Frenchman Lecturing At University Of Canterbury

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 16

Frenchman Lecturing At University Of Canterbury

A Frenchman, who is studying Old English and Old Icelandic literature for a Ph.D. degree, is at present lecturing in French literature and language at the un >i: e T£‘S , I S“Ti»„ s „ ur who, accompanied by Mrs Abensour,- is spending two years in New Zealand on a French and New Zealand. Government national scholarship studing Old English. After six months at the University of Otafeo, Mr Abensour arrived in Christchurch earlier this weel c. Next year he will spend six months at the University of Victoria and the University of Auckland. “I think this scholarship has been very well planned. It enables us to see the whole ot New Zealand as well as doing the basic research work,” Mr Abensour said yesterday. Compared with Paris, New Zealand life was very different. “After seeing the wonderful

Otago scenery, we are looking forward to Canterbury.” Christchurch’s four mam avenues were very much like the avenues of Paris, Mr Abensour said.

“The people of New Zealand have been so friendly; especially when they discovered we were French," he added.

Mr Abensour said he graduated in 1957 from the Sorbonne—the university of Paris—with the equivalent of an M.A. degree. “Last year I was in Iceland where I studied Old Norse. It was extremely interesting as the Icelandic language had not changed much over the centuries In comparison with the Old English, it is comparatively static You are able to read the Old Norse texts, where as you could not read the Anglo-Saxon.” At present, Mr Abensour has “no definite plans” for his return to France early in 1961, but he would like to continue his studies of Old English in Canada.