CONFIDENT FRENCH from A to Z: A Dictionary of Niceties and Pitfalls

The book is a collection, indexed and in alphabetical order, of language subtleties and difficulties encountered by students at all stages of French study at the University of Oxford. Even after they have consulted several dictionaries and grammars of French — whether French, English, or bilingual — many students’ questions remain unanswered, or hidden within a vast amount of information, or only partially dealt with by the reference books. The growing number of language forums on the internet is certainly an excellent thing, and is proof of the keen interest which the French language arouses in speakers and learners, but can we really trust the comments of web users who, from one website to another, and even sometimes within the same forum, may give contradictory explanations? Here, we seek to give an account of language based on actual usage, while also remaining sensitive to language variation and change. Entries are ordered alphabetically, and each is accompanied by examples, using quotations from authors or from everyday French. The book is aimed at lovers of the French language, and at secondary school pupils, university students of French, and teachers of French, who, for either work or pleasure, have an interest in linguistic difficulties. While being far from exhaustive, it aims to encourage the reader to reflect on such issues. Containing 125 lively illustrations by Igor Bratusek, an Index of Topics, and with all necessary translations provided in footnotes, it is suitable for all levels of French language ability.