French Linguistics

Catalog description

Survey of the theory and methods of linguistics as they apply to the major subfields. FR 316 French Linguistics (3) The goal of this course is to provide the undergraduate student with a solid overview of the theory and methods used by linguists seeking to develop a formal account of French grammar. Specifically, the student will become acquainted with the basic assumptions of the field (e.g. the prescriptive/descriptive distinction, the notion of competence versus performance, various methods of data collection, and the notion of Universal Grammar). In addition, a selection of the major subfields of linguistics will be surveyed (these include: phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and morphology with the focus being on the linguistic rules found in the French language).