Unit information: The French Language: Structures and Varieties in 2022/23

Unit name	The French Language: Structures and Varieties
Unit code	FREN20044
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Damien Mooney
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	Department of French
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

This unit introduces students to the study of French linguistics and focuses on the techniques and problems involved in the structural, sociolinguistic, and stylistic description of the French language. Firstly, students will develop their analytical knowledge of French grammar and pronunciation through the systematic study of the linguistic structure of French. Topics in this part of the unit will cover the French sound system, phonetic transcription, the modal use of the subjunctive, the complex and changing relationships between the past tenses, word creation, and French word order. In the second part of the unit, students will familiarise themselves with the many varieties of French, covering topics in register or socio-situational variation, written versus spoken French, loan words and borrowings, regional variation in French, and French sociolinguistics.

Aims:

1. To introduce students to the key frameworks used in the analysis of linguistic structure (grammar and pronunciation) with specific reference to French;
2. To develop students’ existing analytical knowledge of the French language, while introducing salient theoretical and methodological issues involved in its description and analysis;
3. To provide students with an understanding of the main dimensions of variability in language structure and of they ways in which these affect language use.

Your learning on this unit

Successful students will have, on completion of the unit:

1. acquired the necessary skills to examine and study language in a systematic way;
2. a good knowledge of the internal linguistic structure of French and of the frameworks within which pronunciation and grammar are analysed;
3. a knowledge of social, stylistic and geographical variation in French;
4. an understanding of the theoretical frameworks within which variation is analysed.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation.

How you will be assessed

One 2000 word essay (50%) testing ILOs 1-4. One Timed assessment (50%), testing ILOs 1-4.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FREN20044).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.