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2026-2027 / TRAD0122-3

General linguistics, lexicography and syntax issues, Lexicography and syntax issues

Duration

30h Th, 6h Pr

Number of credits

 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters)3 crédits 

Lecturer

France-Anne Neven

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

    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

    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

No prerequisite knowledge, but C1 level for non-native speakers. 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

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).
*The groups for the Monday seminar will be formed during the first class, on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 8:00 a.m.

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

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.

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

January: The written exam may cover:

  • 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)

No work placements.

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

FANeven@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online

Course notes
Course notes

Dictionaries
Dictionaries

Planing
Planing

Power Point (September 2026)
PP