Cajun French: a Closer Look at the Language

Cajun French, also known as Louisiana French, is the term used to describe the variety of French spoken in South Louisiana. It originates in the language spoken by the French and Acadian people who settled in Louisiana 400 years ago.Where does Cajun French come from ? Who are the Acadians? What is Cajun French? Can I understand Cajun French as a French speaker?To answer those questions we will have to look back in time and understand how the French speakers first arrived in North America :A little bit of history:1534: Exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (outlet of the North American Great Lakes) by Jacques Cartier, a French navigator and writer born in Saint Malo, France, in 1491.Slowly France colonizers arrived in North America and named their new territory: Nouvelle France (New France)1712: New France consists of 5 colonies: Canada, divided into the districts of Québec, Trois-Rivière and Montréal; Hudson’s Bay; Acadie in the northeast; Plaisance on the island of Newfoundland an...