Talk:Coonass

Citation Needed

What 1980s lawsuit? In what manner did the federal government recognize this ethnic group? I cannot find any connecting information. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.242.176.178 (talk) 14:05, 6 October 2008 (UTC)

Citation Added

Citation has been added for Nick Saban's remark regarding coonass. Kcuello (talk) 19:46, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

On "Coonass" Etymology & Translation of "Connasse"

I reinstated Domengeaux's translation of "connasse" because his translation ("stupid person," "prostitute without health papers" [i.e., dirty prostitute]) has been often cited by others over the years, including Louisiana state legislators when condemning the word in their concurrent resolution. This may not be, however, the correct or most correct translation of "connasse," but historically it is the most cited in reference to this subject. --Skb8721 15:15, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

I put forth a slightly different view on this word, I grew up with it, it is not offensive to me. But I also grew up with the terms Cajun, Creole in use often, an have a different values placed on them than others.

 Cajun born of white (French or Spanish) 
 Creole born of black (normally French or islanders)
 Coonass those of us that were not pure Cajun or Creole, ie, Louisiana Rednecks and such.

I take it as a badge of pride, not a putdown; I much prefer to be referred to as a coonass than as a redneck.

 But take that as you may, if you want to be insulted, first you have to be insecure in your own self-worth, and as most Cajun’s, Creole’s and coonass will tell you, they know who they are, who are you.
 I hope I didn't insult anyone's sensitivities with this but I think a counterpoint was necessary.

From:

 A Southern Man that served his country with pride.

Born of a coonass mother who was of cajun descent. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.151.13.10 (talk) 13:28, 30 June 2008 (UTC)

On the Offensiveness of "Coonass"

Someone added a line to the "coonass" article reading:

It is important to note that "coonass" is in no way offensive to Cajuns and is in fact considered a badge of honor by those who wear it.

However, this is untrue: While some Cajuns do not find the word offensive, many do indeed find it offensive.

Therefore, I have revised the statement in question to reflect a more balanced view -- some find it offensive, some do not. --Skb8721 02:44, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

What about the ones who find coonass polite and cajun offensive? Richard David Ramsey 05:50, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

"Connasse" versus "Connaisse"

An anonymous editor recently altered the article to assert that Cajun activist Jimmy Domengeaux claimed that "coonass" came not from the standard French "connasse" (dirty prostitute) but from "connaisse" (the knowing).

This is incorrect, however, as Domengeaux never made such a claim; he always focused on the word "connasse" as the origin of "coonass," and he defined this word as meaning "dirty prostitute."

It was Domengeaux's alleged word origin and translation of "connasse" as "dirty prostitute" that the state of Louisiana codified in the early 1980s when it condemned the use of the word coonass per concurrent resolution.

However: If the "connaisse" etymology is indeed a valid one (i.e., if the unidentified editor who added it can cite a source for this word origin), I suggest adding it to the paragraph preceding the one about Domengeaux's word origin, where other alleged word origins are discussed (such as "coonass" deriving from Cajuns wearing coonskin hats, etc.).

Thanks,

--Skb8721 14:30, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

Conasse

I believe the below passage, recently added to the article, contains too much speculation; in addition, there is no source for this information and appears to be the contributor's own research and feelings on the matter.

According to the French Wikitionary "conasse" enterted the French language at the beginning of the 18th century and the term pejoratively indicates the vulva to designate a stupid person. The closest translation in English would be "stupid cunt." It is thus probable that "connasse" was already in the Cajun vernacular when the Cajun people were expelled from Canada and relocated to Louisiana. "Conasse" most probably morphed into "Coonass" over the centuries as English was introduced to the French speaking community.

I suggest this passage be deleted.

--Skb8721 (talk) 16:23, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

The article is chock-full of weasel words and uncited quotes and allegations. I've tagged it, and will clean it up soon if the references don't improve. -- Mikeblas (talk) 22:13, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

I have added citations for most of the information. In the main text I have added them by paragraph, rather than by sentence, to avoid a glut of citations (since they are all from the same source). I deleted one sentence that someone else added some time ago (the "coonass" = "Cajun redneck" claim), but for which I know of no source. --Skb8721 (talk) 23:25, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

• Being from the New Orleans area, there's also another interpretation of the word "coonass", which I believe may be stretching a point just a bit. However, someone from the River Road area once told me it meant that the white overseer wanted to have sex with a black female slave. Back in those days African Americans were called "coons". So, therefore, the overseer wanted some "coon" ass. However, the term has now come to mean anyone born "on the bayou" with Acadian French roots. --Martygraw (talk) 17:06, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

"Cajunes"

Prior to 2008 July 16 at 23h20 CDT the section on Etymology ended with these two paragraphs:

Another explanation involves Louisiana's history of ownership by the French and later the Spanish and then the French again. As acadian became corrupted to cajun, a Spanish pronunciation based on the spelling as cajunes (with the "j" pronounced similarly to English "h") yielded an English approximation as coonass.

The origin of "coonass" remains uncertain. A possibility exists that two or more causative factors may have been mutually reinforcing in fostering the term coonass.

I removed the cajunes (filtering through Spanish to English) explanation until it can be authenticated by reputable documentation. Richard David Ramsey 04:25, 17 July 2008 (UTC)

Offensivness of Coonass

Coonass is offensive to Cajuns however depending on their economic/social class they may take the word coonass in different ways. Those higher up in the economic/social class find it to be the most offensive word they could be called. However, those not as high up in the social ladder use the word as a badge of honor and do not mind being called a coonass. They even refer to each other and themselves as a coonass. Nonetheless, one must always be careful when they say coonass because you never know who you might offend.