Talk:Coonass

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)

The French meaning of « connasse » is 'idiot', this form being feminine, the masculine version being « connard ». I don't understand where the idea in the article is coming from that this word means prostitute... it does not. http://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/connasse . Maybe they are confusing « connasse » with « putasse », which is a form of « pute », meaning prostitute. Also, « putain », the well know French (from France) exclamation (similar to saying Shit! in English) also means prostitute.

There is a mentioning of the french dictionary Larousse in the article but no link is given. This is a link to their website: http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais Any search on their site will show that « connasse » does not mean what it is referred to as meaning in this article. Also, French solider in WWII would not call a Cajun, male solider « connasse ». That is a feminine word, only a non-native French speaker (and a very novice level of french speaker) would confuse gender like that.

184.161.168.163 (talk) 01:08, 1 August 2012 (UTC) Mary

• These are interesting points that should be looked into. I think you have touched on some of the dubious qualities of the "conasse" theory, which increasingly few people take seriously as an explanation for the origin of the word "coonass." --Skb8721 (talk) 15:17, 2 August 2012 (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)

Someone seems very insistent about comparing "coonass" to the n-word - that the gravity of such a racial slur could be in any way applicable to an ethnicity of white people is inarguably racist, and certainly does not belong in the opening text when discussion of its offensiveness is more clearly discussed in class terminology further into the article. Without explanation, this edit seems like racist vandalism. There could be some further discussion about how some historical usage of "coonass" was possibly meant to place cajuns as inferior to African Americans, however this claim of equivalence is not that, and still comes from a racist outlook the premise of which is no longer tolerated in society today. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.169.227.71 (talk) 06:12, 20 February 2020 (UTC)

Unlike the user above from California that insists “coonass or the c-word” is not an offensive word, actual Cajuns, like myself in S. Louisiana find it to be highly offensive. It is in fact the equivalent of calling a black person the “n-word”. For example, some black people call themselves the “n-word” amongst themselves, in rap music, and black-centric movies. If a white person calls a black person the “n-word” it is highly offensive. Similarly, a small percentage of Cajuns who do not appreciate their ethnicity sometimes refer to themselves as the “c-word”. However, even these ignorant persons become offended if an outsider, for example, someone from California, uses the “c-word” in reference to them. The outsiders that consider the “c-word” to be fun in reference to Cajuns undoubtedly use the word to mock Cajuns. Even on Facebook, which is highly liberal, the use of the “c-word” will get your comment erased and the offender banned for repeated use… — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.80.25.21 (talk) 22:45, 22 February 2020 (UTC)

Someone keeps removing any mention of the fact that this is an ethnic slur. I am Cajun, and this word is definitely a slur. Sethiroth45 (talk) 18:43, 18 November 2020 (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)

This under-reported possibility makes sense. However, the root of "connoisseur" is reported in Wikipedia as "([fr.] connaisseur,) from Middle-French connoistre, then connaître meaning 'to be acquainted with' or "to know somebody/something.'" Je le connais bien. Nous nous connaissons. This makes even more sense, but I cannot find any scholarly citations whatever for it. It would mean, if true, that Cajuns who recognized each other as Cajun would "know" French and "know" each other as Cajun. It would be loosely translated as "bro" or "homeboy" or "you who I know is Cajun like me." English speakers would foul it up and use it derisively for a period, lending a bad taint to it eventually. In theory. Mydogtrouble (talk) 22:21, 8 June 2011 (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)

Citation Added

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

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) I as a coonass would like to add this.... I have been told two times to change me email address because it is onecrazycoonass@aol.com the first time was be a college teacher she did not like it and thought it was not good to send that out to schools the second was to night I am now a leader for my childs girlscout troop someone over the girl scouts in this area called and told me to get a new address. Im about ready to get a lawer myself i am very proud of who I am and were I come from why should anyone have a problem with this do not email me!!!!! Thanks need to vent —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kleshette (talk • contribs) 02:53, 8 October 2009 (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. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.252.44.55 (talk) 16:42, 9 November 2008 (UTC)

i'm confused about the 'covert prestige' thing - might need clarification? Bigtmizzle (talk) 20:31, 20 May 2023 (UTC)

On "Coonass" Etymology - "Cunno nés"

A former boss of mine, born and reared in New Orleans, of Spanish descent, explained the origin of "coonass" to me as a misunderstood (by English ears) phrase from French "children of cunts" (vulgar). This makes the more sense than the other examples. (I hope that I have the spelling correct.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Beauevil (talk • contribs) 05:04, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

Removed "slur" categories

I just removed

• Category:Ethnic and religious slurs
• Category:Pejorative terms for people
• Category:English profanity

There are other comments here on the talk page saying that this is not a slur. The sources do not back up this being any traditional insult.

The issue is that elsewhere in the United States coon is a racial slur for people of African descent and ass is a profanity.

I grew up in the region of Louisiana where people used this word. I knew it to refer to rural people in the area, while urban people did not have this name. The word refers to an entire culture - food, behavior, way of talking, and way of life. Until recently people did not think about how to categorize this word, so any categorization seems contemporary since no one has identified sources to clarify the issue. Blue Rasberry (talk) 12:00, 7 July 2019 (UTC)

I likewise removed a reference to the term being a "slur" in the initial sentence of the entire entry. I did so because while some see the word as a slur, others do not.

I would not, however, be averse to referring to the term as "controversial" (i.e., "is a controversial term. . . .") in the first sentence because I think it is a matter of fact that the term is indeed controversial, as shown by a fair amount of the source material cited in the entry. --Skb8721 (talk) 14:34, 23 March 2022 (UTC)

@Skb8721: I see the situation the same way. Thanks. Bluerasberry (talk) 14:36, 23 March 2022 (UTC)

As a Cajun raised in a rural area, I agree with your perception. I have never encountered the word used in urban areas. The only time in the last three decades (being in the Army and then retiring to Lafayette) it was directed at me however, it was intended as a slur. Classifying it as "controversial" is appropriate and one should take care of whom hears you use it. InfinityzeN (talk) 03:34, 4 May 2024 (UTC)

Folk stories

Just mentioning this as unsubstantiated south Louisiana folklore. I recall being told c late 70s in New Orleans (which is not Cajun country, but was getting more people from Cajun country moving to the city during the oil boom) that it originated during World War I, not II - The Acadians in the US military spoke a dialect of French which was considered old fashioned quaint in France, so they were labeled with a term meaning "country cousins". -- Infrogmation (talk) 00:20, 1 January 2024 (UTC)