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Welcome to our blog, In this post, we’re sharing the IGNOU MEG 4 Solved Question Paper of December 2021 examination, focusing on Aspects of Language.
This guide is here to help you prepare for your exams with clear answers and explanations. Whether you’re just starting or revising for your exams, this resource will make studying easier and more effective.
In this post, we’ll discuss all the answers including the short and long answer questions.
You can also download all previous year question papers of MEG 4 from our website.
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Question 1
1. Write short notes on any two of the following :
(a) Theories on the origin of language
Several theories attempt to explain the origin of language. The Divine Source Theory suggests language was a gift from a divine power. The Bow-Wow Theory argues that human language evolved from imitating natural sounds. The Pooh-Pooh Theory believes language developed from instinctive emotional cries, while the Yo-He-Ho Theory suggests it emerged from rhythmic chants during communal labor. The Gestural Theory posits that gestures preceded spoken language. The Innateness Hypothesis, popularized by Chomsky, proposes that language ability is innate to humans. While none of these theories are definitive, they offer valuable insights into how human communication may have evolved.
(b) The Uses of Tones in English:
In English, tone primarily serves a non-lexical function, unlike tonal languages such as Chinese, where tone changes word meaning. In English, tone (or intonation) conveys emotions, attitudes, emphasis, and grammatical structures. For instance, rising intonation typically indicates a question, while falling intonation signals a statement or finality. A rising-falling tone can express surprise or sarcasm. Tone also aids in turn-taking in conversations and helps distinguish between politeness and assertiveness. Thus, while tone in English does not define individual words, it plays a significant role in expressing speaker intent and maintaining communicative clarity.
(c) The Contribution of Authors to Word Formation in English:
Authors, particularly William Shakespeare, have significantly enriched the English vocabulary. Shakespeare alone is credited with coining or popularizing over 1,700 new words through conversion, compounding, and neologism—examples include bedroom, lonely, and laughable. Other literary figures like Geoffrey Chaucer and John Milton also contributed unique terms and expressions.
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Question 2
2. Examine the salient features of the Sapir–Whorf Hypotheses.
The Sapir – Whorf Hypothesis is also known as linguistic relativity it proposes that the language one speaks influences the way one thinks, perceives, and experiences the world. This hypothesis is named after linguists Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf, and it encompasses the two principal versions: strong and weak.
The strong version or the linguistic determinism, suggests that the language determines thought. According to this, an individual can only perceive and conceptualize the world within the confines of their language. For instance, if a language lacks words for certain colors or certain emotions, speakers of that language may find it little difficult to perceive or experience those concepts. While this version is largely discredited for its rigidity, it opened up discussions on the deep interrelation between language and cognition.
The weaker version, or linguistic relativity, asserts that language influences rather than determines thought. This version has been more widely accepted and tested. It suggests that the structure, vocabulary, and grammar of a language can shape habitual thought patterns. For example, speakers of languages that assign gender to nouns may think differently about objects based on whether they are categorized as masculine or feminine. Similarly, the way tense or aspect is used in a language may affect how speakers perceive time and causality.
A classic example often cited in favor of linguistic relativity is how the Hopi language, which Whorf studied, treats time differently from English. The Hopi language, he argued, does not describe time in terms of discrete units like minutes or hours, and this may influence its speakers to conceptualize time in a more cyclical rather than linear fashion. While some of Whorf’s claims were later challenged, modern research has validated aspects of his theory. Studies have shown, for instance, that language can affect spatial orientation, color discrimination, and memory.
In conclusion, the Sapir – Whorf Hypothesis has significantly influenced linguistic, psychological, and anthropological studies. Though its strong form has been largely dismissed, the weaker version continues to offer valuable insights into how language and thought are interconnected. It encourages awareness that language is not just a communication tool but a lens through which individuals interpret their reality.
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Question 3
3. Outline the criteria for the description and classification of vowels with examples.
Vowels are essential elements of spoken language and constitute a core component of the phonological system of English. Unlike consonants, vowels are articulated without any noticeable obstruction or closure in the vocal tract, allowing the air to flow freely and continuously. The quality of each vowel sound depends on the shape and position of the tongue, lips, and jaw. In phonetics and phonology, vowels are classified based on several articulatory criteria: tongue height, tongue advancement, lip rounding, and tenseness or length. These criteria are fundamental in distinguishing vowel sounds and play a crucial role in phonetic transcription, pronunciation teaching, and speech analysis.
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Question 4
4. Discuss with examples the main sentence types in English.
In English grammar, sentences are categorized based on two key criteria: function (what the sentence does) and structure (how the sentence is built). Understanding these sentence types is essential for clear and effective communication. Functionally, sentences are divided into declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. Structurally, they are categorized as simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
Functional Sentence Types:
Declarative Sentences
These are used to state facts, opinions, or information. They are the most commonly used sentence type and end with a period (full stop).
Example: “The sky is blue.”
Declarative sentences can also be negative.
Example: “She does not like chocolate.”
Such sentences provide statements that form the foundation of conversations and written texts.
Interrogative Sentences
These ask questions and end with a question mark. They help seek information or clarification.
There are several types of interrogative sentences:
Yes/No questions: “Are you hungry?”
Wh- questions: “What is your name?”
Tag questions: “You’re coming, aren’t you?”
These sentences play a critical role in dialogue and inquiry.
Imperative Sentences
Used to issue commands, requests, or instructions, imperative sentences often omit the subject “you” as it is understood.
Example: “Close the door.”
They may express urgency or politeness:
Example: “Please help me with this.”
Such sentences are frequently used in both spoken and written directions.
Exclamatory Sentences
These express strong emotions such as joy, surprise, or anger and end with an exclamation mark.
Example: “What a fantastic performance!”
They convey intensity and emotion in communication and are commonly used in both speech and expressive writing.
Structural Sentence Types:
Simple Sentences
Contain one independent clause with a subject and a verb.
Example: “She writes poems.”
Simple sentences can be short or long, but they always contain only one main idea.
Compound Sentences
Consist of two or more independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Example: “He came home early, and he cooked dinner.”
Each clause in a compound sentence is equally important and can stand alone.
Complex Sentences
Contain one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Example: “Although she was tired, she completed her assignment.”
The dependent clause cannot stand alone, but it adds depth and meaning to the main clause.
Compound-Complex Sentences
Include at least two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Example: “Although it was raining, we went to the park, and we had a picnic.”
Used to express more detailed and nuanced thoughts.
Question 5
5. Examine the coining processes of word formation in English.
The English language is dynamic and constantly evolving. One of the ways it grows is through the process of word formation, which involves coining or creating new words to express new ideas, inventions, technologies, or cultural changes. There are several important coining processes in English, each with its unique method of generating new vocabulary. These include derivation, compounding, conversion, blending, clipping, acronym formation, back-formation, borrowing, and coinage.
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Question 6
6. How does the experience of living with many languages affect language in use ? Illustrate.
The experience of living with many languages—commonly referred to as multilingualism—has a profound impact on how individuals use language in everyday life. In multilingual societies or communities, people often interact in more than one language depending on the social setting, audience, and purpose. This constant exposure and shifting between languages influence not only vocabulary and grammar but also the cultural and social dimensions of communication. Several linguistic phenomena emerge as a result, including code-switching, borrowing, language mixing, interference, and the creation of new language varieties.
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