I am reading a short story and came across a sentence: "Papa kanaval ou ale?'
What language is it? What does it mean?
2007-04-02 01:25:59 · 2 answers · asked by peterpan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Sounds like one of the French-based Creole languages spoken in former French colonies like Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Lucia, French Guiana, Louisiana, Mauritius, Réunion Island, Seychelles, or French Guiana.
My impression is that's Haitian or Louisiana Creole, as they talk of "kanaval", and it's mentioned in a short story. In that case it could mean : "Daddy Carnival, where do you go/went?"
What was the context of the short story? Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Haiti?
2007-04-02 01:46:00 · answer #1 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Haitian Creole. I think that "papa" means "father", "kanaval" means "carnival" and "ou ale" means "where gone." A lot here depends on the context.
2007-04-02 08:45:33 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