Introduction to French Linguistics
Readings:
There are no required texts, only the following recommended texts.
- Ayres-Bennett, Wendy and Janice Carruthers with Rosalind Temple (2001) Problems and Perspectives: Studies in the Modern French Language, Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.
- Battye, Adrian, Marie-Anne Hintze and Paul Rowlett (2000) The French Language Today: A Linguistic Introduction, London – New York: Routledge.
- Fagyal, Zsuzsanna, Douglas Kibbee and Fred Jenkins (2006) French: A Linguistic Introduction, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Léon, Pierre et Parth Bhatt (2005) Structure du français moderne: introduction à l’analyse linguistique, Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press Inc.
- Walter, Henriette (1988) Le français dans tous les sens, Paris: Robert Laffont.
Class Description:
This course provides an introduction to the linguistic analysis of Modern French. You will develop the basic skills of linguistic analysis in order to understand how the French language works. We consider four different levels: the phonology (sounds), the morphology (internal structure of words), the syntax (ordering of elements within the phrase) and the lexis (vocabulary). The course places considerable emphasis not just on the system but also on places where there is variation: we will consider, for example, why the negative particle ne is often dropped in spoken French, why some speakers use on instead of nous and how speakers decide between tu and vous in a given context. We use real linguistic data as much as possible, so you will find yourself analyzing transcripts of conversations, excerpts from films or short scientific texts.
Prerequisites:
French 102 or equivalent.
Additional Information:
This course satisfies 1 “Culture” or 1 “Elective” requirement in the French major. Satisfies 1 required course for the French minor. By exception, Fall 2019: Satisfies Phonetics requirement in French major.
Satisfies College of Letters and Science breadth in Social and Behavioral Sciences or International Studies.