Conclusions Results Methodology Objectives

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Conclusions Results Methodology Objectives On the Determination of Triggering Factors of Coastal Chalk Cliff Collapses in Upper Normandy (1) (1) (2) (3) (1) Session GM8.3 LETORTU Pauline , CADOR Jean-Michel , LE GENDRE Romain , QUENOL Hervé , COSTA Stéphane EGU 2011 – 1 - 206 Contact: (1) GEOPHEN-UMR LETG 6554 CNRS, University of Caen Lower Normandy, Caen, France Pauline LETORTU (2) IFREMER, Laboratory Environment Resources of Normandy, Port-en-Bessin, France GEOPHEN-UMR LETG 6554 CNRS, , University of Caen Lower Normandy, France (3) Laboratory Costel, Department of Geography, University of Rennes 2-Upper Brittany, Rennes, France Email: [email protected] Brighton Hastings Dunkerque Bay of Authie Bay of Somme Calais Le Hourdel Isle of Wight INTRODUCTION Bay of Authie RESULTS The English Channel Bay of Somme Cayeux-sur-Mer Bay of Somme Abbeville Somme Le Hourdel The English Channel Le Tréport The English Channel Cayeux-sur-Mer 0.19 m/yr Dieppe Saint-Valéry-en-Caux Ault-Onival Ault-Onival Fécamp Le Havre Le Tréport Rouen 0.20 to 0.51 m/yr Le Tréport Bay of Seine Seine Criel-sur-Mer Ailly cape Penly Caen Berneval-sur-Mer Criel-sur-Mer Bracquemont Bresle The coastline of Upper Normandy (France) is made up of a 130 km long chalk ArquesDieppe study area Hautot-sur-Mer To determine triggering factors, we applied a principal component analysis (PCA) over a 10-day period. Though the role of rainfall, tidal range, and wind seem to be prepon- Quiberville-Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer SottevilleSaint-Aubin-sur-Mer Penly Scie Yères Ailly cape PaluelSaint-Valéry-en-Caux Berneval-sur-Mer Eaulne 0.13 to 0.19 m/yr Bracquemont Eletot Saâne Béthune Dieppe Senneville-sur-Fécamp cliff in the central and the oriental parts of the English Channel shoreline N Fécamp Durdent Hautot-sur-Mer Quiberville-Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer derant, the factor analysis points to the high complexity of the process of collapse triggering (figure 10). Antifer cape SottevilleSaint-Aubin-sur-Mer (figure 1). Spatial variability of cliff recession occurs due to layer variations in Etretat Varenne PaluelSaint-Valéry-en-Caux Fig. 4: A collapse in Dieppe La Heve Eletot observed (ESTRAN) cape Le Havre Senneville-sur-Fécamp Based on the PCA, excess of water and frost/thaw cycles prove to be the main continental factors triggering coas- Seine N Fécamp Statistical Analysis of Collapses local lithology (figures 2 and 3) or the influence of natural and man-made obs- Rouen Bay of Seine Antifer cape 0 10 km Etretat tal cliff collapses. A climate index [3] summing up these two main continental factors (figures 11 and 12) has tacles to the longshore drift. Such cliff retreat is locally different and its rate can Hydrology Urban area Altitude Seine Main river Major town 0-100 m Identification of Collapsed Volumes Distribution Identification of Triggering Factors The English Channel Secondary city 100-200 m been created. reach up to one meter per year. > 200 m La Heve Le Havre cape Discretizing our Statistical Population into 4 Classes: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Fig. 1: Location of the Upper Normandy Rouen 0-200 m3 coastline 3 Due to collapses (figures 4 and 5) threatening settlements close to the coast- Bay of Seine 200-1,400 m Biplot (axes F1 and F2: 46,32 %) THE INDEX CREATION 12 0 10 km 1,400-10,000 m3 AVG rainfall 3 8 SD rainfall line, better understanding of this rocky coast erosion is greatly needed. Le Havre Etretat Yport Fécamp St. Valéry en Caux Varengeville Dieppe Penly Le Tréport Lithology Rate of coastal retreat Urban area more than 10,000 m SD water surplus AVG significant 100 m or deficit wave height SD significant 50 m Major town 4 AVG minimum wave height 0 m Santonian Chalk Area of fast retreat temperature AVG water 1) Identification of dry, wet, and transition periods by calculating the water balance over a 10-day period AVG afternoon Paleogene Coniacan Chalk Secondary city surplus or deficit Area of slow retreat 0 tidal range Campanian AVG daily Fig. 5: A collapse in Saint-Martin- AVG thermal Santonian Major Fitting to Statistical Laws maximum wind speed Upper Turonian Chalk (without flint) F2 (20,53 %) Coniacian amplitude SW fault -4 SD thermal SD daily Turonian aux-Buneaux amplitude maximum wind NE Middle Turonian Chalk (with