Fall 2018  |  FREN 3531 Section 001: Sociolinguistics of French (33422)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Discussion
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Meets With:
FREN 5531 Section 001
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
09/04/2018 - 12/12/2018
Mon, Wed 01:00PM - 02:15PM
UMTC, East Bank
Folwell Hall 10
Enrollment Status:
Open (13 of 18 seats filled)
Course Catalog Description:
Explores variation in the use of French associated with factors such as medium (oral/written), style (formal/informal), region, social and economic groups. Prerequisite: FREN 3015 or equivalent; strongly recommended: FREN 3500 or LING 3001.
Class Notes:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?bjkerr+FREN3531+Fall2018
Class Description:
Why are the French so obsessed about language, as seen in recent debates about English words in French and attempts to make small changes in French spelling? The first part of the course will explore the history behind what has been for more than two centuries the French people's dominant way of thinking about their language, as well as more recent indications of some cracks forming in that ideology. Having laid this foundation, we will explore some of the myriad examples of linguistic variation within France, from the surviving regional languages that co-exist with French within France (breton, alsacien, occitan), to le langage des jeunes with its use of verlan and many foreign borrowings. Finally, we will move out from France to some of the French-speaking regions throughout the world, asking how French came to be spoken in those areas and how these dialects differ from Metropolitan French. Québec will furnish a fascinating example of languages in contact as well as the enduring influence of the prestige of the homeland variety of French, plus a notable example of linguistic legislation as Québec has sought to ensure the preservation of its language in an English-dominant nation. Other possible topics include French in Africa and in the U.S. (New England, Louisiana), and the related languages known as French creoles. Working in small groups, undergraduate (3531) students will choose a topic of interest to research in depth for an in-class presentation and a final paper. Graduate students (5531) will write a research paper on a topic related to the course content. Taught in French. This course carries credit for Global Perspectives.

Who Should Take This Class?:
Fren 3531 prereq: Fren 3015 or equivalent course. Fren 3500 or Ling 3001 would also be helpful but are not required.
Fren 5531 prereq: Graduate student status, advanced proficiency in French.

This course fulfills one of the elective requirements for the undergraduate major or minor in French Studies.
Learning Objectives:

* Students in the course:

-Can locate and critically evaluate information
- Understand diverse philosophies and cultures within and across societies
- Can communicate effectively
- Have acquired skills for effective citizenship and life-long learning



In addition:

Students will think ethically about the challenges created by linguistic differences of geographic or social origin in a culture such as France where a very strong normative tradition has devalorized all departures from the norm and limited access to power to those who have acquired the norm.

Students will reflect on the building and maintaining of community and connect knowledge and practice through study of examples of language planning in the Francophone world, as societies seek to deal with linguistic pluralism and cultures seek to preserve their identity through valorisation of their shared and unique linguistic heritage.

Grading:
Fren 3531 (undergraduates):

Participation aux discussions, devoirs ramassés..............................…………....25%

Examen mi-semestriel ………………………………………………………………. 35%

Projet de groupe: Exposé et mémoire.........………………………………………...30%

Dictionnaire personnel………………………………………………………………. 10%


Fren 5531 (graduates):

Participation aux discussions, devoirs ramassés..............................…………….25%

Examen mi-semestriel………………………………………………………………. 30%

Exposé et mémoire.........…………………………………………………………….. 40%

Dictionnaire personnel………………………………………………………………… 5%

Exam Format:
short answer, essay, limited true-false
Class Format:
25% Lecture
10% Film/Video
55% Discussion
5% Student Presentations
5% Guest Speakers
Workload:
40-50 Pages Reading Per Week
1 Exam
1 Paper (undergraduates: with a group)
1 Presentation (undergraduates: with a group)
Other Workload: other short writing (forum posts) or problem-solving assignments through the semester
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/33422/1189
Syllabus:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/syllabi/bjkerr_FREN3531_Fall2018.doc
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
9 April 2018

ClassInfo Links - Fall 2018 French Classes

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