Romance Linguistics
This course examines linguistics with an emphasis on the contemporary varieties of the Romance language family. Five main domains of linguistics will be covered: phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax and sociolinguistics. This will provide a broad understanding of the major similarities and differences between the Romance languages. Although the focus will be on French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, attention will also be paid to lesser-known varieties (for instance, Romance-based Creoles, regional languages of France, minority languages in Spain, etc.). We will also be particularly interested in topics such as language variation and change, language contact, multilingualism, standardization, and language attitudes. The course will be interactive and based on numerous written exercises, in class and at home, that will allow the students to explore more precisely the different variations of the Romance languages.
Required readings: There is no required handbook for this course, all relevant material will be provided in class and on Canvas.
Prerequisites: 2nd year standing. A beginners’ knowledge (CFER A1) in at least one of the Romance languages is highly recommended.
Language of instruction: English