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.
This volume is an introduction to the linguistic structure of the French language. It illustrates the different ways to approaching and explaining issues of interest in French linguistics and looks at how the language is structured and varies depending on gender, medium, register, age etc. The earlier sections describe the basic 'facts' about phonology, phonetics, morphosyntax, the lexicon and semantics. Discussion of problematic issues, with contrasting different approaches to these issues then follow along with references to recent research.
