Content last reviewed:
If you're not sure where to start your research this guide will point you to some of the best starting points. Don't forget, you can always get in touch directly with any questions you may have.
Language Dictionaries (a small selection)
- Le Petit Robert For students enrolled in French classes. You can get the password by contacting us at the library (askthelibrary@carleton.ca).
- Word Reference Includes English-French/French English dictionaries as well as a user forum where you can ask questions
- Larousse French Dictionaries includes a general dictionary with explanatory notes to help you avoid common linguistic errors, a
dictionary of synonyms and antonyms, dictionary of idioms and expressions, dictionary of homonyms, dictionary of quotations, verb tables, and a number of bilingual dictionaries. - Le grand dictionnaire terminologique: The Quebec government official terminology dictionary. Good for finding the proper word for business, government, professions...
- Termium Plus: similar to above, it is the Canadian government's official dictionary including terms in English, French, and Spanish
- Trésor de la langue française informatisé (TLFi): the online version of a French historical and etymological dictionary (16 volumes) covering the 19th and 20th centuries. The project ceased in 1994 but the dictionary is still available.
Verbs
Grammars
- Batchelor, R.E. & Chebli-Saadi, M. (2011). A reference grammar of French
Call Number: PC2112.B356 2011 - Grevisse, M. & Goosse, A. (2008). Le bon usage: grammaire française
Call Number PC2112.G65 2008 - Heminway, A. (2007). Complete French grammar
- L'Huillier, M. (1999). Advanced French grammar
Floor 3, PC2112.L485 - Lang, M. & Perez, I. (2004). Modern French grammar: a practical guide
- Perramond, D. B. (1997). Composition et grammaire de texte
Other Linguistics
- Fagyal, Z. (2006). French: a linguistic introduction
Call Number PC2073.F34 2006 - Gess, R. , Lyche, C., & Meisenburg, T. (2012). Phonological variation in French: illustrations from three continents
Call Number: PC2131.P47 2012 - Huot, H. (2012). La morphologie: forme et sens des mots français
Call Number: PC2171.H957 2012 - Rowlett, P. (2007). The syntax of French
Call Number: PC2361.R69 2007 - Walker, D.C. (2001). French sound structure
Call Number: PC2135.W28 2001
Omni
Omni is the library's main search tool for doing your search for resources. With Omni, you can do a simple search and/or an advanced search. This video will introduce you to the features of the Omni search tool.
This video in French will introduce you to the features of the Omni Search Tool.
French Databases
We have several French language databases at the library.
- Repère: References to more than 500 French language journals in all fields, from Quebec, other Canadian provinces, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
- Erudit: Scientific journals from Quebec.
This video in French will introduce you to the features of using Érudit.
- Cairn.info: A comprehensive collection of French language publications in the following disciplines: economics, law, history and geography, literature and linguistics, psychology, education, political science, sociology and sports.
This video in French will introduce you to the features of using Cairn.info.
- Persée: French full-text scientific journals in the humanities and social science
Other Databases
The following multidisciplinary databases have some content in French.
Databases for Linguistics
- Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA): lists over 1,200 journals from all sources as well as books, technical reports, theses, and book reviews.
- ERIC: Covers academic and professional literature in education and is useful in several related fields whose topics have a bearing on education
- Sociological Abstracts: Includes articles from over 1800 journals. Contains abstracts of books, book chapters, conference proceedings, and theses.
Free Full-Text E-Books:
- ARTFL Project: full text of many classic French books and also access to subscripton databases such as FRANTEXT, French Women Writers, Provençal Poetry
- Athena: textes français
- Gallica: Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France). Hundreds of thousands of digitzed books, maps, journal articles...
- Bibliothèque et archives nationales (Quebec): Collection numérique
- Bibliothèque Universelle (ABU). Full-text of francophone works in the public domain since 1993.
General
- Language Portal of Canada / Portail linguistique du Canada
- Bibliothèque national de France
- Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec or BAnQ: education links to full text sources, audio, video...
Newspapers & Magazines
- Eureka.cc Full text of Canadian French and English newspapers, some from France (e.g. le Monde) , also includes full transcripts from Societe Radio Canada tv broadcasts
- Factiva: for articles in French, delete the English under the Language option. You can also limit searches to news sources from particular geographic Regions or from a specific source (click on "all sources" and just start typing the source name)
- PressReader: Lets you read full image versions of newspapers and magazines. Many ways to browse publications: by country, by language,etc.
Language Learning
- Amélioration du français from the Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique (CCDMD) material both for students and teachers of French at the CEGEP level
- Banque d'exercises de français from the government of Quebec, online exercises to practice French at beginner, intermediate, advanced levels
- Visez Juste (University of Ottawa) aims to help improve spoken and written French, has sections on vocabulary, grammar, writing/editing, spelling, speaking.
Music
- Radio Canada - Musique
- FrenchScene.net
- Quebec Radio Stations live broadcast on internet
Videos
- AudioCine: Wide selection of streaming feature films. Many are available in French.
- Films on Demand: streaming subscription service available through the Library. To see just French films in the collection choose Browse Videos from the menu, then go to the World Languages section and choose French.
- Curio: Provides streaming access to educational video and audio content from CBC and Radio-Canada.
- BBC Languages: French resources for learning French including audio, video... (no longer being updated, but lots of info here)
- France2
- French & Francophone TV stations
- Office national du film du Canada over 800 films in French can be watched online
- Radio Canada - TV
- TVA
- TV5.ca
- V (Quebec)
Books about developing writing skills:
Ballenger, B. P. (2012). The curious researcher: a guide to writing research papers, 7th ed.
Call Number: LB2369.B246 2012 see availability
Besnard, C. (2003). Apprivoiser l'écrit: techniques de l'écrit et stratégies d'auto-perfectionnement.
Also in print, Call Number: PC2420.B48 see availability
de Moras, N. (2010). Guide d'écriture: la composition de A à Z
Call Number: PC2410.M688 2010 see availability
Northey, M. (2007). Making sense : a student's guide to research and writing, 5th ed.
Call Number: LB2369.N67 2006 see availability
Pilote, C. (2012). Guide littéraire: analyse, plan, rédaction, procédés, genres, courants.
Call Number: PC2420.P57 2012 see availability
MLA Style
The most common citation style used in literature is the MLA (Modern Language Association) style. If you're not sure what style to use, check with your professor or T.A.
- MLA guide and tip sheet
-
Purdue Online Writing Lab: MLA Formatting & Style Guide. They give examples of all kinds of references, both how to cite within your text as well as how to format the bibliography. Also includes a sample paper
You can also:
- Find out about Soutien écrit: provided by the French department @ Carleton University
- Find out about learning support sessions on writing that are offered by the Centre for Student Academic Support.
- Learn how to use citation management software.