flint) Fitting the power law distribution Fitting the Gumbel law distribution Cenomanian 3 3 AVG water table speed 0 10 km to class of volume 1,400-10,000 m to class of volume 200-1,400 m Lower Cretaceous -8 elevation SD minimum Source: lithology from [1] and rates of retreat from [2] (Gendarmerie Nationale) Collapse Power law Kimmeridgian 100 10 Collapse Gumbel law SD afternoon SD water tabletemperature 2) Evaluation of the intensity of dry and wet periods by discretizing each period tidal range elevation -12 Fig. 2: Geology in Upper Normandy Fig. 3: Lithology and retreat rate in Upper Normandy coastline [2] -20 -16 -12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 10 5 F1 (25,79 %) coastline [1] Frequency Frequency 1 0 3) Characterization and addition of duration factor using a multiplier 1000 10000 1000 Biplot (axes F1 and F3: 36,07 %) 10 AVG water table AVG afternoon -5 8 elevation tidal range 0 AVG water surplus 3 Collapsed volume (m³) AVG rainfall SD afternoon Collapsed volume (m³) or deficit OBJECTIVES 6 SD rainfall tidal range 3 SD minimum SD water surplus Fitting observed frequency of collapse volume (1,400-10,000 m ) to the power law 4 temperature 4) Possible addition of frost value, taking into account the duration and intensity of the phenomenon 3 or deficit SD water SD significant and fitting observed frequency of collapse volume (200-1,400 m ) to the Gumbel law table elevation groyne 2 AVG thermal wave height amplitude AVG daily 0 SD minimum maximum wind speed groyne The statistical distribution of collapsed volumes was analysed. No scaling temperature SD daily -2 F3 (10,28 %) AVG minimum maximum wind The primary aim of this study is to determine the triggering factors of coastal cliff retreat. power law relationship, or any other laws tested, fit our data taken as a whole. temperature speed -4 By discretizing our statistical population into 4 classes of collapsed volumes, AVG significant -6 wave height we obtained two good statistical fits. The 1,400-10,000 m3 class fits the power Fig. 11: The index creation We seek to contribute to scientific discussion about the predominance of marine processes and/or sub-aerial weathering processes in the trig- shingle accumulation -8 law. There is a scaling power law relationship between event volumes of -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 ger of cliff collapses. Human actions must be taken into account because they modify longshore drift (figure 6) and can increase swell action 1,400-10,000 m3 and chalk production. This relationship implies that erosion F1 (25,79 %) is not dominated by any characteristic event [4]. The class of collapsed volu- The principal component analysis mes 200-1,400 m3 fits the Gumbel law. at the cliff foot with the implementation of artificial structures. for the axes F1-F2 and F1-F3 18 Fig. 10: Statistical analyses and results 16 14 The index in a wet context (figure 12) is a good indicator Fig. 6: Human interventions and their 12 Coefficient 0 effects on the longshore drift [2] Coefficient 1 of coastal collapses. Higher index coefficients correspond Coefficient 2 10 METHODOLOGY Coefficient 3 Coefficient 4 with greater numbers of collapses. Some of these seem to 8 Coefficient 5 Coefficient 6 be linked to runoff (figure 13). 6 Coefficient 7 This study is carried out in collaboration with the non-profit corporation, ESTRAN. Thanks to this partnership, we have a remarkable and unique database describing 332 cliff Collapse falls. Some parts of coastline are highly sensitive to retreat (figure 7). Observed coastal cliff collapses mainly occurred during winter (figure 8). 4 2 Bay of Somme Number of collapses from Saint-Valéry-en-Caux to Le Tréport since 2002 Le Hourdel 0 150 This index allows us to identify 10-day periods that are 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 The English Channel 150 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0.19 m/yr / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 1 4 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Ault-Onival / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 100 conducive to coastal collapse in order to improve risk pre- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.20 to 0.51 m/yr Le Tréport The English Channel Ailly cape (! Collapse Criel-sur-Mer Cayeux-sur-Mer (!(!(!(!(!(!(!(!(! (!(!(!(! 50 Ailly cape Penly (!(!(! 0.13 to 0.19 m/yr Berneval-sur-Mer (!(!(!(!(! Bracquemont (! Fig.
