Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Thank you, country, for your very nice introduction. Actually, it's my mother's side of the family that is French-Canadian, but I do speak French fluently.
However, I picked up the Parisian accent from school. I can still understand the Canadian accent but sometimes I have to listen carefully, especially if they're using "Joual," a very colloquial style of speech. It just takes some exposure to the accent to get used to it.
There is indeed a lot of French-Canadian influence in NH. Over 40,000 people use French as the primary language in the home. Most of them live in Coos County and in the big mill towns, especially Manchester. A lot of churches in Franco-American communities still offer French masses.
And of course, we're right next door to Quebec, so a vacation across the border is a great way to practice your French. In the summer, you'll encounter a lot of vacationers from Quebec in northern New England as well, especially at the beach and during bike week. If you go to Old Orchard Beach or Hampton Beach in August, you might hear so much French that you'd think you were in Canada.
If you're interested in learning more about the French-Canadian influence in New England, here are two great documentaries on the subject:
In 2004, I and my DW attended Canada's 400th Anniversary Celebration of the Acadian People in Grand Pree', Nova Scotia. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation filmed our family reunion and put together this 2 minute clip.
It's for only for the grace of God that I don't speak with a southern accent too.....
Hopefully, this will work for those of you who are interested.
There were basically 2 groups of French settlers. The Acadians settled in and around the Bay of Fundy. The second group of French settlers centered around Montreal and Quebec. Although relatively close by todays standards, the people evolved different forms of the French language over 150 years. After the Deportation, the two cultures blended.
So, most of the French-descent people would be French Catholics (Acadian?) versus French Protestants (Huguenot)?
Yes, that's true. There were some French Huguenots that did migrate directly to New Hampshire, though. My great, great, great, great, great (?) grandfather was born in France and moved to New Hampshire. They anglicized the spelling of their name, however.
In 2004, I and my DW attended Canada's 400th Anniversary Celebration of the Acadian People in Grand Pree', Nova Scotia. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation filmed our family reunion and put together this 2 minute clip.
It's for only for the grace of God that I don't speak with a southern accent too.....
Hopefully, this will work for those of you who are interested.
Whenever I travel home to New England and we head up to Hampton and Old Orchard Beach it is predominately French Canadians. There is as another post mentioned large pockets of French Speaking people in Northern New England. I am from Southern New England and there is a French population there also. It is predominately in Northern RI and the Mass border there. Many came from Quebec and New Brunswick when the factories and mills were in full force. The population is dying out now but descendents are still there.
What a neat video! Thank you for sharing that - I noticed a lot of southern accents
Your so welcome, Dare. Those are just my "Cajun Cousins". It becomes a bit more touching when one learns that over a third of the Acadians perished during the Deportation/Expulsion of 1755.
That signifies "Son of". (Ex: Thibod"eau" is basically Son of "Thibod"). And, for you history buffs, Thibod or Thibeaud was a Grandson of Clovis, King of the Francs.
That's interesting to me, J! We have friends named Thibeault, wonder if it was derived from Thibeaud.
wow, just watched the video--how cool that you could hold a family reunion at Thibodeau Village!! And yes, very touching so many died. But wonderful that so many want to hold onto their heritage.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Actually, it's my mother's side of the family that is French-Canadian, but I do speak French fluently.
In the summer, you'll encounter a lot of vacationers from Quebec in northern New England as well, especially at the beach and during bike week. If you go to Old Orchard Beach or Hampton Beach in August, you might hear so much French that you'd think you were in Canada. 
"eau" ending
