IGNOU MEG 4 Solved Question Paper

Welcome to our blog, In this post, we’re sharing the IGNOU MEG 4 Solved Question Paper of June 2024 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) French influence on English language vocabulary

The French influence on English vocabulary began with the Norman Conquest of 1066, when French became the language of the ruling class in England. As a result, thousands of French words entered the English language, especially in areas like law (e.g., court, judge, justice), governance (parliament, council), art (paint, dance), fashion (robe, gown), and cuisine (beef, pork, mutton). This led to a rich vocabulary with many synonyms, often with French-derived terms sounding more refined (e.g., liberty vs. freedom). The blending of French with Anglo-Saxon roots created a more flexible and expressive English, significantly shaping its modern form.

(b) Change in connotations and associations of meaning

Over time, many English words have undergone changes in connotation and association, shifting from their original meanings. This process is known as semantic change. For example, the word silly once meant “happy” or “blessed” in Old English, but now means “foolish” or “lacking in good sense.” Similarly, villain originally referred to a farm worker or commoner, but today means an evil person. These changes reflect shifts in social attitudes, cultural contexts, and usage. Words can gain positive or negative associations based on how they are used in speech and literature, showing how language evolves alongside human experience and perception.

(c) Consequences of Bilingualism for the Individual and the Social Group

Bilingualism offers cognitive, cultural, and social benefits to individuals. It enhances mental flexibility, improves multitasking, and delays age-related cognitive decline. Bilingual individuals often show greater empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives.

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Question 2

2. Discuss linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity in terms of language and thought. Do you agree that language determines our thoughts ? Support your view with example from any language.

Linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity are two central hypotheses in the field of linguistic anthropology and psycholinguistics, exploring the relationship between the language and thought. These ideas are most notably associated with the Sapir – Whorf hypothesis, named after Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf.

Linguistic determinism refers to the strong version of the hypothesis, suggesting that language determines the way people think. According to this view, the structure and vocabulary of one’s language rigidly shape cognition, perception, and worldview. If a language lacks certain words or grammatical structures, its speakers would be incapable of conceptualizing those ideas. For example, if a language lacks the future tense, speakers may have a different perception of time or future planning. This strong version, however, has been widely criticized for being too rigid and not accounting for human cognitive flexibility.

Linguistic relativity, the weaker version, proposes that language influences thought and perception rather than determining it. This means that speakers of different languages may perceive or interpret the world differently because of linguistic differences, but they are not confined to these perspectives. For instance, the Hopi language, which lacks specific tenses for past, present, and future, has been cited by Whorf to argue that Hopi speakers perceive time as a continuous process rather than discrete segments.

A compelling example comes from the Russian language, which has separate words for light blue (“goluboy”) and dark blue (“siniy”). Studies have shown that Russian speakers can distinguish shades of blue more quickly and accurately than English speakers, who use the single term “blue” for both. This supports linguistic relativity, indicating that language can sharpen perceptual distinctions.

In my view, language does not completely determine our thoughts but strongly influences how we categorize and interpret the world. Human cognition is flexible and capable of transcending linguistic boundaries, especially through translation, education, and abstract reasoning. However, language does shape habitual thought patterns and cultural perceptions.

In conclusion, while linguistic determinism is too restrictive to fully explain human cognition, linguistic relativity provides a balanced framework. It acknowledges the significant role of language in shaping our experiences, while recognizing our capacity for abstract and cross – linguistic thinking.

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Question 3

3. Discuss the socio-political contexts that influenced the English language development during the old and middle English periods.

The development of the English language during the Old English (circa 450–1150) and Middle English (circa 1150–1500) periods was deeply shaped by a series of socio-political upheavals, invasions, and cultural assimilations. These historical contexts not only introduced new vocabulary but also reshaped the very structure and grammar of the English language.

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Question 4

4. What is the difference between words and morphemes ? Are they at different levels of hierarchy ? How can words be understood phonologically, orthographically, grammatically and lexically ?

Words and morphemes are both fundamental units of language, but they function at different levels of linguistic structure. A morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit in a language, whereas a word is the smallest independent unit of meaning that can stand alone in speech or writing. For example, in the word unhappiness, there are three morphemes: un- (a prefix meaning “not”), happy (a root word), and -ness (a suffix forming a noun). Although un- and -ness carry meaning, they cannot stand alone as words, unlike happy, which is a word as well as a morpheme.

Words and morphemes exist at different levels of the linguistic hierarchy. Morphemes make up words, and words make up phrases and sentences. Thus, morphemes operate at a more foundational level than words. A single word can contain one morpheme (e.g., book) or multiple morphemes (e.g., books, with book + plural -s). This hierarchy shows that words are constructed from morphemes, making morphemes the more basic units.

Words can be understood from four different linguistic perspectives:

Phonologically: This concerns the sound structure of words. Phonology examines how words are pronounced and how sounds are organized. For instance, the plural -s in cats is pronounced /s/, whereas in dogs, it is pronounced /z/. This change is a phonological variation conditioned by the final sound of the root word.

Orthographically: This refers to the written form of words, including spelling and punctuation. While the morphemes re- and -ed are easily visible in written words like replayed, spelling often reflects morphological structure and may hint at a word’s etymology or root morphemes.

Grammatically: Words function within grammatical categories such as noun, verb, adjective, etc. Their roles in sentences—subject, object, predicate—are determined by grammatical rules. Morphological changes (like tense, number, or case) are key to understanding how words function grammatically (e.g., run → ran, cat → cats).

Lexically: This refers to the dictionary meaning of a word, including its semantic properties. The lexical understanding of a word encompasses its denotation, connotation, and usage within context. For instance, bank can lexically mean a financial institution or the side of a river, depending on context.

Question 5

5. Why do we need a standard language ? What are the stages that a language undergoes in the process of standardization ? Is it an advantage when a language is standardized ?

A standard language is a regulated and codified variety of a language used in the formal settings such as education, government, literature, and media. The need for a standard language arises from the desire for uniform communication, especially in the societies with multiple dialects or regional varieties. It fosters mutual intelligibility, enhances national identity, and serves as a tool for education and the administration. Without a standard language, consistency in writing, teaching, and governance becomes difficult.

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Question 6

6. Discuss the importance of language planning and the language problems that necessitate it. Would there by any limitations to language planning in a country like India ?

Language planning refers to the deliberate efforts made by governments, institutions, or communities to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages within a particular speech community. It is essential in multilingual nations to manage language use in education, administration, media, and national identity. Language planning becomes critical when language problems arise that threaten communication, equality, or national integration.

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