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.
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.