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2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

FREN2240 The French Language Today

20 creditsClass Size: 24

Module manager: Dr Nigel Armstrong
Email: N.R.Armstrong@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Satisfactory completion of Level 1 French or equivalent

This module is mutually exclusive with

FREN2245

The French Language Today

Module replaces

FREN2241/2242

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

For non-linguists, language is for talking about something, and not something to be talked about. From this perspective language is primarily a tool for communication rather than an object of study in its own right. Yet clearly, language is central both to thought and to cultural identity, and the serious student of French will seek a deeper understanding of how the language works. A systematic or linguistic approach to the study of language offers a means of understanding, beyond the superficial level, how the French think about themselves and their culture; and what distinguishes French from other languages. The course will look therefore at aspects of French both as a linguistic system and as an expression of cultural behaviour. We will firstly introduce the notion of the linguistic structure of French, subsequently using examples taken from the sound system, the vocabulary and the grammar so as to describe and analyse French. Secondly, we look on the one hand at the way French speakers use their language to express their social and personal identity, with the inevitable tendency to variation and change that implies, and on the other hand at the institutional forces that attempt to suppress change. NB This course builds on the Level 1 French courses 'Sounds of French' and 'Evolution of French'. Knowledge of French phonetics and a broad acquaintance with the history of French will be advantageous, and indeed satisfactory completion of at least one of these modules is strongly advised for enrolment on this course. Applications from students who have not previously studied French linguistics will be considered individually on the basis of other courses completed in Level 1.Pre-requisite: Completion of Level 1 French course or equivalent at the discretion of the Course Director

Objectives

1. A linguistic framework and the terminology necessary for the description and analysis of contemporary French;

2. An understanding of the underlying structures of French on the different levels of linguistic analysis: sounds, words and sentences

3. An understanding of the mechanisms of variation and change at work in French, as manifested in the mutual influence of speech and writing and the influence of social factors;

4. An enhancement of competence and performance in the target language

Syllabus

For the non-specialist, language is for talking about something, and not something to be talked about. From this perspective language is primarily a tool for communication rather than an object of study in its own right. Yet clearly language is central both to thought and to cultural identity and the serious student of French will seek a deeper understanding of how the language works. A systematic or linguistic approach to the study of language offers a means of understanding, beyond the superficial level, of how French people think about themselves and their culture and what distinguishes French from oher languages.

The course will look therefore at aspects of French both as a linguistic system and as an expression of cultural behaviour. We will firstly introduce the notion of the linguistic structure of French, subsequently using examples taken from the sound system, the vocabulary and the grammar that describe and analyse French. Secondly we look on the one hand at the way French speakers use the living language to express their social and personal identity, with the inevitable tendency to variation and change that implies, and on the other hand at the institutional forces that attempt to suppress change.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

50 hours background reading for lectures and seminars;
90 hours preparation for seminar presentations;
15 hours researching for essay;
15 hours revisionfor exam

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

January examination; fortnightly seminar work to be handed in for monitoring

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 words in English at the end of semester 2	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/04/2016

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