French Sociolinguistics (online)

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• to look at the French language and other languages spoken in France from different perspectives, and in relation to the phenomenon of language in general;
• to become more aware of how language relates to society, and of the role of historical, geographical, social and personal factors;
• Produce complex readings of texts in various media
• to have an enhanced understanding of the interaction between variation and change in the evolution of languages;
• to have deeper insight into sociolinguistic phenomena related to French, minority languages spoken in France and La Francophonie;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analyse theoretical work on language change, language variation and language and identity
• Discuss debates about language from a sociolinguistic perspective
• Carry out research into a specific area of French sociolinguistics
• Think critically about questions of language identity in France and La Francophonie
• Think critically about the French language, and other minority languages in France and La Francophonie

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate your own skills.
• Collate a wide variety of primary and secondary material and evaluate its usefulness;
• Use a variety of resources to carry out detailed independent research;
• Develop and clearly express sophisticated theoretical arguments in writing;
• Express your own views and interpretations clearly and succinctly in oral presentations;

The module will broaden and deepen your interest in the French language from a sociolinguistic perspective and stimulate and develop your existing interest in (socio)linguistic phenomena. You will gain an understanding of the French language as a system which allows for many variations, some of which are favoured by choice, culture and usage.

The module will follow three themes in connection to French and other languages spoken in France and La Francophonie:

• Language Change
• Language Variation
• Language and Identity

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

• Regular recorded lectures from module leaders delivered online (using Panopto - lecture capture software)
• Associated online chat and Discussion Forum activities
• Student participation and interaction through group blogging tasks
• Student online presentations using Teams videocasts

Learning activities include

• Organisation of material and own ideas for oral presentation
• Developing own interpretation of theoretical works and texts
• Debating ideas with tutor and fellow colleagues in online forums
• Independent study.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Description and/or list, with URL, library reference, etc.

Description and/or list, with URL, library reference, etc.

Textbooks

Detey, Sylvain; Durand, Jacques; Laks, Bernard; & Lyche, Chantal (eds) (2010). Les Variétés du Français Parlé dans l'Espace Francophone: ressources pour l'enseignement. Paris: Éditions Ophrys.

Posner, Rebecca (1997). Linguistic change in French. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Coveney, A (2001). The sounds of contemporary French: articulation and diversity. Elm Bank Publications.

Gadet, Françoise (2003). La variation sociale en français. Paris: Ophrys.

Rickard, P (1989). A history of the French language [electronic resource]. London ; Boston: Unwin Hyman.

Wardhaugh, R (2011). Introduction to sociolinguistics. Wiley-Blackwell.

Coveney, A., M-AC-E Hintze, CC-E Sanders (2004). Variation et francophonie. Paris: L'Harmattan.

Aitchison, J (2013). Language change: progress or decay?. CUP.

Offord., M (ed) (1996). A reader in French sociolinguistics. Series title: (Applications in French linguistics ; vol.1). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.

Hintze, M. A. et al (eds) (2001). French accents: phonological and sociolinguistic perspectives. Association of French Language Studies.

Lodge, R. A (1993). French from dialect to standard. Routledge.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External