BEGG-172
                           Language and Linguistics
     Indira Gandhi National Open University
     School of Humanities
                                                    BEGG-172
                                      Language and Linguistics
        Indira Gandhi National Open University
        School of Humanities
        Block
        1
        THE NATURE OF LANGUAGE
        Course Introduction                                    3
        Block Introduction                                     4
        UNIT 1
        What is Language: Unique Features of Human Language    5
        UNIT 2
        The Structuralists, Mentalists and Sociocultural      24
        Perspectives
        UNIT 3
        Language and Society-1: Understanding Variability     37
        UNIT 4
        Language and Society-2: Multilingualism               50
                                             EXPERT COMMITTEE
                                             Prof. Amol Padwad                                  Prof. Anju Sahgal Gupta
                                             Professor & Director,                              (Formerly), School of Humanities
                                             Centre for English Language Education              (IGNOU, New Delhi
                                             Ambedkar University, Delhi                         Dr. Monishita Hajra Pande
                                             Dr. Krishna Kalyan Dixit                           Assistant Professor
                                             Associate Professor                                Ambedkar University, Delhi
                                             Centre for English Language Education              Dr. Nupur Samuel
                                             Ambedkar University, Delhi                         Assistant Professor
                                             Dr. Chhaya Sawheny                                 Ambedkar University, Delhi
                                             Associate Professor, Gargi College,                Ms. Cheryl R Jacob 
                                             Delhi University, Delhi                            Assistant Professor
                                             Dr. Ruchi Kaushik                                  Ambedkar University Delhi, Delhi
                                             Associate Professor                                IGNOU FACULTY (ENGLISH)
                                             Shri Ram College of Commerce,                      Prof. Malati Mathur, Director, SOH
                                             Delhi University, Delhi                            Prof. Neera Singh
                                             Dr. Ipshita Hajra Sasmal                           Prof. Nandini Sahu
                                             Assistant Professor                                Prof. Parmod Kumar
                                             Ambedkar University, Delhi                         Dr. Pema Eden Samdup
                                                                                                Ms. Mridula Rashmi Kindo
                                                                                                Dr. Malathy A.
                                              COURSE COORDINATOR
                                              Prof. Malati Mathur                               Blocks Developed and Edited by
                                              School of Humanities                              Prof. Anju Sahgal Gupta
                                              IGNOU, New Delhi                                  (Formerly), School of Humanities, IGNOU
                                             BLOCK PREPARATON
                                             Course Writers                                     Block 2 (Unit 1-4) and Block 3 (Unit 1-4)
                                             Block 1                                            Prof. Kamlesh Sadanand,
                                             Dr. Monishita Hajra Pande,  Unit 1                 Former Professor and Head,
                                             Assistant Professor                                Department of Phonetics and Spoken English,
                                             Ambedkar University, Delhi                         Central Institute of English Foreign Languages,
                                                                                                Hyderbad
                                             Dr. Ipshita Hajra Sasmal  (Unit 2)                 Block 4
                                             Assistant Professor
                                             Ambedkar University, Delhi                         Prof. Amol Padwad  (Unit 1-5)
                                             Dr. Chhaya Sawheny (Unit 3 & 4)                    Professor & Director,
                                             Associate Professor, Gargi College,                Centre for English Language Education
                                             Delhi University, Delhi                            Ambedkar University, Delhi
                                                                                                Content and Language Editor
                                                                                                Prof. Anju Sahgal Gupta
                                                                                                (Formerly) School of Humanities, IGNOU
                                             PRINT PRODUCTION
                                             Mr. C.N. Pandey                                    Secretarial Assistance
                                             Section Officer (Publication)                      Ms. Premlata Lingwal
                                             SOH, IGNOU, New Delhi                              PA (SOH), IGNOU, New Delhi
                                             August, 2019
                                                Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2019
                                             ISBN :
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                                             University's office at Maidan Garhi. New Delhi-110 068 or visit University’s web site http://
                                             www.ignou.ac.in
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                                             Printed at :
     COURSE INTRODUCTION
     Language and Linguistics is a six-credit course which has four blocks.
     We begin the course (Block 1) with discussing the Nature of Language and the
     perspective of major linguists in understanding language. Since language is
     spoken/written primarily within society, we attempt to comprehend its variable
     and dynamic nature. We also look at language in a multilingual framework.
     In block 2, The Sounds of English, we discuss the vowels and consonants of
     English. English has a unique stress pattern which is different from Indian
     languages. In this block we look at word stress as well as stress and rhythm in
     connected speech.
     In block 3 Word Formation Strategies, we begin by discussing the basic concepts
     of English word-formation. We also take up some of these processes, such as
     Inflectional morphology, Derivational morphology, Conversion and
     Compounding.
     In block 4 Sentence Type: Form and Function, we touch upon some aspects of
     grammar with which you are already familiar. These include Basic patterns of
     English, the Noun Phrase, The Verb Phrase, Compound and Complex sentences
     and Sentence transformation.
     We hope you enjoy the course!
     ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
     The material (pictures and passages) we have used is purely for educational
     purposes. Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders of material
     reproduced in this book.  Should any infringement have occurred, the publishers
     and editors apologize and will be pleased to make the necessary corrections in
     future editions of this book.