LOUISIANA CREOLE

language spoken in Louisiana by persons of mixed French, African, and Indian descent. Louisiana Creole, which is closely related to Haitian Creole, should not be confused with either Louisiana provincial standard French, spoken by the descendants of the French upper classes in and around New Orleans, nor with the language of the Cajuns; both of the latter are dialects of French, with some archaic or provincial features, whereas Louisiana Creole is a creole language based on French. Compare Cajun; Haitian Creole. See also creole.