In this article we demonstrate how fine-grained analysis of salient features of linguistic change over a relatively short, but significant period can help refine our notions of periodization. As our case study, we consider whether it is appropriate to distinguish a period called francais preclassique (‘Pre-Classical French’), and if so, what its temporal limits are. As our contemporary informants we take, on the one hand, the comments of writers of remarks on the French language, who were highly conscious of language change, and, on the other, usage in successive French translations of the same Latin source text which can be exploited to track and date the adoption of ‘modern’ linguistic variants. We find atypical patterns of change – and notably changes which move rapidly through Labov's different stages – that contribute to the sense of discontinuity or periodization. However, this sense of ‘rupture’ does not coincide with the chronological boundaries hitherto suggested for francais preclassique, thus throwing the validity of this period into question.

中文翻译：

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分期、翻译、处方和古典法语的出现

在本文中，我们展示了在相对较短但重要的时期内对语言变化的显着特征进行细粒度分析如何有助于完善我们的分期概念。作为我们的案例研究，我们考虑区分一个称为 francais preclassique ('Pre-Classical French') 的时期是否合适，如果是，它的时间限制是什么。作为我们当代的线人，我们一方面接受了对语言变化有高度意识的法语评论作家的评论，另一方面，在同一拉丁语源文本的连续法语翻译中的使用被用来跟踪和确定“现代”语言变体的采用。我们发现了非典型的变化模式——尤其是在 Labov 中快速移动的变化 s 不同的阶段——这有助于产生不连续或分期的感觉。然而，这种“破裂”的感觉与迄今为止为法国预分类所建议的时间界限并不相符，从而使这一时期的有效性受到质疑。