5.25 Academic French — Epoché
What you will be able to do Use sixty-five words and set phrases of academic French: ordering and adding, explaining, cause and consequence, contrast, concluding, and the verbs and nouns of research. Recognise the connector or , the most French of all essay words, which English has no single word for. Write in the impersonal register of a French essay or article, with on , nous and il convient de . Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the French aloud; all of them come back below. French English Les entreprises sont moins loyales à l'égard de leurs salariés. [1] Companies are less loyal to their workers. En ce qui concerne cette affaire, je suis le fautif. [2] Concerning this matter, I'm the one to blame. Mon opinion diffère de la vôtre. [3] My opinion is different from yours. Elle l'aime désormais davantage qu'elle ne le faisait auparavant. [4] She loves him now more than she did before. Les pourparlers devraient bientôt commencer. [5] The talks should begin soon. Je l'ai entendu d'une source fiable. [6] I heard it from a reliable source. Prerequisites : 5.24 — this lesson follows 5.24 Vocabulary . The basic connectors, cependant , en effet , par conséquent , en revanche and d'ailleurs , were taught in 4.26 Grammar , with puisque and c'est pourquoi , which come back here as review; this lesson adds the rest of the set that French essays, articles and theses use. Academic French is held together by small phrases. A French reader expects each step of an argument to be marked: the first point opens with tout d'abord , a new point is added with en outre , a restatement begins autrement dit , a conclusion en somme . English academic writing marks its steps more lightly, and English speakers writing French often leave them out. A French text without them reads as a list rather than an argument. Word list Sixty-five words and phrases in eight groups: ordering and adding, explaining and reformulating, cause and consequence, contrast and concession, concluding, time, the work itself, and sources. Ordering and adding Word Meaning Notes tout d'abord fr first of all Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs Opens the first point; then ensuite , enfin . J'ai tout d'abord refusé. [7] I refused at first. premièrement fr firstly, in the first place Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Then deuxièmement . Premièrement, tu dois fortifier ton corps. [8] To begin with, you must build up your body. d'une part … d'autre part fr on the one hand … on the other Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs Two points of equal weight, not necessarily opposed. D'une part, je suis pauvre ; d'autre part, je suis occupé. [9] For one thing, I am poor; for another, I am busy. en outre fr moreover, in addition Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs Written; in speech en plus . En outre, elle a un sens artistique. [10] In addition, she has an artistic flair. par ailleurs fr moreover; otherwise, by the way Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs In speech often by the way ; in writing moreover . Par ailleurs, quelle est ton adresse? [11] By the way, what is your address? également fr also, as well; equally Gender / part of speech adverb How English differs More formal than aussi . Entends-tu également cela ? [12] Do you hear that, too? en particulier fr in particular Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs As in English. Je n'accuse personne en particulier. [13] I'm not accusing anyone in particular. à la fois fr at the same time; both Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs à la fois simple et juste , both simple and right . Faisons une chose à la fois. [14] Let's do one thing at a time. Explaining and reformulating Word Meaning Notes autrement dit fr in other words Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs Introduces a restatement. Autrement dit, il ne veut pas le faire. [15] In other words, he doesn't want to do it. en d'autres termes fr in other words Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs More formal than autrement dit . En d'autres termes, elle est bête. [16] In other words, she's dumb. à cet égard fr in this respect Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs Refers back to the point just made. À cet égard, mon opinion diffère de la vôtre. [17] In that respect, my opinion differs from yours. en ce qui concerne fr as regards, concerning Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs Long but very common in writing. En ce qui concerne ça, je suis le fautif. [18] Concerning this, I'm the one to blame. quant à fr as for, as to Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs Quant à moi , as for me . Soyons clairs quant à ceci ! [19] Let's be clear on this. à propos de fr about, concerning Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs À propos , alone, means by the way . À propos de qui parles-tu ? [20] Who are you talking about? à l'égard de fr towards, with regard to Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs Of an attitude: gentil à l'égard de . Les entreprises sont moins loyales à l'égard de leurs employés. [21] Companies are less loyal to their workers. au sein de fr within, in the heart of Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs Formal; of a group or an institution. Il a été heureux au sein de sa famille. [22] He was happy in the bosom of his family. selon fr according to Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs Selon moi , in my view . Selon moi, ce n'est pas une bonne idée. [23] In my opinion that isn't a good idea. Cause and consequence Word Meaning Notes étant donné fr given, in view of Gender / part of speech phrase How English differs étant donné que , given that . Étant donné son inexpérience, elle a bien fait. [24] Given her inexperience, she has done well. en raison de fr because of, owing to Gender / part of speech preposition How English differs Formal for à cause de . Le pont céda en raison de la crue. [25] The bridge