The Storm

by Kate Chopin

The Storm: Dialect 1 key example

Part 2
Explanation and Analysis—Acadian Dialect:

In “The Storm,” characters speak in local Louisiana dialects. The primary dialect in the story—in which both Calixta and Bobinôt speak—is Acadian, meaning it comes from the descendants of the French-speaking Acadian people who moved from Canada (and the northeastern portion of the United States) to Louisiana between the 1600s and 1700s. The following passage demonstrates the way that Chopin captures Calixta’s Acadian dialect in a conversation with Alcée:

“If this keeps up, Dieu sait if the levees goin’ to stan’ it!” [Calixta] exclaimed.

“What have you got to do with the levees?”

“I got enough to do! An’ there’s Bobinôt with Bibi out in that storm—if he only didn’ left Friedheimer’s!”

“Let us hope, Calixta, that Bobinôt’s got sense enough to come in out of a cyclone.”