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Aen 516: Language Variation And Function Question Paper

Aen 516: Language Variation And Function

Course:Master Of Arts

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2008

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2008/2009
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF
ARTS
AEN 516: LANGUAGE VARIATION AND FUNCTION

DATE: FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER, 2008
TIME: 2.00 p.m. ? 5.00 p.m.

INSTRUCTIONS
Answer question 1 and any other two questions.
Q1.
(Compulsory)
?Linguistic variables have often been regarded as socially different but
linguistically equivalent ways of saying or doing the same thing and occur at all
levels of linguistic analysis?.
Discuss the statement given above showing how linguistic variables have been
used in quantitative linguistic research by:
i)
Labov W. (Martha?s Vineyard; New York)
ii)
Milroy L. (Belfast)
iii)
Russell (Mombasa)
iv)
Jahangri (Persia)

[30 marks]

Q2.
a)
Make distinctions among the listed concepts: variable; indicator; marker;
stereotype.
b)
Use any four social indicators to show how differentiation in society may
contribute to language variation in a speech community.
[20 marks]

Q3.
Critically discuss what you understand by the following notions in variationist
studies:
a)
Social networks
b)
Ethnicity
c)
Intrapersonal variation
d)
Standard form of a language.

[20 marks]

Q4.
Modern English exists in innumerable clearly distinguishable varieties. Drawing
from this statement, describe any one native and one non-native variety of English
and highlight the characteristics of each.

[20 marks]

Q5.
a)
Distinguish between cultural diversity and linguistic diversity. Illustrate
your answer from the contemporary language situation in the world.

[10 marks]
b)
Provide a well illustrated argument on the relationship between cultural
diversity and linguistic variation.

Aen 516: Language Variation And Function Question Paper

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