In 2007 three linked international conferences on the French of England were held at Fordham and York. These conferences were envisaged as developments of current scholarly interest in multilingualism in Medieval Studies and were designed to call out the research communities in the French of England on both sides of the Atlantic and to continue and develop research and graduate teaching conversations about how to conceptualize and practice the interrelations of the French of England with its neighbors–continental French, Middle English, and Latin.
THE FRENCH OF ENGLAND : MULTILINGUALISM IN PRACTICE
31 March -1 April, 2007. 27th Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies, Fordham University, Lincoln Center campus
Medieval England presents a historical example of European multilingualism striking for the diversity of “cultural traffic” between the English and French languages and literatures. “The French of England: Multilingualism in Practice” addresses the sociolinguistic plurality of Frenches in England, their various internal and external interrelations, and their cross-disciplinary importance, especially to Middle English studies. Speakers from history (including legal history); literature; political science; religion; art history; and linguistics participated. The conference aimed to promote (i) wider scholarly awareness of the French of England as a field and of medieval England as a multilingual society; (ii) Middle English literary and cultural studies fully inclusive of French; and (iii) explorations beyond the traditional subdivisions (Norman French, Anglo-Norman, Anglo-French, continental French/es), working toward a more inclusive account of French in England and its interrelations with other relevant languages.
For the conference program and abstracts, click here.
Papers from this conference were subsequently published in Language and Culture in Medieval Britain: The French of England, c.1100-c.1500. For publisher’s information click here.
THE FRENCH OF ENGLAND:
LINGUISTIC ACCOMMODATION AND CULTURAL HYBRIDITY, c. 1100- c. 1500
13-16 July 2007. University of York, Centre for Medieval Studies, The King’s Manor
Medieval England presents a historical example of European multilingualism striking for the diversity of “cultural traffic” between the English and French languages and literatures. In spite of excellent editions from the Anglo-Norman Text Society, the large literary (nearly 1000 texts) and documentary corpora of the French of England remain relatively under-researched in their own right and in their relations with Middle English and continental French. This conference addressed the plurality of Frenches in England, their various internal and external inter-relations, and their cross-disciplinary importance, especially to Middle English studies. Speakers were drawn from history (including legal history); literature; political science; religion; art history; and linguistics. The conference aimed to promote (i) wider scholarly awareness of French of England as a field and of medieval England as a multilingual society; (ii) Middle English literary and cultural studies fully inclusive of French; and (iii) a stronger sense among French of England scholars of their identity as a large and varied research community. A round table of younger scholars’ work and a round table on romances were also held.
Papers from this conference were subsequently published in Language and Culture in Medieval Britain: The French of England, c.1100-c.1500. For publisher’s information click here.
FRENCH IN ENGLISH MANUSCRIPTS AND FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS IN ENGLAND
(11th YORK MANUSCRIPTS CONFERENCE)
17-19 July 2007, University of York, Centre for Medieval Studies, The King’s Manor
With the generous co-operation of Professor Linne Mooney, the York Manuscripts Conference for 2007 was planned to complement the other French of England conferences by investigating the presence and circulation of French texts in manuscripts composed or circulating in England.
Papers from this conference were subsequently published in Language and Culture in Medieval Britain: The French of England, c.1100-c.1500. For publisher’s information, click here.
Related Conferences and Conference Sessions
OXFORD OUTREMER MAP COLLOQUIUM
Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York City: April 9, 2016.
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THE FRENCH OF OUTREMER: COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE CRUSADING MEDITERRANEAN
34th Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies. Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus, March 29-30, 2014.
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READING THE FRENCH OF ENGLAND ALOUD (A WORKSHOP)
Part of the 48th International Congress on Medieval Studies. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan: May 10, 2013.
PUTTING ENGLAND IN ITS PLACE: CULTURAL PRODUCTION AND CULTURAL RELATIONS IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
33rd Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies. Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York City: March 9-10, 2013.
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READING THE FRENCH OF ENGLAND ALOUD (A WORKSHOP)
Part of the 47th International Congress on Medieval Studies. Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan: May 10-13, 2012.
THINK ROMANCE! RE-CONCEPTUALIZING A MEDIEVAL GENRE
32nd Annual Conference of the Center for Medieval Studies. Fordham University, Lincoln Center, New York City: March 31-April 1, 2012.
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