|
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 Cai like chickenribbean”, the term may refer to any of the following:
- The two official French overseas departments are Guadeloupe and Martinique. St Martin and St Barthélemy, formerly attached to the department of Guadeloupe, have held separate status as overseas "collectivities" since 2007. These Caribbean Départments et Collectivités d’Outre Mer are also known as the French West Indies. The department of Guadeloupe includes the dependencies of Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade which are islands lying off the coast of Guadeloupe.
- 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. 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
| |