Recommended publications
  • A French Summer in Normandy
    London 2.15 hrs Portsmouth 6 hrs (Eurostar) English Channel a French summer Caen 2 hrs Mt Saint-Michel in Normandy Paris with Carré international Atlantic Ocean CARRÉ INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITÉ DE CAEN NORMANDIE Département formations en langues (DFL) Bureau Li 119 CS 14032 F-14032 CAEN cedex 5 Program organized [email protected] in partnership with UNICAEN since 1432 +30 000 students 4 main fields of studies 46 research units around 3 federa- tive areas 442 exchange agreements with 264 partners CAEN #1 Norman city for its quality of life 2018 ranking Crédits photos : • Carré international • Cédric Guern • Erasmus & Internationals in Caen WWW.UNICAEN.FR INTERNATIONAL.UNICAEN.FR/INTERNATIONAL.UNICAEN.FR/CIECIE ONE PROGRAM... ... SEVERAL OPTIONS By combining the practice of French with thematiccurriculum, our international summer courses (CIE) offer a unique immersion into French culture amongside students from all over the world. Classes are conducted by professors of Carré international with an experience of teaching French as a Foreign Language (FFL). The program is open to anyone over 18, with no pre-requisite of diploma. For specific request, please contact us. Mornings are dedicated to the practice of language with45 hours of oral and written communication, reinforcement of grammatical structure, vocabulary enrichment and oral practice in an audio lab. For the afternoons, students can choose: SESSION 1 SESSION 2 • one of 5 thematic tracks which all include30 hours of lectures and site visits, • or a 30-hour «leisure & visits» program. CULTURE & HERITAGE FR CULTURE & HERITAGE FR Each session students can participate, free of charge, to one of the two one-day excursions scheduled on week-ends, Embark on a journey into French cultural Embark on a journey into French cultural provided that seats are available.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Erosion and Public Archaeology in Brittany, France: Recent Experiences from the Alert Project
    MANUSCRIT ACCEPTAT MANUSCRIT ACCEPTAT Coastal erosion and public archaeology in Brittany, France: recent experiences from the ALeRT project Pau Olmos Benlloch, Elías López-Romero & Marie- Yvane Daire Dawson, T.; Nimura, C.; López-Romero, E.; Daire, M. Y. (eds.), Public Llibre Archaeology and Climate Change. Oxford : Oxbow Books, 2017 ISBN 9781785707049 Disponible Data de publicació 2017 en línia Per citar aquest document: Olmos, P.; López-Romero, E.; Daire, M-Y. (2017), "Coastal erosion and public archaeology in Brittany, France: recent experiences from the ALeRT project" a Dawson, T.; Nimura, C.; López-Romero, E.; Daire, M. Y. (eds.), Public Archaeology and Climate Change, Oxbow Books, Oxford, p. 145-154. Aquest arxiu PDF conté el manuscrit acceptat per a la seva publicació. 1 Chapter 9. Coastal erosion and public archaeology in Brittany, France: recent experiences from the ALeRT project Pau Olmos Benlloch, Elías López-Romero & Marie-Yvane Daire Abstract The ALeRT (Archéologie, Littoral et Réchauffement Terrestre) project has brought together researchers involved in coastal archaeology and aims to establish an interdisciplinary approach to assessing coastal archaeological vulnerability, site monitoring and heritage management. The scale of the problem and the need for improved field data collection and data management procedures led us to develop a web and mobile application for adding field data and administering users. This reduces the time of data collection in the field and widens the opportunities for collaboration between researchers, heritage managers and the wider community. Recent extreme weather impacts on coastal archaeology in Brittany has led to a growing interest in public archaeology initiatives and resulted in a huge mobilisation of the local population.
