Medieval Lyric Poetry and Catalan Linguistic Structures
Medieval Lyric Poetry: The Troubadours
Topic 1: Troubadour Lyric Poetry
Troubadour lyric poetry arose in the Occitan aristocratic courts during the first half of the 12th century. These compositions were written in Provençal.
The troubadours were the authors of the compositions intended to be sung (often referred to as vulgar cantades). Minstrels, who could also exercise the role of troubadours, were responsible for singing and interpreting the works they created.
Ausiàs March: A Catalan Literary Figure
Ausiàs March was a noble knight who, like other writers of his era, participated in various wars in Italy. Once finished, he returned and held the post of royal falconer.
Formal Communication: The Structure of a Letter
A letter can be considered a written conversational text.
Structure of a Formal Letter
A standard formal letter includes the following essential components:
- The name and address of the issuer (sender).
- The name and address of the addressee (recipient).
- A greeting, separated from the main text by a comma or a colon.
- The body of the letter, which must be written clearly and understandably.
- The signing and farewell (often requiring a handwritten signature).
- The location and date.
Types of Letters
There are diverse types of letters, categorized by their purpose and audience:
- Official or Administrative Letter: A type of formal communication addressed to persons, entities, or institutions.
- Intimate Letter: Addressed to family and friends with whom one maintains a more personal bond.
- Cover Letter or Job Application: Targeted at a candidate for a specific job position.
- Open Letter: Addressed to an individual but simultaneously published in public forums such as newspapers, magazines, or the Internet.
Catalan Linguistics: Weak Pronouns and Sentence Transformation
Weak Pronouns in the Catalan Language
The weak (or clitic) pronouns in Catalan are:
- me
- et
- es
- la
- el
- les
- els
- en
- ho
- li
- hi
- us
- vos
Transforming Declarative Sentences into Confirmative Interrogatives
This exercise demonstrates how to turn a statement into a question seeking confirmation (often using a tag question in English, reflecting the structure of Catalan confirmation questions).
Declarative Sentence Examples:
Declarative: We bought potatoes.
Confirmative Interrogative: You've purchased potatoes, haven't you? (Original response: Oi you've purchased potatoes.)
Declarative: We'll come with you.
Confirmative Interrogative: We are coming with you, right? (Original response: Oi to come with us.)
Writing Exhortative Sentences (Requests and Commands)
Exhortative sentences express a request, command, or strong suggestion, varying in tone.
Examples of Exhortation:
Request (More Coarse): I can move the pen, please?
Exhortative Fix: Move the pen! / Could you please move the pen?
Request (Softer): Do not call so much!
Exhortative Fix: Please do not call so often. / Do not call so much, if you please.
Request (More Personal, Regarding Smoking): Smoking
Exhortative Fix: You cannot smoke here. / Please refrain from smoking.
Request (More Neutral, Regarding the Eraser): The esborradoooooor!
Exhortative Fix: Hand me the eraser, please. / The eraser, if you please.
Transforming Declarative Sentences into Exclamatives
Exclamative sentences express strong emotion or surprise based on the preceding declarative statement.
Declarative: I'm very sorry what happens to you.
Exclamative: I am so very sorry!
Declarative: I'm glad you've hit the lottery.
Exclamative: I am so happy for you!
Declarative: Really very cold here.
Exclamative: It is incredibly cold here!
Declarative: I note that the hall is full to the rafters.
Exclamative: The room is full to the rafters"