Say whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F). Correct the false statements briefly.
i All native speakers of English are mutually intelligible to each other.
ii Overt linguistic devices are not necessary to understand the meaning of a text.
iii English in India replaced Persian and other languages from the areas of education, administration, trade and business.
iv Like RP, Indian English has 11 pure vowels and 6 glides.
v Accent and dialect are terms that can be synonymously used.
vi There are about 2 billion non-native speakers of English spread over different parts of the world.
vii Skimming and scanning help organize writing efficiently.
viii English utterances normally carried new information in the predicate.
ix Semantics is an independent branch within language study, which has one foot in grammar and the other in discourse.
x Textual context or ‘co-text’ is essential for meaningful discourse.
i. False (F)
Explanation: Not all native speakers of English are mutually intelligible due to significant regional variations, accents, and dialectal differences within the English-speaking world.
ii. False (F)
Explanation: Overt linguistic devices, such as vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and discourse markers, are crucial for understanding the meaning of a text. These devices provide structure, context, and clarity to textual content.
iii. True (T)
Explanation: English replaced Persian and other languages in education, administration, trade, and business during the British colonial period in India, reflecting historical and socio-political changes.
iv. False (F)
Explanation: Indian English does not have the same vowel system as RP (Received Pronunciation). Indian English typically features a different set of vowel sounds influenced by regional languages and accents.
v. False (F)
Explanation: Accent and dialect are related but distinct terms. An accent refers to the way speech sounds are pronounced, whereas a dialect encompasses pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and cultural aspects of language use within a specific region or community.
vi. True (T)
Explanation: There are approximately 2 billion non-native speakers of English worldwide, making English one of the most widely spoken second languages globally.
vii. True (T)
Explanation: Skimming and scanning are reading techniques that help organize and process information efficiently, particularly when searching for specific details or grasping the main ideas of a text.
viii. False (F)
Explanation: English utterances can carry both new information (focus) and background information (given information), not solely in the predicate. Information structure in English sentences can vary based on contextual and pragmatic factors.
ix. True (T)
Explanation: Semantics is a branch of linguistic study concerned with meaning in language. It intersects with grammar and discourse analysis, emphasizing how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning within specific contexts.
x. True (T)
Explanation: Textual context or 'co-text'—the surrounding words, sentences, and discourse—is essential for interpreting and constructing meaningful discourse, facilitating comprehension and communication in written and spoken language.