“Lâche pas la patate”: French Language Cultures in Louisiana

Abstract

Entrepreneur Jennifer Ledet (2011) describes the resiliency represented in the old Louisiana French adage "Lâche pas la patate" (Don't drop the potato), or as she translates it "'Hang in there!' or 'Finish strong!'"1 The idea of perseverance under seemingly impossible conditions has resonated throughout Louisiana for centuries through challenges including social and economic upheaval, floods and hurricanes as well as man-made environmental disasters such as oil spills. This text will sketch out a few details about the development of French cultures and language in Louisiana, featuring the 20th-century schism between what has been called "Cajun" and "Creole," and, finally, the possibilities entailed in the narrative of Louisiana Créolité, which problematizes several periphery / center binaries.