Spoken French

This chapter explores the transformation in research on spoken French that has taken place over the last fifty years. After an overview of the evolution of theoretical, methodological, and analytical tools (including the development and exploitation of digitized annotated corpora), the chapter discusses the nature and range of the research that has yielded new insights into our understanding of spoken French, including work on the morphology, syntax, phonology, lexis, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics of the spoken language. Two case studies (on dislocation and tense switching involving the narrative present) demonstrate the impact of new theories and methods on the way in which we approach particular phenomena and on our understanding of how spoken French operates, including a discussion of problematic and/or challenging issues. The chapter concludes by pointing to potential areas for future research.