Download or read book The Story of French written by Jean-Benoît Nadeau and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2008-01-08 with total page 597 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why does everything sound better if it's said in French? That fascination is at the heart of The Story of French, the first history of one of the most beautiful languages in the world that was, at one time, the pre-eminent language of literature, science and diplomacy. In a captivating narrative that spans the ages, from Charlemagne to Cirque du Soleil, Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow unravel the mysteries of a language that has maintained its global influence despite the rise of English. As in any good story, The Story of French has spectacular failures, unexpected successes and bears traces of some of history's greatest figures: the tenacity of William the Conqueror, the staunchness of Cardinal Richelieu, and the endurance of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Through this colorful history, Nadeau and Barlow illustrate how French acquired its own peculiar culture, revealing how the culture of the language spread among francophones the world over and yet remains curiously centered in Paris. In fact, French is not only thriving—it still has a surprisingly strong influence on other languages. As lively as it is fascinating, The Story of French challenges long held assumptions about French and shows why it is still the world's other global language.

Download or read book When in French written by Lauren Collins and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-11-07 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A language barrier is no match for love. Lauren Collins discovered this firsthand when, in her early thirties, she moved to London and fell for a Frenchman named Olivier—a surprising turn of events for someone who didn’t have a passport until she was in college. But what does it mean to love someone in a second language? Collins wonders, as her relationship with Olivier continues to grow entirely in English. Are there things she doesn’t understand about Olivier, having never spoken to him in his native tongue? Does “I love you” even mean the same thing as “je t’aime”? When the couple, newly married, relocates to Francophone Geneva, Collins—fearful of one day becoming "a Borat of a mother" who doesn’t understand her own kids—decides to answer her questions for herself by learning French. When in French is a laugh-out-loud funny and surprising memoir about the lengths we go to for love, as well as an exploration across culture and history into how we learn languages—and what they say about who we are. Collins grapples with the complexities of the French language, enduring excruciating role-playing games with her classmates at a Swiss language school and accidently telling her mother-in-law that she’s given birth to a coffee machine. In learning French, Collins must wrestle with the very nature of French identity and society—which, it turns out, is a far cry from life back home in North Carolina. Plumbing the mysterious depths of humanity’s many forms of language, Collins describes with great style and wicked humor the frustrations, embarrassments, surprises, and, finally, joys of learning—and living in—French.

Download or read book The Way of the Linguist written by Steve Kaufmann and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2005-11 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey. It is now a cliché that the world is a smaller place. We think nothing of jumping on a plane to travel to another country or continent. The most exotic locations are now destinations for mass tourism. Small business people are dealing across frontiers and language barriers like never before. The Internet brings different languages and cultures to our finger-tips. English, the hybrid language of an island at the western extremity of Europe seems to have an unrivalled position as an international medium of communication. But historically periods of cultural and economic domination have never lasted forever. Do we not lose something by relying on the wide spread use of English rather than discovering other languages and cultures? As citizens of this shrunken world, would we not be better off if we were able to speak a few languages other than our own? The answer is obviously yes. Certainly Steve Kaufmann thinks so, and in his busy life as a diplomat and businessman he managed to learn to speak nine languages fluently and observe first hand some of the dominant cultures of Europe and Asia. Why do not more people do the same? In his book The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey, Steve offers some answers. Steve feels anyone can learn a language if they want to. He points out some of the obstacles that hold people back. Drawing on his adventures in Europe and Asia, as a student and businessman, he describes the rewards that come from knowing languages. He relates his evolution as a language learner, abroad and back in his native Canada and explains the kind of attitude that will enable others to achieve second language fluency. Many people have taken on the challenge of language learning but have been frustrated by their lack of success. This book offers detailed advice on the kind of study practices that will achieve language breakthroughs. Steve has developed a language learning system available online at: www.thelinguist.com.

Download or read book The French Language Today written by Adrian Battye and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2003-09-01 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the French language from the perspective of modern linguistics. Placing French within its social and historical context, the authors highlight the complex, diverse aspects of the language in a lively and accessible way. A variety of topics is covered, including the distribution of French in the world, the historical development of standard French, the sound system of French, its sentence patterns, and its stylistic and geographical variations. Fully updated and revised, this new edition places a greater emphasis on sociolinguistics. To make the book more user-friendly, the following new features have been added: * a further reading guide at the end of each chapter * a glossary of linguistic terms * an expanded bibliography and index.

