT U D E S A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty o f the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment o f the requirements for the degree o f Doctor o f Philosophy in The Interdepartmental Program in Linguistics by Megan Elizabeth Melancon B.A., Louisiana State University, I98S M.A., Louisiana State University, 1990 M .A ., University o f Kansas, 1995 August, 2000 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 9984351 Copyright 2000 by Melancon, Megan Elizabeth All rights reserved. UMI* UMI Microform 9984351 Copyright 2000 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. OCopyright 2000 Megan Elizabeth Melancon All rights reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. D E D IC A T IO N This adventure would not have been possible without the love and support o f my husband, Stephen Roger Parrish, my parents, Eria Faye and Lolan, and my siblings, Tammy, Marcy and Michael. Thank you all. in Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS One should never begin a project the magnitude o f a dissertation without projecting the cost involved: emotional, spiritual, physical, monetary. But then one rarely appreciates how much o f all o f those attributes will be required to finish a dissertation. More important than all o f these, though, are the people which support and help in the undertaking. In my case, Dr. Sylvie Dubois has been the major driving force o f this project. It truly would not have been possible without her inspiration, her dedication, and her continual guidance. The best test o f a teacher is that she be able to put theory into practice. Sylvie has achieved this and more, and, in the process, has aided and abetted the survival and renaissance o f the Cajun and Creole communities in South Louisiana. Dr. Hugh Buckingham has provided support in the form o f critical feedback, laughter, and liquid refreshment. Dr. Jill Brody has been both a rock and a shoulder to cry on at will, and the enthusiasm and energy o f Dr. Janna Oetting has contributed greatly to the success o f this venture. Thank you all. Other people who have made this research possible are Dr. Stuart Stewart, Steve Bell, Richard Hallett, and Joke Mondada - without their e-mails, telephone calls, visits, and cards, I would never have survived. Abby, Rebel, and Rosco Parrish deserve special mention in the category o f non-human assistance and stress release. To those with whom I have interacted in the Cajun/Creole fields at conferences and elsewhere, keep up the good work. Becky Brown, Rocky Sexton, Jane Smith, and Tom Klingler were particularly encouraging, and I appreciate all o f you. The support o f my husband, my family, and my family-in-law has been unfailing and indefatigable. The monetary support iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. o f the Interdepartmental Program in Linguistics at Louisiana State University and a grant from the South Central Modem Language Association were greatly appreciated. In addition, and most importantly, grateful appreciation goes out to the people in the two communities which were investigated. They opened themselves up to total strangers and gave o f themselves, and none o f this would have occurred i f it had not been for that. It is hoped that the results o f this research can be used to the betterment o f the Louisiana Creole French community. v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.. ....................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ ix ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ I 1.1 Overview .......................................................................................................1 1.2 Theoretical Basis o f the Study .................................................................... 3 1.3 Clarification of Terms................................................................................... 5 1.4 Organization o f the Chapters .......................................................................9 CHAPTER 2. CREOLE FRENCH ID EN TITY ..........................................................11 2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................11 2 .2 Historical Background o f the Louisiana Creole French Community 16 2.2.1 Native to Louisiana/French Ownership ....................................... 16 2.2.2 French Louisiana Identity/Spanish Possession............................. 18 2.2.3 American Reign/Anglicization ......................................................20 2.3 Modern-Day Situation o f the Louisiana Creole French Community 30 2.4 Current Situation o f the Louisiana Creole French Community .................. 35 2.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................. 37 CHAPTER 3. LOUISIANA CREOLE FRENCH LITERATURE REVIEW .... 39 3.1 Overview .................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Early Studies (Pre-1960) ......................................................................... 40 3.3 Post 1960 Research ....................................................................................47 3.3.1 Genesis Studies ............................................................................. 47 3.3.2 Descriptive Studies ....................................................................... 54 3.3.3 Continuum Studies ....................................................................... 60 3.4 Discussion and Conclusions....................................................................... 68 CHAPTER 4. SOCIOLINGUISTIC LITERATURE REVIEW/GOALS AND HYPOTHESES ................................................................................................... 72 4.1 Sociolinguistic Literature R eview ..............................................................