A French Creole, or French-based Creole language, is a creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné French extant in Paris, the French Atlantic harbours, and the nascent French colonies. French-based creole languages are spoken by millions of people worldwide, primarily in the Americas and in the Indian Ocean.
Descendants of the non-creole colonial koiné are still spoken in Canada (mostly in Quebec), the Prairies, Louisiana, northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont), Saint-Barthélemy (leeward portion of the island) and as isolates in other parts of the Americas.
Famous quotes containing the words french and/or creoles:
“In matter of commerce the fault of the Dutch
Is offering too little and asking too much.
The French are with equal advantage content,
So we clap on Dutch bottoms just twenty per cent.”
—George Canning (1770–1827)
“Men always sell strawberries, women, blackberries, your all- knowing Creole friend says. ‘Why?’ you ask. ‘Ah, it has always been that way.’ When you get to know Creoles better, you realize that the phrase ‘It has always been that way’ justifies everything.”
—For the City of New Orleans, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)