Kaip prancūzus mokyti lietuvių kalbos arba apie morfofonologijos naudą
How to teach the French Lithuanian? or About the interest of morphophonology

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the method of teaching Lithuanian grammar practised in Inalco (National Institute of Orient Languages and Civilizations). This method has the advantage to overcome the apparent complexity of Lithuanian morphology, to bring to light a basically regular system, and thus it is (more) easily assimilated by students. This presentation of morphology is based on a thorough study, in synchrony, of the phonology of Lithuanian, and particularly its vowel system. The theory of vowel development thereby worked out is a productive tool which allows to shift from a presentation of nominal declensions in 12 juxtaposed paradigms to a system of 13 declensions organized in a hierarchical and reasoned manner. The author as well shows that this theory allows to account for adjectival and pronominal declensions, and also some of the verbal system complexities. Finally she underlines that such research is essential for learning a language with complex morphology like Lithuanian, because it makes the assimilation of grammar easier, which is an indispensable key if one wants to master this beautiful language one day.

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