Thanks for that. There were some parts of that song I could never get. A lot of it is stock phrases from other songs that are quite familiar, but not enough where I would want to try to sing it.
I'll have to go back and listen again, but was Boozoo really using the "ne ... pas" construction? That would be very unusual in Louisiana French.
I'll have to go back and listen again, but was Boozoo really using the "ne ... pas" construction? That would be very unusual in Louisiana French.
I don't think this line should be understood as
"Elle m’a fait des biscuits, et (elle) n’a pas de sirop" (ne ... pas), but as "elle m'a fait des biscuits et (i) n-a pas de sirop", with the "n" for "y".
(i)n-a pas de sirop = y a pas de sirop.
(You can find more examples of this construction in the DLF, entry "avoir").
I have always wondered about that, and we've discussed it at length in other forums. Couldn't understand if it was an old hold out from the "ne pas", or a shortening (and maybe misuse?) of "y en a pas..". Regardless, I heard it a lot growing up.
Yes, the liaison (y en a / y en a pas) or the negative with n' (y en n'a pas) make the same sound. Both probably merged into the "i-n-a / i-n-a pas" form. (I'm just guessing).