I'm 35 and grew up between Iberville and WBR parish. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and mom always used the phrase "ta ta" when speaking to babies or toddlers. For example, if a child had a trinket they shouldn't be playing with you might hear: "Ta ta to maw maw, cher."
We also used "make do do" to tell our babies to go to sleep.
Another one that I have heard is rooted in Cajun culture is "noonie" used for a child's pacifier.
And us girls were often told that we looked like a chaoui (pronounced SHAH wee) if we didn't comb our hair.
Then there was that uncle of mine who was always accused of being, "Cootered up." That meant he was very intoxicated. I believe the root of that saying is from another saying, "drunker than Cooter Brown."
We went rôdering (ro-day). That meant to run the roads.
"C'est sa Couillon" meant that you were being dumb.
"C'est la paille et la poutre" was the equivalent of "ain't that the pot calling the kettle black."
My grandmother also used to sing a song to all of her grandbabies that went something like this, "Teet ta ta la la tee. Teet ta ta la la tee. Teet ta ta la la tee. Teet ta teet ta ta la la." I have no idea what it means of if it is right but I remember her, my mom, and my aunts singing that to us as babies.
I'm desperately trying to remember more. I only wish I had paid more attention. It's funny how the things you care about most as an adult are the things you completely overlooked as a child. :)
Amy Bayliss
AmyBayliss.com
