Proof that "Cajun" = "Brooklynese"

[Boatti, Stephen]

Except that in Brooklynese, he would say, "Doity tree and a toid."


Steve

 -----Original Message-----
From:   Laurence Horn [mailto:laurence.horn at YALE.EDU]
Sent:   Tuesday, February 20, 2001 8:55 AM
To:     ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject:        Proof that "Cajun" = "Brooklynese"

Remember that test we had a while back?  This is another version from the
web:
==========
Boudreaux went into the fish market to apply for a job.  The boss
thought to himself - I'm not hiring that lazy Cajun, so he decided to
set a test for Boudreaux hoping he wouldn't be able to answer the
questions and he'd be able to refuse him the job without getting into
an argument.

The first question was, "Without using numbers, represent the number
9."

Boudreaux says, "Dat's easy" and proceeds to draw three trees.

The boss says, "What in the world is that?"

Boudreaux says, "Tree 'n tree 'n tree makes nine."

"Fair enough" says the boss.  "Second question, same rules, but
represent 99".

Boudreaux stares into space for a while, then makes a smudge on each
tree.

"Der ya go sir," he says.

The boss scratches his head and asks, "How on earth do you get that
to represent 99?"

Boudreaux answers, "Each tree is dirty now, so it's dirty tree 'n
dirty tree 'n dirty tree - dat 99."

The boss is getting worried he's going to have to hire Boudreaux so
he says, "All right, question number 3.  Same rules again, but this
time represent the number 100."

Boudreaux stares into space again, then he shouts, "I got it!" He
makes a little mark at the base of each tree and says, "Der ya go
sir - 100."

The boss looks at Boudreaux's attempt and thinks, "Ha!  got him this
time." He then tells Boudreaux, "Go on, Boudreaux, you must be crazy
if you think that represents a 100."

Boudreaux leans forward and points to the little marks at the tree
bases and says, "A little dog comes along and craps by each tree, so
now ya got dirty tree an' a turd, dirty tree an' a turd, and dirty
tree an' a turd, which makes 100.  When do I start my job?"