    [Show full text]
  • PRESS KIT Yelloh! Village 2019
    PRESS KIT Yelloh! Village 2019 Press Kit ! Yelloh Village 2019 , Introduction Camping has changed, and has enjoyed a real success in recent years. Holidaymakers are turning to this type of holiday in increasing numbers. Today it is obvious that the camping sector has become a strong trend in the world of tourism. In 2017 French campsites recorded more than 124 million overnight stays, up 5.6% compared to 2016. But what explains this evolution? Today, holidaymakers are looking for greater authenticity, they want to feel closer to nature, be able to get together as a family or with their friends and share those special moments, they are in search of conviviality and that human touch. By choosing this type of authentic holiday, Yelloh! Village customers can live a genuine experience, and enjoy a magical break far from the worries and stress of everyday life, during their stay with us. Today’s contemporary nomads, those yearning to return to nature, holidaymakers in search of relaxation, wellness-lovers and get-up-and-go campers: all will find their own special place here with Yelloh! Village... Nowadays, the camping sector (France’s HPA) has acquired a certain amount of prestige by offering holidaymakers all sorts of highly-rated campsites, upmarket accommodation & infrastructure and ever more amazing entertainment, and by holding fast to a philosophy which places people and countryside above all else. 1 According to the Xerfi institute Press Kit Yelloh ! Village 2019 An overview of the Yelloh! Village group Yelloh! Village is today one of the largest high-end camping-village networks - in franchise format - founded on common values shared by both consumers and campsite managers.
    [Show full text]
  • Inshore Fisheries and Governance (France)
    Les publications du Pôle halieutique AGROCAMPUS OUEST n°22 Inshore fisheries and governance (France) The case of the lobster fishery in the Bay of Granville GIFS project ● Action 1 Financial support 2014 This report has been written by the Cellule Etudes et Transfert of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Center of AGROCAMPUS OUEST with the financial support of the European Union, in the framework of the GIFS Project: Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability, European Program of cross-border cooperation Interreg IV A 2 Mers Seas Zeeën, co-financed by the ERDF. This document would be quoted as: PICAULT David and LESUEUR Marie, 2014. Inshore fisheries and governance (France). The case of the lobster fishery in the Bay of Granville (Lower Normandy). Study report. GIFS Project. Les publications du Pôle halieutique AGROCAMPUS OUEST n°22, 34 p. Contact: Marie LESUEUR Pôle Halieutique AGROCAMPUS OUEST Cellule Études et Transfert 65 rue de Saint Brieuc - CS 84215 35042 Rennes Cedex Tel: +33 (0)2 23 48 58 62 [email protected] © AGROCAMPUS OUEST 2014 © Photos AGROCAMPUS OUEST Les publications du Pôle halieutique AGROCAMPUS OUEST n°22 Inshore fisheries and governance The case of the lobster fishery in the Bay of Granville (Lower Normandy) Action 1 – GIFS Project 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1 Methodology ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • France Background
    The World Factbook Europe :: France Introduction :: France Background: France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-8, the G-20, the EU and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing de Gaulle's 1966 decision to take French forces out of NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion - became French regions and were made part of France proper. Geography :: France Location: metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean,
    [Show full text]
  • OECD Country Note Early Childhood Education and Care Policy in France
    OECD Country Note Early Childhood Education and Care Policy in France Directorate for Education, OECD February 2004 The views expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of France, the OECD or its Member countries. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5 Purposes of the Thematic Review............................................................................................................... 5 France’s participation in the Review........................................................................................................... 5 Structure of the Country Note ..................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Terminology................................................................................................................................................ 7 CHAPTER 2 – CONTEXTUAL ISSUES SHAPING ECEC POLICY IN FRANCE ................................... 8 Geography and demography ....................................................................................................................... 8 Political and administrative organisation .................................................................................................... 8 Maternal
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Chapter 1 Introduction It is often forgotten, on both sides of the English Channel, that the Norman linguistic territory is a fragmented one. The defeat of King John of England’s army at Rouen in 1204 at the hands of the French king, Philippe Auguste, led to the separation of the Duchy of Normandy into two domains, with the Norman mainland formally becoming part of the kingdom of France and the Channel Islands henceforth maintained in allegiance to the English Crown. This territo- rial split has now lasted for more than 800 years. The fracture had no immediate linguistic repercussions. Contact was main- tained between mainland and insular Normandy via fishing and other trade activities. However, despite these links, the fact remained that, after 1204, apart from occasional periods when English force of arms detached areas from French control (see Chapter 2), the two Norman territories found themselves governed by opposing powers, who frequently played out their differences on the battlefield. As the centuries progressed, mainland and insular Normandy found themselves on different sides of an ever-widening linguistic gulf, with Norman co-existing alongside two of Europe’s most influential standard lan- guages, namely French and English. Contact with their powerful linguistic neighbours has produced similar out- comes on the mainland and in the islands. Norman has undergone significant territorial contraction and speaker reduction and has witnessed the breaking down of its diglossic relationship with the local standard language as similar social factors, including demographic movement, intermarriage and stigma- tization, have contributed to the loss of Norman from its former strongholds, such as the family domain.
