Duration
General linguistics : 20h Th, 25h Pr
Lexicography and syntax issues : 30h Th, 6h Pr
Number of credits
| Bachelor in translation and interpretation | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
General linguistics : Christophe Delval
Lexicography and syntax issues : France-Anne Neven
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
General linguistics
How can you describe a language? Do we ever really master a language? Besides their considerable diversity, do languages have common properties? How do they work? How are they acquired? Can we lessen their apparent complexity? How do my words, what I'm saying, make sense? These are all questions this course aims to answer. It provides an introduction to the basic concepts and methods of general linguistics. There are two objectives: on the one hand, to initiate students in the fundamental questions concerning the nature and the function of language and languages and, on the other hand, to familiarise students with the analytical tools particular to the field.
The course is based on five modules:
I. What is language - Purposes and methods of linguistics
II. The universal properties of languages
III. Language as an object of study
1. - Phonetics and phonology
2. - Morphology
3. - lexicology and semantics
IV. Language and communication (communication theories)
V. Language, its use and society - sociolinguistics
Lexicography and syntax issues
1) In-depth study of lexicological concepts and methods (procedures for creating words, relationships between words etc);
2) In-depth study of the syntactic particularities of French;
3) Identification of syntactical and lexical errors or mistakes in statements and redrafting these statements in standard French;
4) Working with the main dictionaries and grammar books relating to the French language.
5) Use of dictionaries
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
General linguistics
Students should be able to:
- thoroughly examine the nature of language and how languages work;
- use analytical tools particular to the field and apply them to new situations;
- analyse a speech and separate it into its various linguistic units;
- explain the system of sound production for French;
- analyse and describe the different mechanisms involved in sound production;
- understand the role of the linguistic context and the extralinguistic situation and explain their interaction.
Lexicography and syntax issues
Students will be capable of using appropriate dictionaries and grammatical works depending on their research objectives and methods. Students will be able to identify syntactical and lexicological mistakes, weaknesses and errors and be able to correct them.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
General linguistics
Good knowledge of the French language (B2 level).
Lexicography and syntax issues
No prerequisite knowledge, but C1 level for non-native speakers.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
General linguistics
The course alternates between lectures, learning through problem-solving, doing exercises and reading documents.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
General linguistics
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face course.
The following materials are available on eCampus: lecture slides (PDF); annotatable lecture slides (PDF); the practical sessions notes (PDF); online exercises.
Lectures: thirteen (13) sessions (01:30) are scheduled on Tuesdays (starting 15 September 2026).
Practical sessions: twelve (12) sessions (01:30) are scheduled on Mondays (starting 21 September 2026); they aim to help students familiarise themselves with the course content and the analytical tools specific to the discipline. Online texts and related questions will be provided (eCampus) each week; the objective is to explore the subject matter and concepts that will be summarised during the lectures. The session will conclude with the resolution of exercises based on the material studied in previous weeks (application to new situations). Online preparatory exercises (« textes pilotes ») are compulsory. Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory.
Student participation during both lectures and practical sessions is highly encouraged. Students are therefore required to dedicate a certain amount of independent study time outside these face-to-face classes.
Lexicography and syntax issues
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Course delivered exclusively in person Additional information:
Duration and period: 30 hours during the first semester.
The Lexicography and Syntax Questions (QLS) course will be taught during the first semester according to the following schedule:
- Group 1: Mondays, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.; ULiège, TI campus, rue de Pitteurs, L5 2.8 (Danica Seleskovitch room);
- Group 2: Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; ULiège, TI campus, rue de Pitteurs, L5 2.8 (Danica Seleskovitch room).
Teaching and learning methods The course is exercise-based (Wooclap, e-campus, course syllabus). All exercises are accompanied by theoretical explanations provided by the instructor.
At the end of each class, students may be offered a short test covering the material taught during that session. These short tests will enable students to earn, before the examination session, up to 6 points out of 20. Depending on their level of difficulty, the tests will be worth between 0.5 and 2 points.
These short tests may take the form of an open-ended question or a multiple-choice question.
Attendance is recommended. Students who attend classes and participate attentively will have the opportunity to earn up to 6 points per module before the June examination session.
It is important to emphasise that, firstly, these tests are entirely optional and, secondly, that not taking them will not disadvantage students.
