Demonstrate understanding of linguistic issues, concepts, methods and approaches
Paper 4 – Language Topics
Objective
Show that you understand key linguistic issues, concepts, methods and approaches, and can apply them to analyse language in the exam.
1️⃣ Linguistic Issues
Think of language as a living city that grows and changes. Key issues:
- 📚 Language change – How words evolve (e.g., “gay” from “happy” to “homosexual”).
- 🌍 Dialect & socio‑dialect – Variations across regions or social groups.
- 🤝 Sociolinguistics – How language reflects power, identity and culture.
- 🗣️ Multilingualism & code‑switching – Switching between languages in one conversation.
Exam tip: Look for words that signal change (e.g., “once”, “now”) or social context (e.g., “formal”, “informal”).
2️⃣ Core Linguistic Concepts
Break language into building blocks, like Lego pieces.
| Concept | What it studies | Exam example |
|---|---|---|
| Phonetics | Physical sounds (IPA symbols) | Identify the vowel in “cat” vs. “cot” |
| Phonology | Sound patterns & rules | Explain the /t/ deletion in “button” |
| Morphology | Word structure & affixes | Analyse “un‑happiness” |
| Syntax | Sentence structure | Identify subject‑verb inversion |
| Semantics | Meaning of words & sentences | Explain polysemy in “bank” |
| Pragmatics | Contextual meaning | Analyse politeness in a request |
Exam tip: Match the concept to the question – e.g., “What rule governs the sound change?” → Phonology.
3️⃣ Methods of Linguistic Analysis
Different tools to study language, like a scientist’s lab kit.
- 📊 Corpus Linguistics – Analyzing large text collections for patterns.
- 🧪 Experimental Methods – Controlled studies (e.g., reaction time to ambiguous sentences).
- 🗣️ Discourse Analysis – Looking at how language functions in real contexts.
- 📚 Historical Linguistics – Tracing language change over time.
Exam tip: If the prompt asks for “evidence from the text”, think of corpus or discourse evidence.
4️⃣ Theoretical Approaches
Different lenses to view language, like wearing different coloured glasses.
- 🔬 Generative Grammar – Focus on innate rules that generate all possible sentences.
- 📐 Functionalism – Language as a tool for communication; structure follows function.
- 🌐 Sociocultural Approach – Language shaped by social interaction and culture.
- 🧩 Interactionist – Language emerges from social interaction and cognition.
Exam tip: Identify which approach best explains the phenomenon in the text (e.g., pragmatic politeness → functionalism).
📌 Exam‑Ready Tips
- Read the question carefully – look for keywords like “explain”, “compare”, “evidence”.
- Structure your answer: Intro – Main points – Conclusion.
- Use linguistic terminology correctly; define terms if time allows.
- Support claims with examples from the text or known linguistic data.
- Keep sentences clear and concise; avoid jargon unless necessary.
- Time‑manage: 10 min for planning, 30 min for writing, 5 min for review.
Revision
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