The Parish
Informant: Libby Flint, age 59, New Orleans resident of 36 years, originally from Upstate New York and Vermont. Collected May 22, 2016 and recorded on iphone.
Verbal Lore: Folk Speech, slang
English
United States of America
Context: St. Bernard Parish
Transcript:
“and ‘The Parish’ usually refers to St. Bernard parish.”
Collectors commentary: This is afurther bit of folkspeech tha tis very much dependent on the geographical markers that are parishes, which are unique to Louisiana. It is unique to new orleans slang because is is specifically referring to a different parish from Orleans parish (where the city is actually located) and is connected instead to part of the new orleans metropolitan area, specifically a region where many of the blue collar workers live. The oral tradition of the transmission of the slang may be stronger in this particular parish becaiusethere tends to be less higher education and emphasis on literature and literary culture, which would allow for much easier transmission of folk lore and folk speech.
Keywords: The Parish, St. Bernard parish, Orleans parish, New Orleans