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The Art of French Business Letter Writing: Our Modern Form of “Préciosité”
Author(s) -
Watts Françoise
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1993.tb01165.x
Subject(s) - harmony (color) , curriculum , humanism , civilization , linguistics , balance (ability) , dynamism , aesthetics , literature , sociology , history , art , visual arts , pedagogy , philosophy , psychology , epistemology , archaeology , theology , neuroscience
French business letter writing is characterized by its convoluted and somewhat antiquated figures of speech. The practice of that exercise can be enhanced through the help of cultural references that can be found especially in 17th century literature and civilization. In its linguistic patterns, for instance, one recognizes a search for balance and harmony combined with baroque and almost “precieux” elements. As a vibrant part of the humanistic curriculum, French for Business offers students the opportunity to discover in its discourse reflections of a rich cultural tradition.