The works to be read in French are chosen both for their intrinsic literary merit and for their importance in illustrating the main lines of the French novel tradition. The instructor's approach will combine historical background with close textual and literary study. This course is offered every other year. A systematic study of the sounds and sound patterns of French in theory and in practice. Introductory lectures, serving to establish the necessary linguistic terminology and concepts, are followed by a detailed examination of each of the sounds of French.
Emphasis is placed on oral work designed to perfect the student's pronunciation of the language.
Individual work is provided through the use of recorded material and through meetings with the instructor designed to identify and correct weak points in the students' pronunciation. The textbook will be supplemented by some readings of historical sources, chronicling important We will study the origins and the turning points in French history and by visual materials, illustrating the major achievements of French art and architecture. We will pay special attention to the changing shape of France, the development of the French language, and the relations between different part of society in the feudal and early modern period. This course is offered every Fall term. In this course we will read texts written by French and francophone women authors from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century.