Subject Area: French Studies

In this course, students will have the opportunity to discover the centrality of the French language in framing French identity, and to explore the current status of the French language in societies and institutions around the world. This course will provide students with an overview of the history of the French language from its origin to the contemporary period (efforts to codify the language will receive particular attention), and with an overview of the actual diversity of French in France and around the world (in the Americas, in Africa and in Europe), including the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions (official policies to assert the status of French in the world will receive particular attention). A variety of written and audio-visual materials will be used to illustrate the lectures.

This course is taught in English and with readings in English.