The Roti-Cochon [Roast Pig]: A Seventeenth-Century Language Text Unlike Others

The Roti-Cochon (Roast Pig) is a French language textbook written by an anonymous seventeenth-century author published without date by Claude Michard. The contribution of this small volume to language pedagogy is examined. The book provides both linguistic & moral/religious education for young children. The use of texts accompanied by pictures indicates that the author had a good understanding of child psychology. In the preface, the author notes that children must be viewed as individuals but that they share the characteristic of being intellectually malleable, & individual characteristics should be taken into account in teaching each child. The lessons provide instruction in both Latin & French & are based around food - fruits, meat, pastries, etc. The book does not outline a systematic method for teaching reading & does not adhere to any apparent organized progression. The book is more an illustrated vocabulary than a basic alphabet manual or syllabary. Comparisons are made to the Orbis Sensualium Pictus ([The Illustrated World of the Senses], 1658) by Jan Amos Comenius. 20 References. B. Annesser Murray