To allow the students to discover the history of the constitution of proper and place names in the French-speaking field. To show how the proper names, while being specific, take part in the history and life of the correspondent languages.
To draw the attention to the importance of proper names in the society. By the way, to study the proper names in connection with the literature.
Main themes
Study of the Walloon literature that specifically uses the dialects of Wallonia.
The birth of the dialectal literature in the XVIth century in all regions of Oïl language territory : origin and developments, relevance of this dialectal literature. History of the Walloon letters from their origins (about 1600) until today.
The lectures of literary history are illustrated by the reading of the most important texts with notes and comments.
Content and teaching methods
The methods of the scientific study of the proper names : place names and personal names studies.
History of the constitution of the place names until to-day.
Principal characteristics of the toponymy in the French-speaking area, and especially in Wallonia.
The management of place names in the modern society; incidentally, their use in literature.
History of the proper names until today; the various anthroponymic systems in French-speaking area and especially in Wallonia.
The characteristics of the contemporary anthroponymy and the place of proper names in the modern society, incidentally in literature. Exercise of article redaction based on the dictionary Patronymica Romanica.