Résumé
The territory of Pondichéri, a former French colony in Southeast India, is home to a community that self-identifies with the term Créole and has historically been characterised by a social stratification encompassing two subgroups: the Haut Créoles and the Bas Créoles. Tamil and French contributions are particularly evident in many domains of Pondichéri Créole culture and language, but, in this instance, we will explore the historical role of another community in the territory – the Indo-Portuguese – and its impact on the variety of French associated with the Pondichéri Créoles. This study adds a layer of complexity to the history of Indian varieties of French and highlights how easy it may be to overlook relevant cultural and linguistic agents in colonial societies.