Download or read book French Language Policies and the Revitalisation of Regional Languages in the 21st Century written by Michelle A. Harrison and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-11-11 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited volume presents an analysis of the evolution of French language policies and their impact on French regional languages and their communities. It gathers studies on language revitalisation from several territorial minority languages (Breton, Alsatian, Catalan, Occitan, Basque, Corsican, Francoprovençal, Picard, Reunionese) and evaluates the challenges and opportunities that they face in the 21st century. The chapters tackle different aspects of language endangerment and language planning and adopt varied theoretical and methodological approaches. The first section of the book reconsiders the difficulties in establishing linguistic boundaries and classification for some regional languages. The second section examines the important theme of the new generation of speakers with issues of transmission and identity formation and the changes they can bring to traditional communities. The third section highlights new developments in the context of new technologies and the heightened visibility of regional languages. Finally, the last section presents an overview of the contemporary situation of minority language revitalisation in France and synthesises the key trends identified in this volume: from the educational domain to the European Charter for Minority and Regional languages. This book will appeal to students and scholars of the sociology of language, sociolinguistics, language policy, minority languages and language endangerment.

Download or read book Learn French written by Dupont Language Institute and published by . This book was released on 2020-12-23 with total page 542 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THIS BOOK INCLUDES: Learn French for beginners Learn French for Intermediate Users Learn French for Advanced Users French Short Stories for Beginners French Short Stories Speak French If you've had a strong desire to learn French but have never found that one comprehensive beginner-friendly guide that can teach you everything you need to know as regards to the fundamentals of French- within the shortest time possible, then keep reading! You Are About To Discover The Best Way To Learn French And Sharpen Your Skills In The Language With The Best Set Of Resources In Existence! Boasting an estimate of 235 million speakers, 85 million of them being native speakers, French is the official language in 29 countries and an important business language in Europe, North Africa, Canada and many rapidly emerging markets. Therefore, it makes sense to want to learn it to use it for both business and personal interactions. So where do you start? Is there a less irking way to learn the language? Is it possible to learn the language in less than two weeks? What if you don't want to sound like a beginner but still have a good grasp of the language in no time? If you have these and other related questions, this 6 in 1 book is for you so keep reading, as it will teach you everything you need to know about learning French from complete basics to the advanced stuff! More precisely, this 6 in 1 book will teach you: How to construct proper sentences in French How you should use articles, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, nouns, pronouns, conjunctions, tenses, numbers and other elements of speech the right way in French How to put it all together with words and phrases that you can use in everyday places Awesome French stories, including practical words and phrases that are sure to help you handle different situations like a native The English versions of the stories A breakdown of common French vocabulary and grammar used in the different stories to help you put these words in everyday use, including quizzes to test your grasp of the language How to create everyday conversations in French, ask and answer questions, use French syntax, speak about sports, music, culture, clothes, foods, drinks and other topics in French How to master the use of stress and accents in French and do comparisons proficiently How to identify and fix your own mistakes as you continue learning French What you need to learn to understand French fully, including powerful tips for success How to master the critical parts of advanced French grammar and sentences to assist you gain fluency The rules of grammar and important concepts you need to know How to use different words, phrases and grammar rules right while reading, writing and speaking French How to navigate in a new country by speaking proper French ...And MUCH MORE! Detailed as it is, this book has topics ranging from beginner level to advanced level, so you can expect to join the millions around the world in learning one of the most popular languages and enjoy the endless benefits of learning French sooner than you think. Question is... Is your desire to learn the language strong enough to get you to do the only thing that separates you from the knowledge? If it is, Scroll up and click Buy Now to get started!

Download or read book Problems and Perspectives written by Wendy Ayres-Bennett and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-02-25 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Problems and Perspectives- Studies in the Modern French Language looks at a number of interesting or problematic areas in the phonology, morphology, syntax and lexis of the French language and encourages the reader to think critically about different ways of approaching, describing and explaining these issues or data. The book is divided into two parts- the first section is a preliminary to, and contextualises, the discussion of the more specialised topics of the second part. Part two presents problematic and controversial areas in the description and analysis of the contemporary language. Where appropriate historical and sociolinguistic issues are also integrated into the discussion of modern French. Aimed primarily at advanced students and researchers in French linguistics, the introductory sections of part one also make this book accessible to undergraduates beginning their study of French linguistics, and to less specialised readers.

