THE ART OF FRENCH BUSINESS LETTER WRITING - OUR MODERN FORM OF PRECIOSITE

French business letter writing is characterized by its convoluted and somewhat antiquated figures of speech. The practice of that exercise c an be enhanced through the help of cultural references that can be fou nd especially in 17th century literature and civilization. In its ling uistic patterns, for instance, one recognizes a search for balance and harmony combined with baroque and almost ''precieux'' elements. As a vibrant part of the humanistic curriculum, French for Business offers students the opportunity to discover in its discourse reflections of a rich cultural tradition.