Modern Languages and Cultures

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title AN INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH LINGUISTICS
Code FREN238
Coordinator Prof RJ Blackwood
Modern Languages and Cultures
Robert.Blackwood@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2019-20 Level 5 FHEQ First Semester 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Co-requisite modules:

 

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 10

12

        22
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 128
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Examination. This will be marked anonymously.  2 hours    50       
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Essay This will be marked anonymously. Standard UoL late penalties will apply.  -2000 words    50       

Aims

To introduce students to key theoretical and conceptual debates within linguistics, namely sociolinguistics, phonetics, morphology, semantics, etymology, and syntax;

To develop students' abilities to apply theoretical and conceptual debates to the production of French in contemporary France;

To enhance students' skills of critical analysis and independent thinking;

To encourage a greater understanding of the French language which will, in turn, enhance students' capacity to learn and use the language.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Students will have a greater understanding of the French language as a tool for communication, and as a system with its own rules and history.

(LO2) Students will learn how to produce phonetic transcriptions, enabling them to produce sounds in an internationally recognised form.

(LO3) Students will explore issues surrounding the creation of French, thereby enabling them to evaluate the developments of languages in general.

(LO4) Students will be able to trace the major themes within the study of meaning, covering any gaps in the study of their first language and equipping them to produce better, idiomatic French through the perspective of the semantics of a language.

(LO5) Students will gain an appreciation of the roles played by society, communities, speakers and governments in the development, use and abuse of language systems. They should also have a greater understanding of the part played by culture in all its guises in the life of a language, complementing their studies of literature, film and other related fields.

(LO6) Students will be able to understand the construction of languages within utterances, sentences and discourse, not only reaffirming the rules of French syntax but refreshing their comprehension of their first language with regards to acceptable sentence structure.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - academic writing (inc. referencing skills).

(S2) Global citizenship - cultural awareness.

(S3) Critical thinking and problem solving - critical analysis.

(S4) Personal attributes and qualities – independence.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching method 1:
Lecture.
Description:
The lectures will outline the main theories, principles, and applications of the topic under discussion.
Attendance recorded:
Not yet decided.

Teaching method 2:
Seminar.
Description:
Seminars will consist of tutorial worksheets to be completed ahead of the class, allowing discussion of the topics and themes from an informed position.
Attendance recorded:
Not yet decided.

Skills / other attributes 1:
Personal attributes and qualities – independence.
How this is developed:
Activities in group seminars.

Skills / other attributes 2:
Critical thinking and problem solving - critical analysis.
How this is developed:
Written coursework, examinations and activities in group seminars.

Skills / other attributes 3:
Global citizenship - cultural awareness.
How this is developed:
Written coursework, examinations and activities in group seminars.

Skills / other attributes 4:
Communication (oral, written and visual) - academic writing (including referencing skills).
How this is developed:
Written coursework, examinations and activities in group seminars.


Syllabus

 

This module will tackle the various linguistic elements that, collectively, make up the French language. As such, this will not only assist with language learning, but give students a deeper understanding of the workings of the language. The module will look at six principal topics: sociolinguistics, semantics, phonetics & phonology, etymology, morphology, and syntax.

Topics covered during the module may include:

Prise de contact and Sociolinguistics 1;

Sociolinguistics lecture;

Sociolinguistics seminar;

Phonetics: Consonants;

Phonetics: Consonants;

Phonetics: Vowels;

Phonology;

Etymology;

Word formation;

Morphology;

Syntax I;

Basic syntactic trees;

Syntax II;

Complex syntactic trees;

Phonology 2.

Sociolinguistics is concerned with how language affects society, and how society affects language. We will look at the way in which French is produced differently based on your age, ge nder, ethnicity, geographic origins, and social class. We will also look at how French is used differently, depending on mode, field and style.

Semantics examines questions of meaning, and we will try to understand why in French one can talk about a fleuve and a rivière in French, but only a river in English. We will also get to the bottom of what exactly ‘As-tu du sel, s’il te plait?’ means.

Phonetics & phonology invite us to look at the ways in which sounds are produced in French, and how they are put together in a system. We will work out how to transcribe the sounds of French using the IPA.

Etymology will give us an overview of how French got to where it is today in terms of the language - who knew that balcon is an Italian loanword, whereas brouillard is inherited from Gaulish. Everyone knows that English has given French weekend, walkman, and wifi but what about those people who don't like anglicisms?

Morphology is linked to etymology, as it examines how words are constructed, and how French increases its word stock using just a couple of strategies.

Finally, syntax is the assessment of word order - we will look at why sentences are constructed the way they are in French, and we will all become experts in syntactic trees.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.