Sunday, April 12, 2015

35 (D-27) Houma, the city and the Native American people

Louisiana is the French, the Spanish, the British, the Africans, the Acadiens, the Haitians, the Germans and the Native Americans

Houma was founded by European Americans in 1834 at a former settlement of the Houma people who historically occupied this area. The town was named for them.

The Houma people are a historic Native American tribe.  Their descendants are called the United Houma Nation with about 17,000 tribal citizens today, living in six parishes: St Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquesmines and St Bernard parishes. http://geology.com/state-map/louisiana.shtml

The city of Houma, which means "red", is named after this people.

By the end of the 19th century, the Houmas had developed a creole language based on the French language of the former French colony.  The Houma-French language which the Houma people speak today is a mix between the French spoken by early explorers and Houma words.  However, Houma-French language is still a French language because it can be understood by French speakers from Canada, France or Louisiana.  There are some differences in vocabulary, for example, "chevrette" (shrimp).  The accent of the Houma Nation French-speaker is comparable to the difference between an English-speaker from the United States and an English-speaker from England.

Maybe we'll see if this wikipedia information is correct, should we have the opportunity to speak with someone from the Houma Nation when we are in Houma.


Jane, the English teacher...even during the holidays
_________________________________________________________
-should we have the opportunity = if we have the opportunity /  if there is a possibility of having the opportunity
http://www.grammaring.com/conditionals-and-inversion 
This is advanced English grammar..."If we have the opportunity" is perfectly fine.
"Should" is a nightmare for English-learners.  If you want to a little grammar revision during the holidays....or "Should you feel like doing some revision"...-->  https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modal-should.htm

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