Study Programmes 2016-2017
LROM0068-1  
French Syntax
Duration :
30h Th
Number of credits :
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : classics5
Bachelor in information and communication5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : general5
Bachelor in history5
Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5
Bachelor in history of art and archaeology : musicology5
Bachelor in ancient languages and literatures : Oriental studies5
Bachelor in philosophy5
Bachelor in French and Romance languages and literatures : general5
Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : French as a second language (120 ECTS)3
Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)5
Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)3
Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : general (60 ECTS)5
Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : general (60 ECTS)3
Lecturer :
Nicolas Mazziotta
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
The course investigates various issues in French grammar using phrase-structure based (Chomsky) and dependency based models (Tesnière, Meaning-Text Theory).
The main thematic issues are:
  • Classifying words into parts of speech (POS) and distinguishing between so-called "nature" (form) and "function";
  • Classifying the complements of the verb;
  • Subordination of clauses;
  • Coordination;
  • Structures that are deemed specific to Oral French.
We focus on the dialectics between traditional description and syntactic models.
Group exercises will investigate specific phenomena in French grammar, selected with the help of the teacher.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
  • explain the concepts and issues investigated during the lessons;
  • analyse a specific issue that has not been  investigated during the course in a critical and creative way;
  • use explicit sample data to elaborate the analysis.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Required
  • Traditional grammatical notions.
  • Main concepts of descriptive linguistics
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
  • Theoretical lessons introducing the main notions.
  • Lecture(s) by invited speaker(s) (to be confirmed).
  • Sessions consisting of group exercises: analyses and oral presentation/debate.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
The course is face-to-face and takes place during the first term.
Recommended or required readings :
Reference materials


  • Christopher Laenzlinger, Initiation à la Syntaxe formelle du français. Le modèle Principes et Paramètres de la Grammaire Générative Transformationnelle, Bern, Peter Lang, 2003.
  • Igor Mel'¿uk/Jasmina Mili¿evi¿, Introduction à la linguistique. Volume 2. Paris, Hermann, 2014. [Introduction to the synctactic module of the Meaning-Text Theory.]
  • Philippe Monneret, Exercices de linguistique, Paris, PUF, 1999. [Exercises on Lucien Tesnière's model]
  • Olivier Soutet, La linguistique, Paris, PUF, 2005. [Additional material and general outline of Lucien Tesnière's model]
  • Lucien Tesnière. Éléments de syntaxe structurale, Paris: Klincksieck.
  • Marc Wilmet. Grammaire critique du français, Bruxelles: De Boeck, 2010.
  • Other texts and references may be made available on eCampus.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Oral examination. Exercises can give a bonus/malus of 1 or 2 to the final grade.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The course takes place during Q1, every Wednesday from 12 to 2PM. Room Philo 1
Contact the teacher if necessary.
Contacts :
Teacher Nicolas MAZZIOTTA Phone: 04 366 53 82 Email: nicolas.mazziotta@ulg.ac.be