This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module FREN2081: FRENCH SYNTAX AND VOCABULARY

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (French)

FREN2081: FRENCH SYNTAX AND VOCABULARY

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Open	2	20	Available in 2008/2009	100	Durham

Pre-requisites

French Language 1 (FREN1011) or an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Corequisites

Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: French Language 2 (FREN2051) or French Language 2 and Year Abroad (FREN2071). Other: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

The Syntax component seeks to heighten students' awareness of Modern French grammar.
The vocabulary component seeks to heighten awareness of the origins of different sections of French vocabulary, to introduce concepts such as borrowing, word formation, semantic change and register, and to enable students to apply them to the analysis of texts.
To introduce students to the basic phonetics of Modern French, and to enable them to apply this knowledge to the analysis of written texts.

Content

The module will concern itself with the development of French syntax and French vocabulary, from the Old French period up to the present day.
The syntax component will concentrate on a number of specific topics (for example, the use of the subjunctive, patterns of word-order), and the vocabulary component will study, amongst other things, change of meaning, word-formation and the borrowing of words.
A considerable amount of time will be devoted to the analysis of representative passages, and an anthology of illustrative texts will be available.
Students will be introduced to basic phonetics of Modern French, which they will be able to apply to the analysis of representative texts.
The module is taught in English and French, and examined in English.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

By the end of this module, studnets should be able to demonstrate a heightened awareness of Modern French grammar, how 'rules' develop and how they can change.
By the end of the vocabulary element, they should have acquired an expanded vocabulary and a greater awareness of how meanings shift and how the register of a word is part of its 'meaning'; they should also have gained a historical sense of the different layers of French vocabulary.

Subject-specific Skills

To be able to comment on significant phonological features of texts from the Modern French period.

Key Skills

Through the commentary exercise, students should develop analytical skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

One lecture a week is devoted to syntax in the first term and to vocabulary in the second; two lectures will be devoted to an introduction to the phonetics of Modern French, with follow-up exercises.
Fortnightly seminars are used to examine texts to reinforce material from the lectures, and also to analyse the syntax and vocabulary of texts in order to prepare for writing commentaries.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	21	Weekly	1 hour	21	Yes
Seminars	10	Fortnightly	1 hour	10	Yes
Reading and preparation				169
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Commentary	20%	Linguistic commentary in English	1,000 words	100%	Yes
Essay	30%	Essay in English	1,500 words	100%	Yes
Examination	50%	Written Examination	2 hours	100%	Yes

Formative Assessment

None.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.