UCL - History of the French language

[ROM2200]

[22.5h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

This two-yearly course is taught in 2009-2010, 2011-2012,...

Teacher(s): Michel Francard

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

The aim of the course is to establish an explicit relationship between French language and historicity and to show the influence of time on language, especially from an external point of view (influence of social groups, relationship with cultural phenomena, religion, ideologies, etc.).

Main themes

To specify the notion of "history of language" in relation to the notion of "historical linguistics".
To set out the main events in the history of the French language.
To study in detail the French language in a particular historical period.

Content and teaching methods

1. Methodological reflexion on the notion of "history of language" (external and internal history) and on the relationship between language and time (problems of "periodization") and between language and society.
2. Overview of the most important events in the history of French language.
3. Detailed study of a particular period (the 16th century) based on the analysis of non literary documents of the discussed period.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Oral exam + presentation of a personal paper

Support : selective bibliography