Consequently, students who have not attended some or all of the classes in person and have not completed the corresponding tests will not be permitted to take these tests at a later date, regardless of the reason given (illness, with or without a medical certificate; late arrival in the programme following a change of study programme; etc.). In order not to disadvantage students who are absent from class, the instructors have put in place an alternative arrangement, which is explained under the "Assessments" tab.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
General linguistics
- Notes including theoretical explanations, slides, texts and exercises available on eCampus.
- COMPULSORY READING : compendium of texts ans documents avalaible on eCampus.
- Les linguistes atterrées, Le français va très bien, merci. Paris : Gallimard, Tract n°49, 2023.
Lexicography and syntax issues
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
COURSE NOTES:
- Course notes (with exercices and exams examples).
- Texts and exercises distributed during class.
- Books to help students prepare for their exam :
COLIGNON, J.-P., Pour ne plus faire de fautes d'orthographe. Paris, éd. de l'Opportun, Poche, s.d.
COLIGNON, J.-P., Objectif zéro faute ! Paris, éd. L'étudiant, 2023.
RECOMMENDED READING :
A bibliography will be distributed during class.
MAIN RESOURCES USED BY THE TEACHER :
- Bavoux, C. (dir.), Le français des dictionnaires: L'autre versant de la lexicographie française, Brussels, Duculot, 2008.
- Bal, W., Doppagne, A., Goosse, A., Hanse, J., Lenoble-Pinson, M., Pohl, J., Warnant, L.,Belgicismes. Inventaire des particularités lexicales du français en Belgique, Louvain-la-Neuve, Duculot, Paris, Conseil international de la langue française, 1994.
- Hanse, J., Blampain, D., Nouveau dictionnaire des difficultés du français moderne, Louvain-la-Neuve, De Boeck-Duculot, 2005.
- Paveau, M.-A., Rosier, L., La langue française: passions et polémiques, Paris, Vuibert, 2008.
General linguistics
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Further information:
Any session :
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- Remote
oral exam
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in-person
Additional information:
Written exam organised in January, June and September in the form of a MCQ and open questions relating to what the students have learnt (knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts and methods of linguistics) and know-how (knowing how to use the tools particular to the field in the proposed new situations)
This teaching unit ("Unité d'enseignement," or UE) is subject to the principle of the "note absorbante," which means that the student having obtained a mark below 8/20 for one of the learning activities ("activités d'apprentissage," or AA) will receive a failing grade for the entire unit and will have to retake the failed AA in the second session regardless of the mathematical average of the two AA grades.
Lexicography and syntax issues
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- Remote
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Further information:
Any session :
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- Remote
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in-person
Additional information:
Absorbing Grade Principle and Grading
This course unit is subject to the absorbing grade principle. This means that if a grade below 7/20 is given for one of the learning activities (AAs), that grade becomes the overall grade for the course unit. Only the exam for the failed AA will be retaken during the second session.
Exam Formats by Session
All sessions combined:
-
In-person: Written evaluation (MCQs, open-ended questions)
-
Remote: Written evaluation (MCQs, open-ended questions)
-
If "hybrid": Preference for in-person evaluation
- A list of paronyms and semantically similar terms that can lead to writing errors (list published in the syllabus).
- J.-P. Colignon's book (required reading available as a PDF or in hard copy).
- Identifying and correcting solecisms and barbarisms in a text.
- Exercises and theoretical points covered in class (word creation processes, meaning of affixes, identification of Belgianisms, etc.).
June: This is a second chance for students who did not get at least 10/20 in January. The format and content are identical to the January exam.
September: Written exam (modalities and content are identical).
Remote and In-Person Evaluation
If the health context allows, in-person evaluation will be preferred for the June and September sessions, following the written exam format explained in the EP (Detailed Program).
In the case of remote evaluation, it will be conducted on the TEAMS platform. The evaluation will be a single, individual written exam held on one day. Students will be invited to connect to TEAMS according to an established schedule. They will be gathered in small groups or, if the number permits, in a large group, so that the exam can take place under the teacher's supervision. The camera must be on and the microphone must be open.
Please note that changes in the health situation could justify changes to the student evaluation procedure (online written or oral exams).
Work placement(s)
Lexicography and syntax issues
No work placements.
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
General linguistics
Christophe Delval : christophe.delval@uliege.be
Lexicography and syntax issues
FANeven@uliege.be
Association of one or more MOOCs
Items online
Lexicography and syntax issues
Course notes
Course notes
Dictionaries
Dictionaries
Planing
Planing