This course aims to introduce the basics of the medieval French language through examination of a selection of original text extracts. We will study the morphology and syntax of Old French, with a glimpse into the appearance of Old French in manuscripts. The selected texts will allow students to acquaint themselves with various dialects and offer a panorama of the main literary genres of the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries; however, the emphasis will be on reading, and interpretative aspects will not be explored in depth.

This course is also available at the undergraduate level. The common components of the course will focus more on the synchronic dimension than on the diachronic; graduate students will additionally learn some fundamentals of historical phonetics and other aspects of French development since Latin.

The course will be taught in French. Students from departments outside the Department of French who are interested in taking this course but believe they have not achieved the required level in modern French should contact the instructor. Efforts will be made to accommodate these students with the aid of online resources.