I. The History of French over
the centuries, from Charlemagne to Chirac.
Study of individual brief texts.
Among the topics for discussion: pronunciation of the old language (up
to 18th century); the evolution in orthography; shifts in meaning
over time; levels of style (and obscenity); diglossia; gender; language and
ideas of nationality; the prestige of French (since the 12th century);
attitudes toward language; debunking common myths (French needed enriching by
the Pléiade; French needed clarity and order from classicism; modern French is
clear, orderly, and harmonious but lacks a rich vocabulary); the complex,
problematic relations between the literary and spoken language; the regional
languages of France.
II. Students are
expected to keep up with the reading assignments and to participate actively in
class discussion.
One
twelve-to-fifteen page paper. No
examinations. No incompletes.
III. R. Anthony
Lodge, Le Français: Histoire d’un dialecte devenu langue.
Jacques
Chaurand, Histoire de la langue française.
Packet of Readings.
IV. January
10
Introduction
17
Serments de
Strasbourg Ch1; L1-3; R 1
24
Medieval French Ch 2; L 4; R 2-3
31
ibid
R 4-5
February 7 ibid
R 6-7
14 ibid Ch
3; L 5; R 8-10
21
Sixteenth Century L 6; R 11-13
28
ibid
R 14-16
March
7
Eighteenth
Century Ch 4; L 7; R 17-18
14
Secular Holiday
21
Eighteenth Century R 19-20
28
Twentieth Century Ch
5-6; L 8; R 21-23
April
4
“ “ R
24-26
11
“ “ R
27-29
18
Lecture
by Prof. Bernard Cerquiglini
25
“..”…..R
30-31
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Thursday, 3-4 pm.
Office
Phone:
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Home
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Courriel:
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