    [Show full text]
  • Tick-Borne Diseases
    Focus on... Tick-borne diseases DS20-INTGB - June 2017 With an increase in forested areas, The vector: ticks an increase in the number of large mammals, and developments in forest The main vector of these diseases are use and recreational activities, the hard ticks, acarines of the Ixodidae family. In France, more than 9 out of 10 ticks incidence of tick-borne diseases is on removed from humans are Ixodes ricinus the rise. and it is the main vector in Europe of human-pathogenic Lyme borreliosis (LB) In addition to Lyme disease, which has spirochaetes, the tick-borne encephali- an estimated incidence of 43 cases tis virus (TBEV) and other pathogens of per 100,000 (almost 30,000 new cases humans and domesticated mammals. identified in France each year), ticks can It is only found in ecosystems that are transmit numerous infections. favourable to it: deciduous forests, gla- des, and meadows with a temperate Although the initial manifestations of climate and relatively-high humidity. these diseases are often non-specific, Therefore, it is generally absent above a they can become chronic and develop height of 1200-1500 m and from the dry into severe clinical forms, sometimes Mediterranean region. with very disabling consequences. They Its activity is reduced at temperatures respond better to antibiotic treatment if above 25°C and below 7°C. As a result, it is initiated quickly, hence the need for its activity period is seasonal, reaching a early diagnosis. maximum level in the spring and autumn. Larva Adult female Adult male Nymph 0 1.5 cm It is a blood-sucking ectoparasite with 10 days.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Survival Inequalities Among Soldiers Who “Died for France” During World War I
    Olivier GUILLOT and Antoine PARENT “Farewell Life, Farewell Love”: Analysis of Survival Inequalities Among Soldiers Who “Died for France” During World War I Foreword* This article provides precise and detailed insight into the mortality of French soldiers during the First World War, focusing on their survival time during the conflict. The article clearly contributes to the long- pursued yet unfinished endeavour that is a thorough and definitive demographic assessment of this war. To provide a general framework for the article’s conclusions, it bears recalling certain multinational data on the losses incurred during what has often and rightly been referred to as the “hecatomb” or “the great bloodletting”. According to an overall average estimate, the Great War caused the deaths of nearly 10 million soldiers, including more than 2 million Germans, nearly 2 million Russians, just under 1.5 million Frenchmen, 800,000 Britons, and 650,000 Italians, although these figures remain subject to debate. Counts include men from the most fertile age groups, between ages 19 and 40, that also made up the largest share of their countries’ labour forces. They form the “sacrificed generations”. As a proportion of its total population and among Allied countries, France suffered the greatest number of military deaths after Serbia, slightly fewer than the Ottoman Empire in relation to the Central Powers. Deaths as tallied above correspond to troops killed in action. If we include soldiers who were wounded, taken prisoner, and who went missing, it becomes apparent that the Central Powers were the more grievously impacted side, with Serbia maintaining its tragic frontrunner status among the Allies.
