Graduation Examination in Linguistics 30 - Dec 2010 at USSH

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Graduation Examination in Linguistics 30 - Dec 2010 at USSH
Duration: 150 minutes

Part 1. SEMANTICS (6 marks)

1. What is a deictic word? What is lexial ambiguity? Give example to illustrate definitions.

a) A deictic ( such as this , that, these, those, then, now) word points to the time, place or situation in which the speaker is speaking.

Ex: I met her yesterday at this place.
I, her: personal deictic expression
Yesterday: temporal deictic expression
This place: spatial deictic expression

b) Lexical ambiguity: containing an ambiguous word.
Ex: The suit is lighter.
Lighter is less heavy.
Lighter is less dark.

2. What is the relation between the words in each of the pairs below? If there is antonymy, classify it.

a) rite - right 
-> homophony
b) hammer - tool 
-> hyponymy
c) single - married 
-> binary antonymy
d) mad - insane 
-> synonymy

3. What is figure of speech used in the following sentences? Interpret the sentences.

a) The White House has made an important decision.

→ Metonymy. The White House stands for the President, which means the President has made an important decision.

b) After that event, Jim suddenly had tons of money.

→ Hyperbole. It's impossible for someone to have tons of money, which means Jim suddenly had a lot of money.

4. What do these sentences presuppose?

a) He didn't answer my question.

→ The hearer knows who "he" refers to.

→ The speaker asked him a question. 

b) Could I borrow your motorbike?

→ The hearer has a motorbike.

c) Stop talking.

→ The hearer has been talking.

d) Shoot the crocodile.

→ The hearer knows what "crocodile" it is.

5.
a) The door is open.
b) I like your pen.

6. "Can you swim across this river?"