UGC-NET (NTA) Linguistics, December-2023

Total Questions: 100

91. Read the following passage and answer the questions.

There is no doubt that field linguistics should increase efforts toward more representative corpus collecting when carrying out documentary field work. Ultimately, when extensive copora of all languages of the world have been gathered, the difference between corpus collecting adequate for corpus linguistics and documentary linguistics would become less important, but that goal is pie in the sky.
We will probably never reach it. Corpus collecting and documentary fieldwork are also different from the point of view of archiving. Archiving involves the procedures ensuring the preservation and continued availability of linguistic data. When collecting materials for a corpus, sampling techniques are important, and of course only what is sampled can be archived.
One example of an archived linguistic corpus is the Archive de Lenguas Indigenas de Mexico, e.g. MacKay and Trechsel (2005) for Misantla Totonac. When collecting materials in documentary fieldwork, the linguist is less selective, especially in the case of endangered languages where anything that can be collected is preserved archivally.
Examples of archives which contain the results of documentary fieldwork are the Archive of Indigenous Languages of Latin America (AILLA, University of Texas at Austin), the archive of the Alaska Native Language Centre, (ANLC, University of Alaska, Fairbanks), the DOBES endangered languages archive (Max Plank Institute, Nijmegen, The Netherlands), and the pacific and Regional Archive for Digital Sources in Endangered Cultures (PARADISEC, Australia).
We have pointed out that archiving implies preservation techniques. Lehmann (1999:10) points out that in other sciences such as archaeology (artifacts) or zoology (preserved specimens) highly socialized techniques have been developed to preserve artifacts or specimens, and he laments the fact that such techniques do not yet exist in linguistics.
He states: "we need to develop a culture of the linguistic datum and its processing". However, this point raises the question of whether a language can usefully be preserved like an archaeological specimen, and the related ethical question of whether this is what native speakers or native speaker communities really want for their languages.
Why do we need sampling techniques for corpus collection?

Correct Answer: A. Only sampled materials can be archieved
Solution:

Sampling techniques are essential for corpus collection because they guide the selection of data to be archived. In the context of corpus linguistics, sampling allows researchers to gather a representative variety of language uses and structures, ensuring the corpus reflects the diversity of the language. Only the data selected through these sampling methods can be archived, meaning that without sampling, the corpus could be unstructured and overly vast, lacking focus and utility for specific linguistic analysis.

92. Why is archiving of collected linguistic data important?

Correct Answer: D. Both (A) and (C)
Solution:

Archiving collected linguistic data is crucial because it ensures both the preservation and continued availability of this data. Preservation is necessary to maintain the integrity and accessibility of linguistic information over time, protecting it from physical deterioration or technological obsolescence. Availability is equally important, as it ensures that future researchers and the public can access the archived data for study, further research, or to revive and maintain language use within communities. These aspects make archiving an essential practice in the field of linguistics, especially in documenting and supporting endangered languages.

93. Why is the linguist less selective in collecting data for endangered languages?

Correct Answer: A. Due to data paucity in endangered languages there is a motivation to collect and archive anything that is available
Solution:

Linguists tend to be less selective when collecting data for endangered languages because of the rarity and diminishing availability of such data. In the context of endangered languages, any linguistic material, regardless of its immediate relevance or perceived value, is deemed worthy of preservation due to the critical status of these languages. This urgency drives a more comprehensive approach to data collection, aiming. to capture as broad a spectrum of the language's usage as possible before more of its elements potentially vanish.

94. Why do the archiving techniques in fields like linguistics may differ from those like archaeology?

Correct Answer: B. Linguistic data is different than archaeological specimen
Solution:

The archiving techniques used in linguistics may differ from those in fields like archaeology primarily because the nature of linguistic data is fundamentally different from physical artifacts or biological specimens. Linguistic data, being intangible and socially embedded, cannot be preserved in the same manner as archaeological artifacts, which are physical and can be stored and maintained in controlled conditions. Additionally, linguistic data often requires ongoing interpretation and contextual understanding that evolves as scholarly perspectives and technologies develop.

