Activity Options

Going places? Linguistic shifts and the place of the French paradigm(s) in contemporary France

Description: French is a highly standardized and prescriptive language, and has always demonstrated unparalleled gate keeping of its usage in terms of syntax, lexicon, or pronunciation. However, in recent years French's protective classicism has seen rapid and significant changes, causing concerns and strong reactions for some, while reminding others that the French language is still alive and well. These ongoing and dynamic changes, whether regional, generational, practical or rooted in social issues (diversity and inclusivity, for instance), showcase the complex relationship between France and the many places where French is spoken. Using concrete examples from daily parlance, professional norms, interpersonal exchanges, the art world, and the media, this seminar will explore the origins and the consequences of the contemporary linguistic shifts we currently witness, and how they affect and question the historical place of French in France and in the world. 

Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025 

Time: 2:00PM - 5:30 PM

Location: Alliance Française de Chicago - enter through 54 W. Chicago

• accessible via the Chicago red line stop
• or the 66 bus at Chicago/Clark
• parking available at 100 West Chestnut for $12 (ask for validation after the workshop)

***This workshop will be conducted in French***

Lead by Gigi Kuhn (click HERE for bio)

Date: Tuesday, July 8 

Time: 16h00 or 18h00 (90 minutes in length)

Location: starting and ending at Palmer House Hilton

Tour Map 

This tour will be given in French.

**Ticket required**

Warm-up your singing voice, brush up on your favorite French-language song, and join us from 19h30-21h30 on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 for a night of singing and dancing. This event is free and no ticket is required. Venez nombreux!

Lead by Ryan Brown (PhD Candidate in French and Francophone Studies, University of Chicago)

Date: Wednesday, July 9

Time: 16h00 or 18h00 (60 minutes in length)

Location: starting and ending at Palmer House Hilton

Description: Beginning at the historic Palmer House Hotel in the Chicago Loop, this hour-long walking tour will take visitors down some of the city’s most acclaimed streets, along the river front, and into its celebrated parks. The heart of the Second City and a key attraction for the city’s nearly 50 million annual visitors, the Loop is the center of the city’s historical and architectural development over the last two centuries. This tour will not only cover the city’s rich history as seen throughout the Loop but will also emphasize how the Loop is a site of Franco-American relations since the city’s founding. 

This tour will be given in English.

**Ticket required**

Join friends and colleagues to see the Impressionist galleries in a guided tour at the Art Institute of Chicago!
One hour group tours will begin Thursday, July 10 at 2:00 PM with the possibility of staggering the start time of different groups. (Tours will be conducted in English)
After the guided tour, attendees are free to explore the Art Institute of Chicago on their own. 

Some exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago are not accessible with the general admission ticket included in this event. The purchase of any tickets to extra exhibitions, including the Caillebotte Exhibition, are the responsibility of the attendee. 

Transportation to the Art Institute is the responsibility of the attendee. The Art Institute is within walking distance. Click HERE for a map of the location of the Palmer House Hilton and the Art Institute of Chicago.