31147 - French Linguistics and Language 2 (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to express and understand issues related to the different aspects of a descriptive-analytical model of French language. As for written language, students must be able to read and understand complex texts, in particular reviews and books, at a minimum level of B2 level, according to the Council of Europe Framework.

Course contents

The aim of French Language and Linguistics courses is to provide Bachelor students with the main aspects of language (phonetics, morphology, lexicology, syntax) as well as to enable them to communicate properly in both written and oral French through the appropriate methodological instruments.

PROGRAMMES AND EXAMINATIONS ARE THE SAME FOR ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS, AS WELL AS FOR ERASMUS STUDENTS (WHO ARE RECOMMENDED TO CONTACT THE TEACHERS).

OFFICIAL COURSE M-Z [G. Delfini]

Lectures will be offered only during the 1st semester.

The aim of the French Language and Linguistics 2 course is to lay the theoretical and practical foundations for the study of the sentence from a syntactic and pragmatic point of view, i.e. as a linguistic act. The first part of the course will deal with the main theories for the study of pragmatics, and then these notions will be illustrated by means of examples taken from advertising texts in French.

Practical language classes (Th. Manconi; E. R. Pelletier)

[throughout the academic year]

• 2 UNITS (2 + 2 hours per week) to prepare the written test.

• 1 UNIT (2 hours per week) to prepare the oral test.

Competence assimilated to a B1 level of the CFR (level acquired at the end of Year 1) with regard to oral comprehension and production; written comprehension and production.

These 4 skills, tested at the end of year 1, will be further developed in the second year for the following aspects

- Phonology / prosody of the French language

- Syntax : morpho-syntactic traits of specialized texts

- Lexicon : lexis of specialized texts

- Organization of discourse : ability to argue and critically read texts and documents, and to produce argumentative texts and documents

- Adaptation of the linguistic register to the communicative situation as well as to the textual type under study

- Produce a coherent and cohesive, structured written text with a syntax and vocabulary conforming to at least CFR level B2.

2) Analyse de l'image - Manconi: A-L and ????: M-Z (see also the teachers' respective personal pages)

The exercise on the Analyse de l'image skill aims at the acquisition of the following competences in the lexical, syntactical and analytical fields

- Understanding an image relating to fashion, advertising, the visual arts in general;

- Acquire the tools useful for understanding and interpreting images;

- Acquire the specialized vocabulary to describe different representations in and of space

- Produce a coherent and cohesive written text, structured, with a syntax and vocabulary conforming to level B2 of the CFR. Each text should consist of two parts: 1/ descriptive part and 2/ interpretation of the image.

3) Texte informatif, Critique/Compte-rendu, éditorial, Lettre formelle / Courriel

- Identify the morpho-syntactic features of each of these text types

- Identify the preferred connectors for these text types

- Identify the degree of formality/informality of the register in its linguistic manifestations

- Produce texts conforming to the textual typology, as well as a coherent and cohesive written text, structured, with syntax and vocabulary conforming to level B2 of the CFR.

In the assessment of the written production, the following will be assessed: coherence and cohesion, organization of the text, adaptation of the linguistic register, vocabulary and syntax conforming to level B2 of the CFR.

Preparation for the oral test:

Practical language classes will be organised in two groups, in alphabetical order (A-L: Dr. Manconi; M-Z: Pelletier) and are intended to address certain topics of French language and culture that are the subject of public debate in the French-speaking world, such as: les politiques linguistiques, le concept de norme/les variétés de langue, l'écriture inclusive, l'insécurité linguistique et la glottophobie, les représentations sur et autour de la langue, le repli identitaire, les identités plurielles, la langue de bois, les néologismes, le politiquement correct, les euphémismes, la siglaison, les réformes de l'orthographe.

The level of competence attested is equivalent to level B2 (see in this respect the descriptors defined by the CEFR for languages).

The teaching activity will consist of two phases:

- practical listening comprehension activities on the basis of authentic documents on the topics outlined above.