Download or read book An Introduction to Old French written by William W. Kibler and published by Modern Language Assn of Amer. This book was released on 1984 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first section, on the grammar, presents reading selections from Marie de France's lai "Fresne" and selections in two major literary dialects of Old French--Anglo-Norman and Picard. These are followed by chapters on Old French morphology and syntax; phonology sections are included at the end of each chapter. Contains a glossary, an index, and a select bibliography.

Download or read book Words in a French Life written by Kristin Espinasse and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2007-05 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on the popular blog (French-word-a-day.com) and newsletter comes a heart-winning collection from an American woman raising two "very" French children with her French husband in Provence, and carrying on a lifelong love affair with the language.

Download or read book French Language Learning for Beginner s Vocabulary Book written by Excel Language Lessons and published by . This book was released on 2020-01-24 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Did you know that over 275 million people around the world speak a form of the French language? If you are someone who has always wanted to learn the basics to French in as short as one sitting, then keep reading... Martin really wanted to learn French, but he discovered that it was almost impossible for him to find the time to do so . He tried everything from one-on-one lessons to attending local French themed parties in hopes of finding French speaking friends. Nothing seemed like it was going to work and if it did, it was going to take too much time for Martin to commit to with his busy schedule. With no positive results coming from any of these language learning attempts, Martin began to believe that learning a new language was going to be an impossible task. Luckily for people like Martin with busy and frantic lives, learning the basics to the French language has never been easier... Thanks to the language lessons contained within this book, people like Martin now have the ability to learn the basics to French with ease. In French Language Learning for Beginners, you'll get: 5+ hours of authentic French language learning The powerful knowledge of how to say and pronounce 1000+ French words like a pro Sentences putting each and every French word into context to better your understanding Professionally organized page layouts designed to reduce confusion while increasing learning clarity and productivity 23 different categories ranging from basic words to household items for you to learn from And so much more... Fortunately, you no longer need a huge amount of money or months of time to learn a new language. Everything you need to get to know about the basics to French can be found right here. So if you want to save time and learn the French language in the most beginner friendly way, then click the "Add to Cart" button now!

Download or read book French Fun written by Steve Timmins and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 1995-11-06 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you grapple daily with spoken Québec French, are thinking of visiting or doing business in la belle province or would like to communicate more effectively with your Québécois friends and colleagues, French Fun is the book for you. With lively illustrations and hilarious literal translations, it introduces you to the French language of Québec through a collection of some of the most common and colourful idioms heard in Québec today. These are words from the real spoken French of Québec — some standard, some informal, others with a fascinating linguistic or cultural story behind them. The perfect complement to all French programs, French Fun is a must for anyone wishing to have a more intimate acquaintance with the French language of Québec and the people who speak it. Ce livre constitue un recueil des mots et expressions les plus courants et colorés de la langue québécoise de tous les jours. En le publiant, l’auteur veut partager cette richesse linguistique avec les anglophones de partout. Bien que s’adressant principalement aux anglophones, cette oeuvre peut aussi être intéressante et utile pour les francophones.

Download or read book The Languages of the World written by Kenneth Katzner and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-09-11 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This third edition of Kenneth Katzner's best-selling guide to languages is essential reading for language enthusiasts everywhere. Written with the non-specialist in mind, its user-friendly style and layout, delightful original passages, and exotic scripts, will continue to fascinate the reader. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to include more languages, more countries, and up-to-date data on populations. Features include: *information on nearly 600 languages *individual descriptions of 200 languages, with sample passages and English translations *concise notes on where each language is spoken, its history, alphabet and pronunciation *coverage of every country in the world, its main language and speaker numbers *an introduction to language families

Download or read book French written by Zsuzsanna Fagyal and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2006-09-28 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: French is used on every continent, spoken not only in France but also in Belgium, Switzerland, North America, the Caribbean, Polynesia and Africa. This is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the structure of French, suitable for those with little prior knowledge of linguistics or of the French Language. It clearly introduces the language's history, phonetics (pronunciation), phonology (sound system), morpho-syntax (how words and sentences are formed), pragmatics (how speakers express meaning), and lexicology (the study of word composition and derivation) - with each chapter showing how these aspects are subject to regional and social variation. English translations are provided for all examples, and the book contains an extensive bilingual glossary of linguistic terms, and numerous exercises and essay questions in every chapter. French: A Linguistic Introduction will be welcomed by advanced language learners, and by linguists studying the structure of this important language.

