FRE 273H1S

Introduction to the General History of the French Language

Instructor:

D. Kullmann

Description:

A discovery of a long and fascinating history, stretching from the spoken Latin of the Gauls to the many varieties of French found today all over the world via the investigation of the phonetic, social, political, and cultural causes of language change. Our focus will include topics such as the origin of the French language, medieval bilingualism, the gradual spread of the language of northern France, the role of reading and writing and the impact of print, the regulation of language through the Académie française and modern legislation, the political use of the French language (for example during the French Revolution), the influence of other languages on French (and vice-versa) including modern «franglais», the emergence of the Francophonie, and Canadian French.

Required text: Henriette Walter, Le français dans tous les sens. Students will also be required to purchase a course pack with other texts (Instructor will provide further information).

Assignments and evaluation: Two in-class tests (55% – Test 1: 30%; Test 2: 25%); take-home assignment on vocabulary (15%); Weekly on-line quizzes (20%); overall assessment (10%).

Prerequisite: FSL 221Y1 or, upon first FRE/FSL enrolment, equivalent as determined by the French Placement Test.

Recommended preparation: FRE 272H1

The Department takes into account the quality of students' French as one of the criteria in the evaluation of assignments and examinations. A minimum of 20% of the grade will be allocated to this aspect of written assignments.