Logo UAB

Lexicology of the French Language

Code: 106628 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
English and French Studies OB 4

Contact

Name:
Maria Angeles Catena Rodulfo
Email:
angels.catena@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

None


Objectives and Contextualisation

The training objectives of this subject are:
To acquire basic knowledge in lexicology: lexical unit, phraseological unit, lexical combinatory, lexical-semantic
classes, lexical-semantic relations ...
To improve lexical competence in French.
To improve the skills as a user of lexicographic products.
To develop knowledge and skills analysis of the lexicon of the French language.

Competences

  • Analyse the main phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic and pragmatic properties of the English and French languages, their evolution throughout history and their current structures.
  • Apply the concepts, resources and methods acquired to the different fields of applied English and French linguistics, in a global, multilingual, social context of language learning.
  • Carry out linguistic analyses of the English and French languages using specific competences methodologies and terminology.
  • Identify the foundations of human language and the principles, methods and results of structural analysis of languages.
  • Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their study area) to issue judgments that include reflection on important issues of social, scientific or ethical.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
  • Use digital tools and specific documentary sources to gather and organise information.
  • Use spoken English and French correctly for academic and professional purposes related to the study of linguistics, history, culture and literature.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the main phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic and pragmatic properties of French in the current language.
  2. Autonomously search, select and process information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  3. Be familiar with the resources available for the analysis of French.
  4. Compare the expression of grammatical and natural gender in distinct languages.
  5. Distinguish grammatical gender from natural gender.
  6. Distinguish the distinct levels of linguistic analysis and establish relationships between them.
  7. Establish typological generalizations.
  8. Generate hypotheses and arguments to explain a given linguistic phenomenon.
  9. Identify and explain the terminology specific to each of the linguistic levels.
  10. Identify distinct theoretical options or ways of approaching the same linguistic phenomena from alternative theoretical frameworks.
  11. Identify the pragmatic factors that condition the use of different linguistic and argumentative structures.
  12. Identifying different theoretical options or ways of dealing with the same problem from alternative theoretical frameworks.
  13. In a responsible and reasoned way, apply the appropriate computer techniques for the consultation and management of specific documentary sources.
  14. Make oral and written presentations of an academic and/or professional nature on French language, linguistics, culture or literature with a high degree of linguistic accuracy and terminological precision in French.
  15. Produce works in which the fundamental digital and bibliographic tools for the field of study are applied.
  16. Solve complex linguistic analysis at any level and with the appropriate tools.
  17. Summarising acquired knowledge about the origin and transformations experienced in its several fields of study.
  18. Use the appropriate and specific terminology of the literary studies.

Content

1. La notion d'unité lexicale: UL simple vs UL complexe
2. Morphologie lexicale
3. Relations sémantiques lexicales. La polysémie
5. Sens linguistique et parap


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Analysis of lexical phenomena 25 1 1, 4, 3, 5, 6, 7, 14, 8, 11, 9, 10, 12, 17, 18
Master classes with ICT support and collective discussion 19 0.76 1, 4, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12
Type: Supervised      
Exercices in small groups 25 1 13, 2, 3, 15, 14, 16, 17, 18
Type: Autonomous      
Analysis of lexical units in context and of lexicographical descriptions 45 1.8 1, 13, 2, 15, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18
Exercises for improving lexical skills 30 1.2 13, 2, 6, 15, 14, 17, 18

In general terms, the learning process will be implemented according to the following actions and techniques:
Máster class with tic support and general discussion
Oral and written expression practice in the french language
Analysis of lexical phenomena and lexical units in context
Analysis of lexicographic descriptions
Completion of group and individual exercises, both in written and oral form.
Completion of autonomous activities:exercises, test preparation, readings,compositions, personal study
Flipped classrooms
Tutorials

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Active participation in activities in class 20% 0 0 1, 13, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 7, 14, 8, 11, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18
Activities posted in the virtual campus 30% 0 0 13, 2, 15, 14, 16, 17, 18
Theoretical-practical test 1 25% 3 0.12 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 8, 11, 9, 10, 12, 16
Theoretical-practical test 2 25% 3 0.12 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 8, 11, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17

The  continuous evaluation and will include tests, exercises and papers delivered throughout the semester, and active participation during classes. It will include at least two partial exams.
To participate in the reappraisal process, the students must have been previously evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade. Recovery process will consist in a global remedial exam. Only students who, having failed, have at least a final average grade of 3.5 out of 10 will have the right to reexamination. Oral presentations, tasks related to daily teaching activities and paper handling are non-recoverable.
Students who have completed less than 30% of the evaluation activities will be considered 'NOT EVALUABLE'.
At the time of the completion of each evaluation activity, students will be informed (via Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of the evaluation.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject. 
This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks (where applicable]. In the case of subjects in a Modern Languages degree, use of translation must be specifically authorised by the teacher. Other specific situations may be contemplated, as deemed appropriate by the teacher.
The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.
Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero.
In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
SINGLE EVALUATION
This subject will grant a single evaluation according to the terms of the uab academic regulations.
Students must present an electronic application within the dates set by the calendar of the faculty. a copy of
the application will be sent to the person responsable for the course as documentary proof.
The single evaluation will take place within one day. on the day of the evaluation, professors will ask students
to identify themselves with a valid picture id (student id, dni or passport)
SINGLE EVALUATION ACTIVITIES
The final grade of the subject will be established according to the following percentages:
EXAM 1: UNIT 1 and 2 CONTENT EXAM 35%
EXAM 2: UNIT 3 and 4 CONTENT EXAM 35%
Activities published in the virtual campus: 30%
The grade review and the reappraisal process are the same as the ones applied to the continuous evaluation. you will find them above.

The scheduling of the evaluation tests cannot be modified (except in exceptional and justified cases).


Bibliography

POLGUÈRE, Alain (2016): Lexicologie et sémantique lexicale : notions fondamentales, 3e éditioon, Montréal: Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal.
TREMBLAY, Ophélie et ANCTIL, Dominic. (2016): «Les unités lexicales et leurs usages: la notion de combinatoire». Correspondance, 21(2), 25-28. 
TREMBLAY, Ophélie et ANCTIL, Dominic. (2016): «Les collocations: des combinaisons de mots privilégiées» Chronique lexicographique 21 (3), 
 
Additional reading materials and digital resources will be published on the Virtual Campus

Software

There is no specific software for this subject.
 

Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 French first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 French first semester morning-mixed