. - French Language 1 (Language and Phonology)
PROFESSOR SARA CIGADA
COURSE AIMS
The course will impart the key theoretical notions that underpin the specific
features of the French phonetic and phonological system and systematically verify
their use to consolidate the student’s oral (comprehension and production) skills.
COURSE CONTENT
Modern French phonetics and phonology
Topics and issues of French phonetics
- Articulatory aspects
- IPA transcription
- E caduc
- Liaison e enchaînement
- The syllable
- The varieties of France
- Spelling issues
- French phonology between phonetics and morphology
- Prose: structures and functions.
- francophonia and Francophonia
READING LIST
Exam preparation will be based on the course notes, the materials used in class and the
following titles:
P. LEON, La prononciation du français, A. Colin, Paris, 2011 (parts).
A. BERIT HANSEN – C. JUILLARD, La Phonologie parisienne à trente ans d'intervalle, “French
Language Studies” 21 (2011), pp. 313-359
H. WALTER, Langue française, langues régionales et francophonie, “Lingua e stile” XXXVI/2,
2001, pp. 267-273
The lecturer will post additional information on the reading list on her webpage during the
course.
The Home Reading List will be provided at the start of the course.
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures, listening to audio texts, phonetic transcriptions and analyses.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Oral exam in French to test the student’s theoretical and practical knowledge
(comprehension, phonetic transcription, oral production and reading out loud). The exam
will start by testing the student’s knowledge of the home reading list (reading, translation,
commentary).
NOTES
The student is reminded that the start of each Language course year must begin with a
written or oral test (the student is free to choice which). A pass in both tests will qualify the
student for the final French Language (Language and Phonology) exam.
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG, or on the Faculty notice
board.