- practical oral production activities based on "scénarios de communication" which will allow the learner's knowledge and skills to be tested and/or consolidated in terms of: cohesion and coherence of discourse, relevance of morphosyntactic structures, ability to reformulate easily, lexical repertoire, mastery of the phonological and prosodic system of the French language (see also the descriptors of level B2 of the CEFR for languages)

The objective of the language exercises (consistent with level B2 defined by the CEFR for languages) is to lead the student to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract subjects and to express them orally by adopting a personal and critical point of view.

Readings/Bibliography

OFFICIAL COURSE

N. Garric, F. Calas, Introduction à la pragmatique, Paris, Hachette, 2007 [excepted chap. 6 and 7]

C. Kerbrat-Orecchioni, Les actes de langage dans le discours, Paris, Colin, 2001 [excepted chap. 6]

Other materials and suggestions will be indicated during the course and made available on Virtuale.

PRACTICAL LANGUAGE CLASSES

- Material published on the course teaching page on Virtuale

- A reference grammar: Grammaire progressive du français, niveau perfectionnement, B2 - C2, Clé International

Teaching methods

Official course:

After the methodological lessons of the first part, students will be offered with practical exercises about advertinsing texts in French.

Preparation to the written exam [ESERCITAZIONI]:

During the course, practical activities of analysis, summary and writing will be proposed, in order to acquire and improve the competence of writing a specialized text at level B2 (CFR).

The course also includes activities to strengthen the syntax and lexical repertoire.

Preparation to the oral exam:

The purpose of the educational activities is part of a communicative perspective, «actionnelle» with which we mean the achievement of the educational objectives through the completion of defined communicative tasks.

The active participation of the learners will be at the centre of the practical activities proposed.

Assessment methods

IMPORTANT: Before taking any part of the exam of French Language and Linguistics 2 the student must have passed and registered the exam of French Language and Linguistics 1.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

The final mark is calculated as follows: the score obtained in the language written is added to the score obtained in the oral. This figure is divided by 2, added to the score obtained in the Linguistics written, and finally divided by 2.

OFFICIAL COURSE [DELFINI]

There will be 2 dates for each session.

The final examination of the official course will consist in an oral test (in French) during which students will have to demonstrate they know the theoretical part (to be prepared through the slides and the texts included in the bibliography of the programme), and how to apply it to examples taken from advertising texts in French (in addition to those proposed by the teacher during the course, the student will have to add one, chosen autonomously, to be commented on during the examination on the basis of the knowledge acquired).

Assessment will consider the following parameters :

1. Knowledge of the theoretical and methodological aspects presented during the course

2. Understanding of the original texts in French in their main aspects: pragmatic (function), semantic (content), linguistic (resources) and writing an appropriate analysis.

3. The adequacy and correctness of the French language

PRACTICAL LANGUAGE CLASSES

WRITTEN EXAM [Manconi, - ]

The examination will propose one of the types/skills covered by the exercises during the academic year. Duration of the test: 3 hours.

It is planned to organize an in-progress assessment (2 partial tests) during the academic year (one partial test at the end of each semester), according to procedures that will be explained at the beginning of the course.

ORAL EXAM [Pelletier, - ]

N.B. The oral exam can be accessed once the written exam has been passed.

The final assessment of learning consists of an oral production test inspired by the DELF B2 certification test, during which the student presents an argued point of view on one of the topics covered during the exercises, based on an authentic document (video or text).

The test is passed if the student has achieved a pass mark (18/30 or higher).

For the academic year 2023/2024, learning assessment will be organised as a continuous assessment through two tests (the dates of which will be communicated at the beginning of the academic year), which will be considered passed with a mark of 18/30 or higher for each test. The final mark will be calculated on the basis of an average of the two marks obtained in both tests. Any further details will be provided by the lecturers during the first useful lesson.

This method of examination replaces - on a voluntary basis - the final examination.

The same conditions apply to non-attending students who are invited to notify the lecturer by sending an email.

For further details on assessment, please refer to the lecturers' personal pages.

N.B. Students can pass the exam of the Official course before or after completing the written and oral exam of practical Language classes.

N.B. Each part of the exam is valid for 4 exam sessions (included the first one).

Teaching tools

PPT, audiovisual and on line resources.

Documents taken from the French and French-speaking press, advertising texts and images, iconographic sources of various kinds and origins.

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Delfini