116-450 Topics in French Syntax and Semantics

Formerly available as 116-043. Students who have completed 116-043 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in French or linguistics and applied linguistics.

This subject focuses on areas of French grammar, chosen for their theoretical interest as well as their practical usefulness: the personal pronouns (in particular the concept of deixis; the adverbial pronouns; the role of animacy); the impersonal construction (in particular restrictions on its use); the categories of tense and aspect (in particular the past tenses). Students should gain an awareness of the complexity and subtleties of the linguistic categories and constructions; they should learn how to critically evaluate standard reference grammars of French; they should read and discuss some basic, moderately technical works on French syntax and semantics.