BEGG-172

BA General Programme
(BAG)

ASSIGNMENT
(For July, 2021 and January, 2022 Sessions)

(BEGG 172)
Language and Linguistics

School of Humanities
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110 068
 BA GENERAL (BAG) – BEGG 172
Language and Linguistics (BEGG–172)

Programme: BA General (BAG)

Course Code: BEGG-172/2021

Dear Student

You are required to do one assignment for the English Course titled Language and Linguistics
Code BEGG-172, which will be a Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA) and will carry 100 marks. It
will be based on blocks 1 to 4.

Aims: This assignment is concerned mainly with assessing your application and your
understanding of the course material. You are not to reproduce chunks of information from the
course material but to use the skills of critical appreciation that you may have acquired during
the course of study. This assignment aims to teach as well as to assess your performance.

Guidelines: There are three sections – Section A, B & C, you are required to attempt all
questions in your own words and hand written Assignments should be submitted on time.

Instructions: Before attempting the questions, please read the following instructions carefully.

As in day-to-day life, planning is important in attempting the assignment as well. Read the
assignment carefully; go through the units on which the questions are based; jot down some
points regarding each question and then re-arrange them in a logical order. In the essay-type
answer, pay attention to your introduction and conclusion. The introduction must tell you how
to interpret the given topic and how you propose to develop it. The conclusion must summarize
your views on the topic. Once you are satisfied with your answers, you can write down the final
version for submission, writing each answer neatly and underlining the points you wish to
emphasize. You should submit the assignment in your own handwriting.

Make sure that your answer:

a) is logical
b) is written in simple and correct English
c) does not exceed the number of words indicated in your questions
d) is written neatly and clearly.

Please remember that it is compulsory to submit your assignment before you can take the
Term End Examination. Also remember to keep a copy of your assignment with you and to
take a receipt from your Study Centre when you submit the assignment.

1. Write your Enrolment Number, Name, Full Address and Date on the top right corner of
the first page of your response sheet(s).

2. Write the Course Title, Assignment Number and the Name of the Study Centre you are
attached to in the centre of the first page of your response sheet(s).

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The top of the first page of your response sheet should look like this:

ENROLMENT NO: ………………………

NAME: …………………………………..
` ADDRESS: ………………………………

…………………………………………….
COURSE TITLE: ………………………….
ASSIGNMENT NO: ……………………..
STUDY CENTRE: ……………………….. DATE:…………………………………….

4. Use only foolscap size paper for your response and tag all the pages carefully.

5. Write the relevant question number with each answer.

Last Date for Submission of Assignment:

For June Examination: 30th April

For December Examination: 31st October

Good Luck!

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 BEGG-172
Language and Linguistics
Assignment July, 2021 & January, 2022 Sessions
(Based on Blocks 1 - 4)
Max. Marks: 100

Answer all questions.

Section A

Short answer questions based on Blocks 1 and 2 (Answer each question in 300 words)

1. Discuss Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Do you agree with this theory? Give reasons for your
answer. (5)

2. Define onomatopoeia. Give examples to explain the concept. (5)

3. What is a signifier? Give examples from your mother tongue to support your explanation.
(5)
4. What are some of the Saussurean principles? Briefly explain them. (5)

5. Why is word stress significant in English? Give examples to support your answer. (5)

6. How can we use multilingualism as a resource? (5)

Section B

Short answer questions based on Blocks 3 and 4 (Answer each question in 300 words)

1. Citing examples, explain how can we compare words? What are the different
relationships that exist between words? (5)

2. Define morpheme. What are the different types of morphemes? (5)

3. What is derivational morphology? Give two examples of derivation from your mother
tongue. (5)

4. Define noun phrase and discuss its structure giving examples. (5)

5. What are prefixes and suffixes? Separate the prefixes and suffixes in the following words:
(5)
 Antiestablishmentarianism
 Prenatal
 Institutionalisation
 Organisational
6. Differentiate compound and complex sentences. How are they created ? (5)

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 Section C

Long answer questions based on Blocks 1 to 4 (Answer each question in 500 words)

1. How is human language different from animal communication? (10)

2. The mentalists questioned the principles of structuralism in mid 20 th century. Discuss how
this shift occurred in the study of language. Do you find any similarities between
Chomsky’s ideas and that of Saussure? (10)

3. What are the different kinds of language variations? Explain by giving examples. (10)

4. The verb phrase is an important part of inflectional morphology. Discuss inflection

through the verb phrase. (10)

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