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South Asian Languages and Civilizations Courses

200-201-202. Introduction to the Civilization of South Asia I, II, III (=Anthro 308-1,-2,-3; SocSci 230-231-232). PQ: Must be taken in sequence. This course sequence fulfills the Common Core requirement in civilizational studies. Using a variety of disciplinary approaches, this sequence seeks to familiarize students with some of the important textual, institutional, and historical ideas and experiences that have constituted "civilization" in South Asia. Topics covered in the autumn include European and American representations of South Asia; its place in world history as a "third world" or "underdeveloped" country; its recent repositioning in the global economy as a consumer society; and its popular movements (women's, rural, tribal, urban slum, and Dalit). Topics covered in the winter quarter might include Hinduism, Islam, and religious nationalism; the Great Epic (Mahabharata) and Gita in tradition and in the modern media; and "cultural" identity among South Asians in the U.S. and U.K. The spring quarter looks at politics and gender in the postcolonial period. R. Inden, Staff. Autumn, Winter; C. Breckenridge, Spring.

214. Muslim South Asia: knowledge of the language to permit a more rapid assimilation of its foundational linguistic and phonetic patterns. Staff. Autumn, Winter.

201-202. Intermediate French I, II. PQ: French 103 or 122, or placement. Completion of French 201 fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. In this two-quarter sequence, emphasis is placed on the extension of students' knowledge of the French language and culture to include all communicatively relevant patterns, common exceptions to those patterns, and their use in interactive discourse. At this level of study, students also explore the nature of sociolinguistic and behavioral norms particular to French culture as they relate to the development of native-like competence in and interpretation of written and spoken French. In multisection French 201 classes, readings are chosen according to students' interests, with the sections geared to three tracks: humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. In French 202 classes, there are two tracks: literary readings and nonfiction readings. In each case, students should register for the track that corresponds to their interests. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

203. Intermediate French III. PQ: French 202 or placement. Students in this course are expected to recognize and understand the functions of linguistic patterns in different communicative contexts across the spoken and written language and the cultural specificity/relativity of those patterns. However, that study takes place primarily through the examination of literary texts throughout various periods and debates/discussions prompted by this examination. In multisection French 203 classes, readings are chosen according to students' interests, with the sections geared to two tracks: literary readings and nonfiction readings. As with French 202, the student should choose the track that best corresponds with his or her interests. Staff. Autumn, Spring.

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204. Introduction à la civilisation française. PQ: Open only to Vendée participants. Although the chief orientation of this course, like all courses in the Vendée Program, is towards language acquisition, its focus is on day-to-day life in France. In connection with the student's home-stay, it treats the more intimate and subtle elements of modern French culture. Staff. Spring.

211/311. Advanced French Language. PQ: French 203 or placement. Required of French concentrators. This course is designed to help students attain very high levels in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It also serves as an introduction to literary analysis. Through selected exercises in an advanced-level French textbook, the close analysis of literary texts, weekly compositions, and class debates and discussions, students are guided in the exploration of the relationships between linguistic expression and literary style while perfecting their spoken and written French. N. DiVito, Autumn; Staff, Winter.

212/312. French Phonetics and Phonology. PQ: French 203 or placement. This course involves a systematic study of the French phonological system, placing equal emphasis on the recognition and the production of French sounds in context. Students also examine the relationships between the French sound system and French orthographic norms and grammatical distinctions. Staff. Spring.

213/313. Advanced Composition. PQ: French 203 or placement. The goals of this course are to help students achieve mastery of composition and style through the acquisition of numerous writing techniques. Using a variety of literary and nonliterary texts as models, students examine the linguistic structures and organization of several types of written French discourse and are guided in the acquisition of the rules underlying each discourse type. This course is strongly recommended for Paris Program-bound students. Staff. Winter.

219. La Société française. PQ: French 203 or placement. In this course, students examine the sociocultural beliefs and attitudes underlying contemporary French linguistic and behavioral norms. Through discussion of current research and the analysis of authentic video clips, tape recordings, and a variety of texts, students explore both American and French perspectives on numerous aspects of French society. This course is strongly recommended for Paris Program-bound students. N. DiVito. Spring.

Literature

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All literature courses are conducted in French unless otherwise indicated. French concentrators do all work in French. With prior consent of the instructor, nonconcentrators may write in English.

207. Introduction à la littérature française I. PQ: French 203 or equivalent. Required of French concentrators. This course is designed to give a historical overview of French literature in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. There are close readings and discussions from representative works of this period. Among the authors studied are Rabelais, Ronsard, Montaigne, Descartes, Pascal, Corneille, Racine, Molière, La Fontaine, and Mme. de Lafayette. L. Norman. Autumn.

208. Introduction à la littérature française II. PQ: French 203 or equivalent. Required of French concentrators. Readings of major authors of the eighteenth century, including Montesquieu, Prévost, Marivaux, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, and Beaumarchais. R. Morrissey. Winter.

209. Introduction à la littérature française III. PQ: French 203 or equivalent. French 209 or 210 required of French concentrators. Readings from major writers of the nineteenth century. Among the authors studied are Chateaubriand, Michelet, Balzac, Flaubert, and Baudelaire. F. Meltzer. Spring.

210. Introduction à la littérature française IV. PQ: French 203 or equivalent. French 209 or 210 required of French concentrators. Readings from major writers of the nineteenth and twentieth century. Among the authors studied are Balzac, Flaubert, Stendhal, Baudelaire, Mallarmé, Proust, and Sartn topic. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

College students are encouraged to register for 300-level courses in South Asian Languages and Civilizations. Consult the quarterly Time Schedules for additional course listings.

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