History of the French Language
French Studies · 3 hrs Lecture
Offered: Winter Only
One shot a year. Offered winter term only, so a clash costs a full year.
FREN-3301 prerequisites
We couldn't read this course's prerequisites into a chain. The wording is under “Requisite courses” below.
Where FREN-3301 counts
Counts toward 1 more as one option among several, not as a course you must take:
- LING 3-YEAR BA
Read from the departments' own calendar pages, where 71 of 141 programs are only partly machine-readable, so treat these as a minimum rather than the full list. Confirm with an academic advisor.
Description
This course traces the development of the French language through the centuries, examining historical, political and social events that have a significant impact on linguistic change. Four periods are considered: the High Middle Ages and the first written texts; the Old French era with its dialects; Renaissance French, influenced by Italy and the Humanist movement; and the birth of modern French and la francophonie. Various linguistic documents are studied to illustrate the status and distinct features of French in different eras.
Requisite courses
6 credit hours in 2000-level French Studies courses or permission of the instructor [prerequisite(s)].
From the 2026-27 undergraduate calendar. Always verify details on WebAdvisor or with an academic advisor before registering.