Abhishek: Did you hear what Professor X said during question time? Felicia: No, why: Linguistics Assignment, UOS, Australia

1. Abhishek: Did you hear what Professor X said during question time? Felicia: No, why? Abhishek: Oh my God, he like totally smashed Sam’s hypothesis into a bloody pulp!
   1. Linda (2 years old): Daddy, can we buy that? Phil: Su/…
2. Ming: [to Phil]Ah – remember ?No S-W-E-E-T-S before D-I-N-N-E-R? Phil: [to Ming] Uh-hu/ [to Linda]Oh, look at the policeman’s horsey!Question 2

First consider the following Extracts:

Extract 2

D. Explain how the repair initiation used in each example led to the specific repair solution that was given. Be specific, referring to specific passages of text to support your answer

Question 3

First consider the following Extracts:

Extract 3

Extract 4

3. Explain how turn allocation is achieved in the arrowed turn in Extract 3. In your answer, use relevant terminology and refer to specific line numbers/quote the text.

Question 4

Below are four Sentences, each illustrating different structural means of conveying the same meaning “I gave him one” IN Guyanese English:

• Me bin gi am wan.
• A give im wan.
• I gave im one.
• I gave him one.

A. How would you characterize the difference(s) between Sentences 1 through 4? Give the relevant technical terms and justify your answer with reference to the language data. [Note that we are looking for an evaluation of overall differences in terms of language types here. Although you can refer to grammatical or phonological facts, the aim here is not to do a structural analysis.]

B. These four structural types co-exist, but Sentence 4 is a higher prestige form of speech than is Sentence 1.Identify and describe at least one way of interpreting the co-existence of these sentence types in Guyanese English.

Question 5

Consider the following examples:

• Close the door.
• Sorry could you close the door?
• It’s a bit cold in here.

A. Give the relevant Explain what politeness strategies are used in each of these requests to close a door. technical terms.

B. Explain why requests are often studied in politeness theory. Explain any terminology you use

Question 6

First consider the following Dialogue:

A: So I was talking to h[er yesterday…]

B:  [What was her] name again?

A: Sorry?

B: Was’er name like … Janice or something?

A: Ja:mie…she w[as….

B: [She’s] always like, I d’know…

(1.2)

A: What?

B: Cagey.

1. On the basis of what you have learned about modern sociolinguistic theory, what do you think is the most likely gender(s)
2. Now, referring to (“postmodern”)critiques of modern sociolinguistic treatments of gender, identify one or more reasons why your answer to the above question could turn out to be wrong – and why the question itself could turn out to be misleading

Question 7

1. Do we know the precise number of languages spoken in the world today? If so, what is it? If not, why don’t we?
2. Are the observed global rates of language loss/change/extinction “normal” (= similar to such rates throughout human (pre)history)? If so/not, what is the evidence?
3. What is the single most important factor in determining the sustainability of an endangered language? What are some others?

Question 8

1. Describe the different language policies that operate in France and in India, as well as the different practical outcomes of each policy (in principle, and, to the extent that you can determine, also in fact)
2. Making reference to key sets of facts regarding the histories of these modern-day nation-states – as they have been discussed in our unit materials, i.e. without doing any new research – briefly explain how and why these policies may have developed differently.