Download or read book A History of the French Language Through Texts written by Wendy Ayres-Bennett and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2005-06-27 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new history of the French language allows the reader to see how the language has evolved for themselves. It combines texts and extracts with a readable and detailed commentary allowing the language to be viewed both synchronically and diachronically. Core texts range from the ninth century to the present day highlight central features of the language, whilst a range of shorter texts illustrate particular points. The inclusion of non-literary, as well as literary texts serves to illustrate some of the many varieties of French whether in legal, scientific, epistolatory, administrative or liturgical or in more popular domains, including attempts to represent spoken usage. This is essential reading for the undergraduate student of French.

Download or read book Language Hacking French written by Benny Lewis and published by Quercus. This book was released on 2017-11-14 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's true that some people spend years studying French before they finally get around to speaking the language. But here's a better idea. Skip the years of study and jump right to the speaking part. Sound crazy? No, it's language hacking. Unlike most traditional language courses that try to teach you the rules of French, #LanguageHacking shows you how to learn and speak French through proven memory techniques, unconventional shortcuts and conversation strategies perfected by one of the world's greatest language learners, Benny Lewis, aka the Irish Polyglot. Using the language hacks -shortcuts that make learning simple - that Benny mastered while learning his 11 languages and his 'speak from the start' method, you will crack the language code and exponentially increase your language abilities so that you can get fluent faster. It's not magic. It's not a language gene. It's not something only "other people" can do. It's about being smart with how you learn, learning what's indispensable, skipping what's not, and using what you've learned to have real conversations in French from day one. The Method #LanguageHacking takes a modern approach to language learning, blending the power of online social collaboration with traditional methods. It focuses on the conversations that learners need to master right away, rather than presenting language in order of difficulty like most courses. This means that you can have conversations immediately, not after years of study. Each of the 10 units culminates with a speaking 'mission' that prepares you to use the language you've learned to talk about yourself. Through the language hacker online learner community, you can share your personalized speaking 'missions' with other learners - getting and giving feedback and extending your learning beyond the pages of the book . You don't need to go abroad to learn a language any more.

Download or read book Colloquial French written by Valérie Demouy and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-08-14 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Colloquial French: The Complete Course for Beginners has been carefully developed by an experienced teacher to provide a step-by-step course to French as it is written and spoken today. Combining a clear, practical and accessible style with a methodical and thorough treatment of the language, it equips learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in French in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Colloquial French is exceptional; each unit presents a wealth of grammatical points that are reinforced with a wide range of exercises for regular practice. A full answer key, a grammar summary, bilingual glossaries and English translations of dialogues can be found at the back as well as useful vocabulary lists throughout. Key features include: A clear, user-friendly format designed to help learners progressively build up their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills Jargon-free, succinct and clearly structured explanations of grammar An extensive range of focused and dynamic supportive exercises Realistic and entertaining dialogues covering a broad variety of narrative situations Helpful cultural points explaining the customs and features of life in France. An overview of the sounds of French Balanced, comprehensive and rewarding, Colloquial French is an indispensable resource both for independent learners and students taking courses in French. Audio material to accompany the course is available to download free in MP3 format from www.routledge.com/cw/colloquials. Recorded by native speakers, the audio material features the dialogues and texts from the book and will help develop your listening and pronunciation skills.

Download or read book Fluent Forever written by Gabriel Wyner and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2014-08-05 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • For anyone who wants to learn a foreign language, this is the method that will finally make the words stick. “A brilliant and thoroughly modern guide to learning new languages.”—Gary Marcus, cognitive psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Guitar Zero At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently. He didn’t learn them in school—who does? Rather, he learned them in the past few years, working on his own and practicing on the subway, using simple techniques and free online resources—and here he wants to show others what he’s discovered. Starting with pronunciation, you’ll learn how to rewire your ears and turn foreign sounds into familiar sounds. You’ll retrain your tongue to produce those sounds accurately, using tricks from opera singers and actors. Next, you’ll begin to tackle words, and connect sounds and spellings to imagery rather than translations, which will enable you to think in a foreign language. And with the help of sophisticated spaced-repetition techniques, you’ll be able to memorize hundreds of words a month in minutes every day. This is brain hacking at its most exciting, taking what we know about neuroscience and linguistics and using it to create the most efficient and enjoyable way to learn a foreign language in the spare minutes of your day.