Orthographe progressive du français par Isabelle Chollet et Jean-Michel Robert

Abstract

Reviewed by: Orthographe progressive du français par Isabelle Chollet et Jean-Michel Robert Jessica L. Sturm Chollet, Isabelle, et Jean-Michel Robert. Orthographe progressive du français. CLÉ International, 2019 ISBN 978-209-03457-4. Pp. 176 + CD + online content. Orthography in French is nearly as tricky as in English, and one can never have too many handbooks and references on this topic. Orthographe progressive du français is designed as a resource for class or for independent study. Before the table of contents, the authors include a helpful guide to French phonetics with International Phonetic Alphabet symbols, examples, and pronunciation. The text is divided in three sections, l’orthographe grammaticale, l’orthographe d’usage, and les particularités. L’orthographe grammaticale concerns itself with verb conjugations, tenses, moods, adjective endings, words such as tous/tout/e/s, as well as agreement with the past participle and verbs with collective subjects. L’orthographe d’usage addresses pairs of spellings, e.g., -ic/-ique, -ment/-mment, -s/-ss, along with final e (or not), and double consonants. Other aspects of usage include orthographic anomalies, the plural of compound nouns, and the gender and number of certain nouns. Les particularités refers to mechanics such as accent marks, punctuation, capitalization, apostrophes, and numbers. This section also includes prefixes, suffixes, homophones, often mis-spelled words and phrases, and the 1990 orthographic reform. Each section gives examples, explanations, and tricks before providing exercises to apply the material learned. Finally, at the end of each section there is a bilan to review its contents. Along with the paper text, purchase of Orthographe progressive du français includes a CD and access to the online text. With the online text, learners and instructors can find an interactive Table of Contents, use colored highlighting, and take notes or create bookmarks. This in addition to having access anywhere one takes their device(s). The CD provides audio files for the text, including dictées and communicative activities. Each feature of this book works to provide students not just with rules and tips, but tools to encounter new words and phrases in French as they continue their study of the language. As the authors intended, it can enhance a language class as an auxiliary material to the main textbook. For self-study, Orthographe progressive du français will guide the learner to a deeper understanding of French orthography as they work through the material. [End Page 209] Jessica L. Sturm Purdue University (IN) Copyright © 2022 American Association of Teachers of French