Course syllabus

 

FRENCH 218: History of the French Language

SEMESTER 1, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

Tracy Adams - t.adams@auckland.ac.nz 

 Course delivery format:

One hour of lecture ; two hours of discussion.

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

Summary of Course Description:              

Quand Jules César conquit la Gaule en 51 av. J-C., elle était alors peuplée de Celtes, qui parlaient une langue apparentée au gaélique et gallois des îles britanniques. A l’arrière-plan d’un panorama d’événements historiques et sociaux,  la langue française a évolué à partir de ses origines latines (latin vulgaire) – à travers les périodes Gallo-romaines, les Moyen Ages, la Renaissance, l’Age Classique, le Siècle des Lumières, la Révolution, et au-delà, jusqu'à la crise du 21ème siècle en France. Nous consacrerons la première moitié du semestre à cette histoire. Nous en consacrerons la dernière à l’étude des dialectes régionaux, des patois et du français parlé hors de France.

 

Course outcomes:

• to develop an understanding of the most important historical events that shaped the French language.
• to develop an understanding of the most important linguistic changes that shaped the French language.
• to develop the ability to read French of different periods.
• to develop the ability to read unfamiliar texts more generally.

 

Assessment Summary:

218s 

100% travail pendant le cours : 3 <<quizzes>> en classe, 15% chacun ; une traduction en classe, 15% ;  communication orale avec des notes pour aider les autres, 20% ; participation orale, 20%.

 

308s :

100% travail pendant le cours : 3 <<quizzes>> en classe, 10% chacun ; une traduction en classe, 15% ;  communication orale avec des notes pour aider les autres, 20% ; participation orale, 20% ; 1 <<readings quizz>>, 15%.

 

Weekly Topics:

Week 1, Feb 26-Mar 2.

Tues:  Introduction to course. Tout ce qui n’est pas clair n’est pas français.

Thurs: Beginnings; “Le Gallo-Roman”; “L’accent latin”; when did French become French?

                                   

Week 2, Mar 5-9.

Tues: Serments de Strasbourg.

Thurs: Serments continued ; Eulalia.

 

Week 3, Mar 12-16.

Tues:  Becoming Old French.

Thurs: Roland.  

 

Week 4, Mar 19-23.

Tues: Tristan (Anglo-Norman).

Thurs: Occitan.

 

Week 5, Mar 26-30.

Tues:  Quiz 1 the beginning of French ; medieval French.

 

Thurs: Late medieval, early modern French : Christine de Pizan ; François Rabelais. Printing in France.  

 

 

BREAK MAR 30–APR 14

 

 

Week 6, Apr 16-20.

Tues: Humanism, Renaissance French.

Thurs: Du Bellay ; Estienne.

 

Week 7, Apr 23-27.

Tues: Classical French. 

Thurs: Meigret ; Vaugelas, L’Académie française.

 

Week 8, Apr 30-May 4.

Tues: Enlightenment, Revolutionary shifts.

Thurs: The Universal Language.

 

Week 9, May 7-11.

Tues: Quiz 2 on late medieval and early modern French ; universality/ translation 

Thurs:  Film in class “Ridicule.”

 

Week 10, May 14-18.

Tues: Discussion of “Ridicule”

Thurs: Modern French ; la Francophonie. Exposés.

 

Week 11, May 21-25.

Tues: Modern French ; la Francophonie. Exposés.

 Thurs: “

 

Week 12, May 28-June 1.

Tues: Review.

Thurs: Quiz 3 on Ridicule, modern French and Francophonie, based on the exposés.  Readings quiz 308s.

 

 

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.