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MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN ENGLISH
Term-End Examination

June, 2005

MEG-4 : ASPECTS OF LANGUAGE

Time: 3 hours
Maximum Marks: 100

1. Write short notes on any two of the following. Illustrate your answer with appropriate examples : (25)
(i) Language and thought
(ii) Consequences of standardization of language
(iii) Distinctive characteristics of derivational affixes in English
(iv) Meaning change in words

2. Discuss at least three general methodological principles of Saussure which formed the basis of the Structural list model of linguistics. (25)

3. What is a Speech Community ? What are the problems one faces in trying to define a speech community ? (25)

4. English has constantly borrowed words from other sources to enrich itself. Discuss the growth of English from the point of view of borrowing from other languages.

5. Discuss the differences between any two of the following: (25)
(i) Place of Articulation and Manner of Articulation
(ii) Monism and Dualism
(iii) Code Mixing and Code Switching
(iv) Compound Blends and Group Forming Blends

6. What is "scope" in syntax ? Why was it necessary to introduce such a concept in syntax ? Illustrate your answer with examples. (25)

7. Write an analysis of the following poem, focussing specially on (a) rhyme, (b) repetition, (c) juxtaposition/ contrast, and (d) use of compounds like "dying cause", and (e) any other feature you may wish to highlight. (25)

RING OUT, WILD BELLS

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light :
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow :
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Rind in redress to all mankind.

Rind out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of parly strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Right out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.