Whats the difference between Acadian and Cajun French?
French settlements in North America in the 17th century included those in Acadia (present day Nova Scotia), Québec, and Louisiana. The name Canada, in this period, refers to Québec, and does not include Acadia. The history of these three colonies is quite different. For the present purpose, let us note that the Acadian colonists in 1755 were forcibly deported by the British. Eventually, some of those deported settled in Louisiana, where they became known as Cajuns (a corruption of the word Acadians). Other groups migrated to Louisiana as well, and intermarried with the Acadians, so that the term Cajun includes people of many other origins besides the Acadians: other French migrations, Spanish, Germans, Irish, and still more. For further information on this subject, see the Acadian links below.
