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Engl 312: Comparative And Historical Linguistics Question Paper

Engl 312: Comparative And Historical Linguistics

Course:Bachelor Of Education Arts

Institution: Chuka University question papers

Exam Year:2013

CHUKA

UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS

THIRD YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (ARTS)

ENGL 312: COMPARATIVE AND HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS

STREAMS: B.ED (ARTS) Y3S1/Y3S2 TIME: 2 HOURS

DAY/DATE: MONDAY 12/8/2013 11.30 A.M. – 1.30 P.M.
INSTRUCTIONS:

Answer THREE questions. Question ONE is compulsory.

(a) Differentiate between diachronic and synchronic study of language. [4 marks]

(b) What is comparative reconstruction? How does it differ from internal reconstruction? [6 marks]

(c) Study the following data and reconstruct the cognate sets showing how the proto-forms are derived. [20 marks]

Spanish Sardinian Italian French Romanian Gloss
riba ripa ripa riv rip? embarkment
kopa kuppa koppa kup kup? cup
gota gutta gotta gut gut? drop

(a) Discuss Four reasons why languages change. [8 marks]

(b) Explain the following concepts used in historical and comparative linguistics.

Language cognates and language isolates. [4 marks]
Family tree and wave model [4 marks]
Glottochronology and Lexicostatistics [4 marks]

Discuss the various types of languages according to the morphological typology using appropriate examples. [20 marks]
(a) Explain the following types of sound change laws: [8 marks]

Grimm’s law
Verner’s law

(b) Discuss how lexical change occurs in a language and illustrate your answers with at least two examples. [12 marks]

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Engl 312: Comparative And Historical Linguistics Question Paper

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