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Exam Questions in Applied Linguistics
Exam Questions in Applied Linguistics
Exam Questions in Applied Linguistics
1. What is the main concern of applied linguistics and how does it differ from theoretical
linguistics in its aims, methods and approaches?
2. What is language? How can we define it to reflect its multiple features and functions?
3. How does human language differ from animal communication systems? Why cant
chimps talk?
4. What is the main field of interest of pragmatics? Why is it important to distinguish
linguistic form and function? How do the different theories we have discussed relate to
the study of language function?
5. Speech Act Theory and Hallidays language functions
6. The Gricean Maxims and their criticism
7. What theories provide an explanation for the relationship between language, thought
and culture?
8. What is the Whorfian Hypothesis? On what grounds can it be supported or rejected?
9. What is the main field of interest of sociolinguistics? How is it a good symbol of a
multi-disciplinary filed? What methodological problems do sociolinguists face and
what solutions have been found?
10. What theories provide explanations for first language acquisition?
11. What is the Critical Period Hypothesis? What support has been found to support it in
FLA and SLL?
12. Which aspects of human functioning are affected by the critical period?
13. Describe Krashens Input Hypothesis and its criticism.