THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

KAHRAMANMARAŞ SÜTÇÜ İMAM UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
FLE206- LINGUISTICS II
2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR – SPRING TERM – MIDTERM EXAM

Full Name : Mine Yalçın

Student Number : 20220111018
Class Group :2

Questions
Question 1. (40 points) On the topic of “more gets communicated than is said,” consider this
situation, described in Tannen (2005):
A Greek woman explained how she and her father (and later her husband) communicated. If
she wanted to do something, like go to a dance, she had to ask her father for permission. He
never said no. But she could tell from the way he said yes whether or not he meant it. If he said
something like “Yes, of course, go,” then she knew he thought it was a good idea. If he said
something like “If you want, you can go,” then she understood that he didn’t think it was a
good idea, and she wouldn’t go.

(i) Why do you think “he never said no” (when he was communicating “No”)?

 The father never said no explicitly and preferred indirect communication so as to allow his
daughter to make the decision herself. When the father says, ‘’If you want, you can go’’ he avoids
giving his daughter the ‘’controlling father’’ image, but also implies that he does not want her to
go to the place in question. He preferred to be polite while expressing his thoughts.

(ii) How would you analyze the two speech acts reported as responses in this passage?

 By saying ‘’Yes, of course, go.’’ the father uses the direct speech act, that is, his intention is
obvious and clear. It is not an open response to interpretation. However, when the father said ‘’If
you want, you can go.’’the daughter makes an inference from this response and prefers not to go.
This time the father uses indirect speech. Although the father does not meddle in his daughter’s
life, he cannot help but express his opinion indirectly.

(iii) Are you familiar with any other comparable situations where “more is communicated than
is said”?

 Yes, actually i am familiar with such situations. For example, yesterday, when I asked a friend if
she had finished her home-works, she replied that "I finished Gözde teacher's homework." Based
on this answer i made an inference and i realized that my friend did not do other classes
homework.
Question 2 (40 points). (i) What is Critical Discourse Analysis?
 The study of the relationships between language use and the social and political environments in
which it takes place is known as critical discourse. It focuses on how issues such as cultural
difference, ethnicity, gender, ideology and identity are reflected in language.

(ii) How might the following text be analyzed using that approach? This text originally appeared in the
British newspaper the Sun (February 2, 1989) and is cited in van Dijk (1996: 98) and Cameron (2001:
127).

Britain Invaded by Army of Illegals

Britain is being swamped by a tide of illegal immigrants so desperate for a job that they will
work for a pittance in our restaurants, cafés and nightclubs.
Immigration officers are being overwhelmed with work. Last year, 2191 “illegals” were
nabbed and sent back home. But there were tens of thousands more, slaving behind bars,
cleaning hotel rooms and working in kitchens …
Illegals sneak in by:
 DECEIVING immigration officers when they are quizzed at airports
 DISAPPEARING after their entry visas run out
 FORGING work permits and other documents
 RUNNING AWAY from immigration detention centres. X

 In order create an aggressive and negative picture of immigrants, the words "invade" and "tide"
were used in the news. The use of vaguely high numbers reinforces this negative and frightening
perception (tens of thousands). By using the verbs ''deceive'', ''sneak'', ''forge'', and ''run away'',
immigrants are accused of being criminal, illegal and dishonest.

Question 3 (20 points). Explain adults’ language learning under the framework of Critical Thinking
Hypothesis?

 According to Critical Period Hypothesis, people acquire language skills like their mother tongue
only in a finite and certain time. It is a known fact that adult learners have lower language learning
and acquisition levels than children. Research shows that as the age of language acquisition
increases, the ability to perceive pronunciation and grammar in the second language decreases.
Briefly; it is very difficult for adult learners to acquire a second language as their mother tongue.
Assessment Criteria
The exam papers will be assessed by scrutinizing the answers with a meticulous approach. Therefore,
you need to consider the following:
 proper use of language in terms of grammatical accuracy, word choice, clarity and richness in
expression,
 reasonable theoretical relevance of the answers,
 intelligible answers presenting critical thinking abilities,
 credibility of the answers complying with academic integrity (not a copy and paste answer
from any outer source)
P.S. Those who do not upload their papers before the deadline do not have the right to ask for any
further submission.
Good Luck!
Dr. Yunus Emre AKBANA