In La Presse française historique: histoire d’un genre et histoire de la langue (Classiques Garnier, 2021), Mairi McLaughlin (French Department) offers quantitative and qualitative analyses of five major periodicals published in French between the founding of the Gazette de France in 1631 and the Revolution of 1789.

The study sheds light on the origins and evolution of the language of the French press and explores what the study of historical periodicals can contribute to our understanding both of the history of French and of language variation and change.

In a conversation conducted in English, McLaughlin is joined by David Bates (Rhetoric Department).