Geolinguistic varieties of French
[ROM2180]
[22.5h] 5 credits
This course is taught in the 1st semester.
This two-yearly course is taught in 2010-2011, 2012-2013,...
Teacher(s): Philippe Hambye
Language: French
Level: Second
Aims
1. to make masters degree students more familiar with the variation of French in Francophonia, more precisely from a geographical point of view (variation from place to place), by describing and analyzing
- linguistic practices
- linguistic attitudes and representations
(i.e. internal approach)
2. to link up the study of the geographical varieties of French to the sociocultural and political context of the linguistic communities.
(i.e. external approach)
3. to give thought to the future of the French language and the institutional Francophonia.
Main themes
- traditional areas (France regions, oïl domain, Wallonia, French-speaking Switzerland)
- areas where French has been imported (Quebec, Acadia, Louisiana, Indian Ocean, etc.)
- areas where French has been implemented by administrative pressure or by force (Sub-Saharan Africa, Maghreb, etc.)
- areas where French spreading is link to France's cultural influence (Romania, Near East, etc.).
2. Describing, from a differential point of view, the linguistic variation in those areas, while focussing on phonetic, phonological and lexical aspects.
3. Linking up the linguistic characteristics of a given area to its historical, cultural and social context.
Content and teaching methods
It makes use of both oral and written data to carry out phonetic, phonological and lexical analyses.
It consists of lectures requiring the active involvement of the students in order to analyze the linguistic data and to enlarge the reflection beyond the sole formal linguistic description.
If possible, lecturers from different French speaking areas are invited to contribute to the course.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
An introductory course in general linguistics is required, which gives the main tools for describing phonetic, phonological and lexical phenomena.
Evaluation
Assessment focuses on a personal (written) work in which students show their ability to use the skills provided by the course, while studying a case of linguistic variation within a French-speaking area.
Support
Teaching aid
The following are at students' disposal:
*electronic or paper support of the lectures;
*samples of phonetic, phonological and lexical data.
Références
Bibliographical references
An annotated bibliography is provided at the beginning of the course.