History of the French Language
FRE 6845
Fall 2008
- Dr. William Calin
Graduate Research Professor - Monday Per. 9-10
- Wednesday Per. 9
- CBD 316
I. Theme of Course
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 of 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: Breton and Occitan.
II. Student Work & Expectations
Students are expected to keep up with the reading assignments and to participate actively in class discussion.
One fifteen page paper. No examinations. No incompletes.
III. Texts
- R. Anthony Lodge, Le Français: Histoire d’un dialecte devenu langue.
- Jacques Chaurand, Histoire de la langue française.
- Packet of Readings.
IV. Schedule
August
- 25 Introduction
- 27 Serments de Strasbourg Ch. 1; L 1-3; R 1
September
- 1 Secular Holiday
- 3 Serments de Strasbourg
- 8
- 10 Medieval Ch. 2; L 4; R 2-3
- 15
- 17 Medieval R 4-5
- 22
- 24 Medieval R 6-7
- 29
October
- 1 Late Medieval Ch. 3; L 5; R 8-10
- 6
- 8 Reading Period
- 13 Sixteenth Century L 6; R 11-13
- 15
- 20 Sixteenth Century R 14-16
- 22
- 27 Eighteenth Century Ch. 4; L 7; R 17-18
- 29
November
- 3 Eighteenth Century R 19-20
- 5
- 10 Twentieth Century Ch. 5-6; L 8; R 21-23
- 12
- 17 Twentieth Century R 24-26
- 19
- 24 Twentieth Century R 27-29
- 26
December
- 1 Twentieth Century R 30-31
- 3
- 8 Conclusion
- 10 Reading Period
V. Contact Information
- Office: 236 Dauer Hall
- Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday Per. 8
- Office Phone: 392-2016 x 238
- Home Phone: 373-3739
- Courriel: wcalin@rll.ufl.edu
