Daniel Boucník and Lukáš Žoha send greetings from Paris
Greetings from Paris!
Ça va? We are Lukáš and Dan, PhD students at the Department of Czech Language, currently spending a few weeks on a research internship at the Laboratoire de Linguistique Formelle at Université Paris Cité. Here, we consult our research with Karen De Clercq, a specialist in expletive negation in morphosyntax. We also take part in the regular LingLunch seminars, where researchers from various linguistic fields present their projects and open the floor to engaging discussions. Our traineeship includes assisting with linguistic data collection and gaining insight into the work of local researchers.
Besides our academic activities, we are exploring the beauty of bustling Paris and its surroundings. For instance, we spent a day in the ancient town of Étiolles, and we’re soon heading off for a long-anticipated visit to Versailles. We also organized a small hiking trip with fellow colleagues, which was a great opportunity to make new connections and discover picturesque places.
Of course, we didn’t miss out on Paris’ iconic landmarks – the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, and the Arc de Triomphe were all on our list. But Paris also comes alive in the everyday details, like walking through spots made famous by series and films such as Emily in Paris or Amélie, where reality unexpectedly intertwines with pop culture. French cuisine deserves its own chapter – fresh croissants, fragrant baguettes, cheeses, and desserts turn every meal into a small celebration.
I, Lukáš, am fascinated by the diversity of Paris – from the romance known from films to the modern vibe of La Défense, and the energy of the Parisian suburbs. My French, though not perfect, is more than enough for everyday communication, and the friendliness of the locals makes me feel like the language barrier is easily overcome. Dan, on the other hand, can’t get enough of the local network of bike paths and running trails, which lead him to new displays of creative street art every day. Even though we each have slightly different ideas of an ideal city, Paris offers us both more than we could possibly explore during our stay.
The first week was rainy, but now we’re enjoying sunnier days. Greetings to everyone at our department—we’re looking forward to more adventures ahead!
