SAMPLE QUESTIONS - M.A. EXAM IN FRENCH LINGUISTICS
Please bear in mind that these are only sample questions. They are not the actual questions that will be given on the exam.
Discuss the importance of a foreign/second language instructor's knowledge of her students' L1 and/or native culture.
NOTE: Organize your answer in the form of a logical, coherent, 8-15 page typewritten, double-spaced essay. Use conventional linguistic style and formatting. Include relevant citations in the text.
Donnez un résumé de l'inventaire de phonèmes et de règles phonologiques de la langue française. Indiquez quels aspects de ce système poseraient des problèmes pour les Anglophones qui sont en passe d'acquérir cette langue.
Discuss the various theories of Second Language Acquisition upon which Communicative Language Teaching is based. What are the theoretical underpinnings of the Communicative Approach to language teaching?
How do nominal expressions receive Case in Government-Binding (GB) theory versus the Minimalist Program? Why is Case checking to be preferred over Case assignment?
NOTE: Organize your answer in the form of a logical, coherent, 8-15 page typewritten, double-spaced essay. Provide example sentences, trees and definitions where appropriate. Use conventional linguistic style and formatting. Include relevant citations in the text.
What is meant by the terms direct and indirect causation? How are these notions encoded in French? Provide a concise, yet technically accurate summary of a model-theoretic approach to this phenomenon in this language. Explain why it is superior to previous accounts.
NOTE: Organize your answer in the form of a logical, coherent, 8-15 page typewritten, double-spaced essay. Provide example sentences, trees and definitions where appropriate. Use conventional linguistic style and formatting. Include relevant citations in the text.