French Syntax and Vocabulary

About this Module

In this module we look at the historical development of French syntax and French vocabulary.  French vocabulary is studied first, with topics covering issues such as word origins, borrowing, semantic change, word formation, language varieties and register.  In the second term we study French syntax, including topics such as word order, negation, tenses and moods.  Students are also introduced to the basics of modern French phonetics.  

Teaching and Learning

The module is taught and examined in English.  There are weekly lectures and fortnightly seminars.  Students prepare for seminars using worksheets and through the close linguistic analysis of sample texts made available either in the module booklet or via duo.  This module is capped at 100.

Summative Assessment and Examination

• 1000-word linguistic commentary (20%)
• 1500-word summative essay (30%)
• 2-hour written examination (50%).

Recommended Texts

• Adrian Battye and others, The French Language Today (Routledge)
• R.E. Batchelor, M.H. Offord, Using French:  A Guide to Contemporary Usage, 3rd edition (Cambridge)
• Dennis Ager, Sociolinguistics and Contemporary French (Cambridge)
• Hilary Wise, The Vocabulary of Modern French (Routledge)

Co-ordinator: 

Dr Simon McKinnon (s.g.mckinnon@durham.ac.uk), room A23, Elvet Riverside I.