Parish/County

[gwynhefar]

In Louisiana, those territorial divisions within a state that are usually called "counties" are instead called "parishes". For example, I live in East Baton Rouge Parish. The metropolitan area of New Orleans is actually split between two parishes -- Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish.

As I read all these books written about Katrina, specifically the ones written by non-Louisianans, I keep coming across references to such-and-such *county* in Louisiana. Now I'm not sure if the people writing the books really *don't* know that counties are called parishes in Louisiana (in which case they clearly didn't do their research) or if they know, but figure the term would be confusing for anyone outside Louisiana and thus choose to replace it with the more universally understood "county".

If the latter, I can understand the motivations, but it doesn't change the fact that it's just plain *wrong*. There is no such place as "Jefferson County" in Louisiana. And really, how difficult is it to explain? A simple parenthetical note would work, i.e. "Officials in Jefferson Parish ('parish' is the local term for a county) said Monday . . ."

That wasn't so hard, now was it? Because otherwise people are going to read these books, thinking the authors know what they're talking about, and then they're going to come down to Louisiana and talk about this or that county and we're all going to laugh at them. Or worse, someone who *does* know about the parishes is going to read the book and assume the author *doesn't* know what he or she is talking about and dismiss what might otherwise be a good book.

Comments

Re: only state in the union

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

I think it's brilliant. The Republican party has become more and more the party of fanatics, and while sadly, we have too many of them in this country, it is nice to see intelligent conservatives jumping ship.

Re: state of the Republican party

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Same here, of course :)

Re: only state in the union

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

There's a bit more of a sinister reason why "parish" would be replaced in the book: the editor may have wanted to avoid using a "religious-sounding word".

(As for Specter changing parties, this always happens when one party takes control by a large margin. Democrats jumped ship in 1995; remember Colorado Senator Campbell?)

Re: only state in the union

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

That's a stupid reason. I mean, if it was a choice between two equally correct terms I can see choosing the one that sounded more neutral, but to introduce an inaccuracy to correct a misapprehension is counter-productive and the sign of a bad editor.

Re: only state in the union

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

Oh, I quite agree. Be it the author or the editor, someone was just flat wrong.

Re: only state in the union

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

The local Republican party showed their colors even more today by user a caller-ID blocked phone to make robot calls for the purpose of introducing me to my newest Democratic Senator so that I'd be sure to know that Specter switched parties.

[silme.livejournal.com]

I would think that this error would diminish the author's credibility.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

It certainly does for me.

[silme.livejournal.com]

Heck, even I, a northerner, know about parishes in LA. :)

Re: Same here, of course :)

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

Re: Same here, of course :)

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Nah, not really -- I haven't lived up North since I was in high school and I never really paid much attention to politics then.

[dark-blade.livejournal.com]

I'm not EXCUSING it, but it's quite possible that they went with county instead of parish because in every OTHER state, a parish is a church and it's particular congregation and area served.

I don't really get why Louisiana doesn't switch over to counties, but I've never lived there and have only been TO the state by means of riding through it on Greyhound buses from Atlanta to San Diego.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Oh I know there's potential for confusion. But I think it would be better to spend a sentence or two explaining rather than arbitrarily change the name of geographical region just so you don't have to explain.

As for Louisiana changing to counties - don't hold your breath. Our judicial system is still under the Napoleanic code, too. Louisianans are big on tradition.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

Using the wrong term because you think readers are too stupid to understand the right one doesn't win any points with me, so either way, the author loses credibility by calling the parishes "counties".

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Yup, I agree with you.