La valeur linguistique des correspondances diplomatiques du xvii^e siècle Le cas des lettres de René Favre de la Valbonne et de Monseigneur Albert Bailly

The language of diplomatic correspondence is less free and more conservative than common language. These documents provide information about the norms of courtesy and manners and, although they follow a complex ceremonial protocol, they at times depart from rigid formalism as the style becomes less official and more confidential.