LINGUISTICS PAST PAPERS

LINGUISTICS PAST PAPERS
1

Compare structuralism and functionalism while highlighting the prominent features of said linguistic movements. (2004)
How is human language different from animal communication? Discuss its characteristics. (2006)
Write a note that language is based on the culture and convention of the people who speak it. (2007)
What is Language? Discuss some of the characteristics of language. (2008)
‘Linguistics is the scientific study of language.’ Elaborate on the statement with your understanding of the study of language. (2009)
Discuss in detail the different branches of linguistics and their scope. (2010)
Identify those features of linguistics which qualify it to be classified as a ‘science’. (2011)
2
Write a detailed note on psycholinguistics. (2004)
Write a detailed note on psycholinguistics. (2006)
Write a note on psycholinguistics. (2007)
Write a detailed note on sociolinguistics. (2008)
Write a note on psycholinguistics. (2009)
Write a note on psycholinguistics. (2010)
Write a comprehensive note on Sociolinguistics and its significance. (2011)
3
Attempt both parts:
(a) Explain manners of articulation with examples.
(b) Transcribe the following pinpointing the primary stress:
Exclusion; Citation; Demonstrate; Appreciate; Avoid (2004)
Attempt both parts:
(a) Explain manners of articulation with examples.
(b) Identify voiceless consonants in the following words.
Left, Station, Vanished, Insurance, Cheque (2006)
Explain places and manners of articulation. Also tell how voicing takes place. (2007)
What are the weak forms? Explain them with the help of examples from RP. (2008)
Explain in detail the manner’s of articulation of English consonant sounds. (2009)
Write a detailed note on the places and manner of articulation of English consonant. (2010)
Discuss and describe the English consonants of RP in terms of their manner and place of articulation.
(2011)
4
(a) Discuss phrase structure grammar in detail
(b) Draw P-marker for the following sentence:
All students will study Linguistics. (2004)
(a) Why is TG the most influential theory of linguistics in modern theory of linguistics in modern
times? Discuss in detail.
(b) Draw a tree diagram of the following giving P-markers:
I am proud of the painting. (2006)
(a) What do you know about phase structure grammar? Discuss in detail.
(b) Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence giving P-markers:
The teacher marked him absent. (2007)
(a) Discuss in detail the IC analysis highlighting its main feature.
(b) Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence giving P-markers:
What is your name? (2008)
(a) What is I C analysis? Discuss its major flaws.
(b) Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence giving P-markers:
The young teacher taught the young and intelligent students. (2009)
(a) What is phrase structure grammar? In what ways is it an improvement on IC analysis? Discuss.
(b) Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence giving P-markers:
I quite quickly drew the picture.
OR
Give function labels and form labels for each of the words in the following sentence and also put
them in phrase brackets:
Our students are very intelligent. (2010)
(a) How is transformational generative grammar different from IC analysis and phrase structure
grammar? Explain with suitable examples.
(b) Draw a tree diagram for the following sentence giving P-marker:
They have been reading this book for three days. (2011)
5
Explain semantic field theory. (2004)
“The vocabulary of a language consists of many interrelating networks of relations between worlds.”
Discuss the above statement with reference to semantic field theory. (2006)
Discuss briefly the major semantic theories. (2007)
Write a detailed noted on componential analysis. (2008)
What is componential analysis? Explain with examples. (2009)
Discuss briefly the major semantic theories. (2010)
Discuss the major semantic theories. (2011)
6
Describe the concept of morph and discuss its different types with examples. (2004)
(a) How do you differentiate between inflectional and derivational morphology. Discuss giving
examples for each.
(b) List ‘the bound’ morphemes in the following words:
{No words were given in my copy of the paper} (2006)
Morphology is the study of the rules governing the internal structure of the words and the international
that exists among them. Discuss. (2007)
What do you know about structuralism? Discuss. (2008)
What contribution can the study of (a) language-acquisition and (b) pidgins and creoles make to
historical linguistics? (2009)
What did the linguist Ferdinand de Saussure contribute to the study of modern linguistics? Discuss.
(2010)
Briefly trace the growth of historical linguistics. (2011)
7
Write notes on any TWO of the following: (2008)
i- Historical linguistics
ii- English short vowels
iii- Code-switching
iv- Generative grammar
Write notes on TWO of the following: (2009)
i- Synchronic vs. diachronic point of view in linguistics
ii- Cardinal vowels
iii- Morphology
iv- Generativism
Write note on TWO of the following: (2010)
(i) Bilingualism
(ii) Language and culture
(iii) Morphology
(iv) Transcribe the following
(a) A cup of tea
(b) Bread and butter
(c) A fly in the ointment
(d) Grapes are sour
(e) Hand in glove with
Write notes on any TWO of the following: (2011)
i- Language acquisition
ii- Voicing
iii- Bilingualism
iv- Morphology
Write notes on TWO of the following:
i- Componential analysis
ii- Generativism
iii- Segmental phonology
iv- Comparative linguistics (2004)
Write notes on TWO of the following:
i- Language acquisition
ii- Language and culture
iii- Why study grammar (2006)
Write notes on TWO of the following:
i- Why study grammar?
ii- First language acquisition
iii- Code switching
iv- Historical linguistics
8
Transcribe the following words:
Are, cook, boil, no, now, chips, bead, out, ask, dress, trap, has