95. Which of the following archives is NOT listed as an example of documentary field work data?

Correct Answer: C. Archivo de Lenguas Indigenas de Mexico
Solution:

The Archivo de Lenguas Indígenas de México is not listed as an example of an archive containing documentary fieldwork data in the passage. It is mentioned in the context of being an example of an archived linguistic corpus, specifically relating to the Misantla Totonac language, rather than an archive resulting from broader documentary fieldwork efforts that aim to preserve a wide range of linguistic materials from endangered languages. This distinction highlights different focuses in linguistic preservation efforts: some archives may specialize in particular languages or language families, while others encompass a wider range of data from multiple sources and fieldwork efforts.

96. Read the following passage and answer the questions.

The division into macro and microsociolinguistics, which goes back to the 1960s also applies to the study of the past. In a nutshell, macro-sociolinguistics is concerned with the sociolinguistics of society, issues such as societal multilingualism, language policy and standardization, whereas micro-sociolinguistics typically focuses on the sociolinguistics of language, the influence of social interaction in language use (Fasold 1984, 1990). Four sociolinguistic paradigms are commonly distinguished, based on their objects of study, and form a continuum between the macro- and micro-perspectives :
The sociology of language, social dialectology, interactional sociolinguistics, and the ethnography of communication. The sociology of language is a line of enquiry where a sociolinguistic paradigm cuts across the synchrony/dichrony divide, and research can reach quite far back in time. McColl Millar (2010) discusses the macro-sociolinguistic history of Europe from the first written evidence untill 1500.
He shows how comparable linguistic circumstances can give rise to quite different linguistic authorities and identities, depending on varying sociolinguistic conditions and the fluctuation between diversity and hegemony.
Burke (2004) concentrates on the period between the invention of printing (c. 1450) and the French Revolution (1789) with a focus on the linguistic construction of communities of different kinds, from nations, regions, churches, and occupations to the international learned community, the 'Republic of Letters'.
He notes that individuals were typically members of several communities, some of them in competition or even in conflict. One of the linguistic melting pots was the polyglot armies of the period. For example, the international military language of the Thirty years' war, current from Poland to Portugal, was based on Romance vocabulary and was transmitted to Sweden and Eastern Europe. Much of this evidence can be retrieved from historical lexicological studies (Burke 2004 : 129-30).
Macro-sociolinguistics is concerned with____. 

Correct Answer: D. Sociolinguistics of society
Solution:

Macro-sociolinguistics is primarily concerned with the sociolinguistics of society. This includes examining broader societal issues such as societal multilingualism, language policy, and language standardization. These areas explore how different languages coexist within a society, how language policies are formulated and enforced, and the processes through which a language is standardized or modified in its structural and functional aspects to serve as a common norm for communication within a large community.

97. Micro-sociolinguistics ties focuses on________.

Correct Answer: B. Sociolinguistics of language
Solution:

Micro-sociolinguistics focuses on the sociolinguistics of language, specifically the influence of social interaction on language use. This branch of sociolinguistics investigates how individuals' speech behaviour is influenced by their social contexts, including factors such as their social status, group membership, and interpersonal relationships. It delves into the nuances of how language is used in everyday communication, reflecting personal identities and social relationships.

98. Who discusses the macro-sociolinguistic history of Europe?

Correct Answer: C. Mc Coll Millar
Solution:

Robert McColl Millar is the scholar who discusses the macro-sociolinguistic history of Europe. In his work, Millar explores the historical sociolinguistic dynamics from the earliest written records up until 1500. Hе illustrates how different linguistic conditions in Europe led to the formation of various linguistic authorities and identities, influenced by changing sociolinguistic conditions and the balance between diversity and linguistic hegemony across different periods.

99. Which is considered as the linguistic melting pot?

Correct Answer: B. Polyglot armies
Solution:

The polyglot armies during the period discussed are considered linguistic melting pots. This description highlights how armies composed of diverse nationalities and languages facilitated a unique blend of linguistic exchanges. Such environments were crucibles for the development and spread of new linguistic forms and vocabularies, reflecting the complex interplay of languages in military settings during significant historical conflicts like the Thirty Years' War.

100. The international military language of the thirty years war is based on_______.

Correct Answer: C. Romance
Solution:

The international military language of the Thirty Years' War was based on Romance vocabulary. This language served as a lingua franca across extensive regions, from Poland to Portugal, facilitating communication within and between the multi-national forces engaged in the war. The Romance vocabulary provided a common linguistic ground for troops of various national backgrounds, aiding in operational coordination and strategic planning during the conflict.