Dr Christophe Gagne 

Christophe Gagne is a Professor of French Language and Translation, specializing in language use, contrastive pragmatics, and intercultural communication. His teaching spans all levels of French studies within the Cambridge Tripos, covering French grammar, culture, and translation. Passionate about real-world language application, Christophe’s approach combines in-depth analysis with practical language skills, enriching students’ appreciation of both French and English.

Before joining Cambridge, Christophe worked as a professional translator. His recent translation work includes translating Over Land, Over Sea, an anthology of 102 poems focused on themes of migration and resilience. Christophe’s research interests reflect his diverse expertise, from analysing cultural variations in conversational norms to examining discourse strategies in public debates. Recent projects include a study on interruptions in parliamentary debates, conducted with collaborators at the Universities of Helsinki and Lyon. His published works include a textbook on English-French translation co-authored with Emilia Wilton-Godberfforde, as well as research articles on language politeness in service encounters, nominal address forms in French and English.

Beyond his research and teaching, Christophe actively supports public engagement in languages. He regularly participates in outreach events, judging the Routes into Languages Spelling Bee and the Mother Tongue Other Tongue Translation competition. He also leads Cambridge’s participation in the French Embassy’s Choix Goncourt, which connects students with contemporary French literature.