Every year first and second year students are faced with the challenge of
deciding in which direction to pursue their studies in French. The following are
brief descriptions of what Literature and Linguistics are and what they can do
for you in the future. Literature is not just imaginative fiction; it
is a rich fund of knowledge about the real world. Through literature we learn
about the historical, social, intellectual and moral forces which have shaped
humanity. Literature is also a powerful agent in the world: it proposes
criticism, solutions and alternatives to reality and to our place in it. It
changes each reader who encounters diverse, sometimes troubling worlds. As with all forms of art; literature provides both enjoyment and beauty, but
also difficult challenges. Like all art, literature is also a technique to be
understood through the study of style and theories about how words and texts can
be viewed as systems that constitute cultural identity, be it social,
intellectual or linguistic. Knowledge of literature is an invaluable social skill which contributes to
one’s ability to understand and influence people; to speak and express oneself
in a coherent and effective way; to adapt one’s written and oral expression to
different people and different contexts, with respect and understanding. What can literature do for me? Understanding
literature involves a highly specialized form of reading which not only develops
knowledge of people and cultures outside of our own personal experience, but
also the skills and techniques of problem-solving, inferential and conceptual
thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and logic. Good readers are not only
great writers but excellent thinkers as well. The research and communication
skills that are required of the student of literature translate naturally into
both personal and professional life. Beyond the obvious career paths in
Education, professions involving literature and the arts include: Linguistics, the scientific study of the
language, enhances your academic program with critical and analytical skills
while contributing to your better understanding of human language (French,
English and others), not simply from a grammatical or spoken perspective but
also from a scientific approach. All the career paths
below can be expanded to include global possibilities by combining linguistics
with the study of a language such as French. In addition, a program in French
and Linguistics will provide you with background knowledge and transferable
skills for a variety of careers, both those which interest you now and others
you may turn to in the future. Linguistics has many applications in a wide
range of fields such as:Welcome Undergraduates!
Literature
Linguistics
Phonetics and phonology (the study of the
distinctive sounds of French) provide an understanding of the mechanics of tone,
accentuation and articulation that can enhance your own pronunciation of French
and other languages. The study of syntax (word order and sentence structure)
will help you understand both what French has in common with other languages and
what makes it unique. The study of morphology (the forms and functions of
words) and semantics (word and sentence meanings) will complement your
understanding of French and how it is related and yet different from other
languages.
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