Action Cadienne
Encyclopedia
Action Cadienne founded in April 1996, is a non-profit organization in the United States
whose purpose is to preserve, promote and defend the French language
, francophonie and the Acadian or Cadien (Cajun
) culture within the state of Louisiana
.
of the Cadien people. The French language has been, and continues to be, an essential element of Louisiana culture in spite of its oppression during the last fifty years."
where Cajuns predominate.
"French immersion is the only truly effective means of teaching the language. Immersion programs are not only cost effective, but have proven to be good education: French immersion
students have scored in the top 20% on battery exams in general subjects in English! The benefits to the culture generally, and to the tourist economy in particular, are too obvious to enumerate. Suffice it to say that a new generation of Cadien children speaking the language of their ancestors is the hope of the Cadien people and a resource which the people of Louisiana cannot afford to lose."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
whose purpose is to preserve, promote and defend the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, francophonie and the Acadian or Cadien (Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
) culture within the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Manifesto
"We believe strongly that our identity as well as our heritage, is fundamentally linked to the French language, and our primary mission is to promote the language itself, and to gain recognition of the linguistic rightsLinguistic rights
Linguistic rights are the human and civil rights concerning the individual and collective right to choose the language or languages for communication in a private or public atmosphere...
of the Cadien people. The French language has been, and continues to be, an essential element of Louisiana culture in spite of its oppression during the last fifty years."
French immersion
Action Cadienne advocates state funded French immersion courses, especially within the Parishes of AcadianaAcadiana
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate...
where Cajuns predominate.
"French immersion is the only truly effective means of teaching the language. Immersion programs are not only cost effective, but have proven to be good education: French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
students have scored in the top 20% on battery exams in general subjects in English! The benefits to the culture generally, and to the tourist economy in particular, are too obvious to enumerate. Suffice it to say that a new generation of Cadien children speaking the language of their ancestors is the hope of the Cadien people and a resource which the people of Louisiana cannot afford to lose."
See also
- List of Cajuns
- French LouisianaFrench LouisianaThe term French Louisiana refers to two distinct regions:* first, to colonial French Louisiana, comprising the massive, middle section of North America claimed by France; and,...
- List of Louisiana parishes by French-speaking population
- French Canadians
- QuebecQuebecQuebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
- Zachary RichardZachary RichardZachary Richard is a Cajun singer/songwriter and poet. His music is an innovative combination of Cajun and Zydeco musical styles.-Biography:...
- CODOFIL
- French in the United StatesFrench in the United StatesThe French language is spoken as a minority language in the United States. According to year 2000 census figures, 1.6 million Americans over the age of five speak the language at home; making French the fourth most-spoken language in the country behind English, Spanish, and Chinese...
- Language revivalLanguage revivalLanguage revitalization, language revival or reversing language shift is the attempt by interested parties, including individuals, cultural or community groups, governments, or political authorities, to reverse the decline of a language. If the decline is severe, the language may be endangered,...
- List of Louisiana parishes by French-speaking population