French Caribbean 359239 221537166 2008-06-24T23:08:50Z Hugo999 3006008 /* See also */ The term '''French Caribbean''' varies in meaning with its usage and frame of reference. This ambiguity makes it very different from the term ''[[French West Indies]]'', which refers to the specific, formal French possessions in the Caribbean region. When used as a noun with “the” to indicate a geographic location, as in “visiting the French Caribbean”, the term may refer to any of the following: *Areas in or around the Caribbean region that are predominantly French-speaking or [[French-based creole languages|French Creole]] speaking. These areas include [[Martinique]], [[Guadeloupe]], [[Haiti]], [[French Guiana]], French [[St. Martin]], [[Marie-Galante]], [[La Désirade]], [[Les Saintes]] and [[Saint-Barthélemy]] as well as portions of [[Dominica]], [[St. Lucia]], [[Grenada]] and [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]]. *The two official French overseas departments are Guadeloupe and Martinique. These Caribbean ''Départments d’Outre Mer'' are also known as the [[French West Indies]]. The department of Guadeloupe includes the dependencies of St. Barthélemy, French St. Martin, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade. *Any area that exhibits a combination of French and Caribbean cultural influences in cuisine, style, architecture, and so on. [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]] in the United States is one example of these kinds of influences. When used as a noun without an article, as in “contacting French Caribbean”, the term refers to: *French Caribbean International (also known as French Caribbean), a company that assists travelers to the French West Indies. Established in 1994, this company provides information and lodging reservation services. [http://www.frenchcaribbean.com Company web site] When used as an adjective, as in “French Caribbean islands” or "French Caribbean style", the term is also ambiguous and dependent upon the user's frame of reference and context. ==See also== *[[Antillean Creole]] *[[Anglophone Caribbean]] (for other parts of the Caribbean) [[Category:Caribbean]] [[Category:Overseas departments, collectivities and territories of France]]