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Normandy
    Lower Normandy higher education 37,453 students in 2005-2006, studying at 27 higher education sites, o/w 6 university sites. Of the total, 90.2% are in the public sector and 67.5% at university. population change in number of students population without duplicate entries 2000 2005 1,422,193 inhabitants in 1999, i.e. Lower Normandy 37,278 37,453 + 0.5% France* 2,160,253 2,274,987 + 5.3% 2.4% population of France* weight of region 1.7% 1.6% 81 inhabitants per km *excluding Overseas Territories * excluding Overseas Territories baccalauréat holders - 2005 session change and weight of 17-25 age group percentage of enrolment rate of baccalauréat distribution change baccalauréat baccalauréat 2000 2005 since baccalauréat holders in one holders in higher general technological professional total 2000 success rate generation education system Lower Normandy 164,598 161,648 - 1.8% Lower Nor. 5,957 3,147 2,553 11,657 - 3.3% 82.0% 61.7% 69.5% France* + 3.4% 7,115,395 7,354,195 France* 272,512 140,828 93,268 506,608 - 1.9% 79.9% 62.1% 81.9% weight of region 2.3% 2.2% * excluding Overseas Territories *excluding Overseas Territories regional atlas > 2005-2006 > 115 main higher education branches of study (2005-2006) Cherbourg Carentan Luc-sur-Mer Le Hommet- Bayeux Trouville categories d'Arthenay Lisieux Superior Technician Sections Saint-Lô STS and affiliated programmes Coutances Maltot Caen Torigni-sur-Vire CPGE Preparatory class St-Pierre- for Grandes Écoles Granville Falaise sur-Dives University Institutes Vire IUT L'Aigle of Technology Avranches Mortain
    [Show full text]
  • Contribution Des Prsidents Des Rgions Franaises De
    Contribution of French Regions: Lower Normandy, Corsica, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardy Traduction of Courtesy As President of the Lower Normandy, Corsica, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardy regions, we welcome the proposals presented by the European Commission in the conclusions of its 5th report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, which call for the maintenance of an ambitious cohesion policy that concerns all European regions and focuses on the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy, provided that these are consistent with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion. We applaud the European Commission’s decision to open the debate on the future of the cohesion policy and, in this respect, we fully support the position taken by the Association of French Regions (ARF), but feel it necessary to elaborate on certain points. Towards a cohesion policy with a clearer and more egalitarian structure for intermediate regions It should be remembered that reducing economic, social and territorial disparities, divisions and inequalities remains a key unifying issue for the EU, and working towards the aims of the Europe 2020 strategy must not involve marginalising certain areas. Alongside a territorial cooperation objective, and as part of a global “cohesion” objective, we would strongly advocate the re-classification of regions into 3 categories, convergence – intermediate – competitiveness, so as to facilitate understanding of future cohesion policy’s structure. As part of this approach, we are calling for the implementation of transitional support for regions which not only complete their convergence process but which also, having made the regional competitiveness and employment objective an integral part of their current programme, remain fragile from a socio-economic point of view.
    [Show full text]
  • Accent Levelling in the Regional French of Alsace Submitted By
    1 Accent Levelling in the Regional French of Alsace Submitted by Katharine Joanna Pipe, to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in French, April 2014 This thesis is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this thesis which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. (Signature) ……………………………………………………………………………… 2 Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the process of accent levelling in the Regional French of Alsace and its relationship with the social variables of age, gender, social class, urban or rural origin of speakers and feelings of regional attachment. Accent levelling, which can be defined as the process of speakers abandoning local phonological forms in favour of supralocal variants, has been the focus of much recent sociolinguistic research on British English, French and other languages. Since knowledge of Alsatian (a Germanic language spoken in Alsace) is decreasing, it is possible that the resulting lack of interference between Alsatian and French is leading to levelling of the traditional accent features of Alsatian Regional French. In order to provide data for this research project, sociolinguistic interviews were conducted and written questionnaires used in Strasbourg and in the village of Helsheim (a fictional name used for reasons of confidentiality) with 56 informants. The data obtained were then subjected to quantitative analysis with regard to the linguistic variables of aspirate h (which can be realised as a supralocal zero variant or as a regional [h] variant) and the devoicing of canonically voiced plosives and fricatives (for example, sage pronounced [saʃ]).
    [Show full text]