Understanding the Relatedness Hypothesis
The Relatedness Hypothesis in linguistics proposes that observed similarities between languages are not coincidental.
Reasoning for Correct Answer
- The hypothesis suggests that numerous similarities, such as shared vocabulary (cognates), grammatical structures, and sound patterns, between languages are strong evidence that these languages evolved from a single, earlier language.
- This common ancestor is referred to as a proto-language or common ancestral language.
- Therefore, linguistic similarities indicate genetic relationship, meaning the languages are related through descent from a shared source.
Analysis of Options
- Option 1: derive from a common ancestral language - This aligns directly with the definition of the Relatedness Hypothesis. Similarities are explained by common descent.
- Option 2: share the entire lexicon - While related languages share significant vocabulary (lexicon), they rarely share the *entire* lexicon, especially after divergence. This option is too absolute.
- Option 3: share the entire phonological system - Similar to lexicon, phonological systems change over time. Related languages may share many sound correspondences but rarely maintain identical systems entirely.
- Option 4: are dialects of a single language - Dialects are typically variations within a single language that are mutually intelligible. The Relatedness Hypothesis applies to languages that may be distinct but trace back to a common ancestor, often predating their current status as separate languages. They might have once been dialects but have diverged significantly.
The core idea of the Relatedness Hypothesis is common origin, best represented by derivation from a common ancestral language.
Important Questions from Inference
A smart city integrates all modes of transport, uses clean energy and promotes sustainable use of resources. It also uses technology to ensure safety and security of the city, something which critics argue, will lead to a surveillance state.
Which of the following can be logically inferred from the above paragraph?
(i) All smart cities encourage the formation of surveillance states.
(ii) Surveillance is an integral part of a smart city.
(iii) Sustainability and surveillance go hand in hand in a smart city.
(iv) There is a perception that smart cities promote surveillance.Which of the following options is the closest in meaning to the sentence below?
"As a woman, I have no country."
Wanted Temporary, Part-time persons for the post of Field Interviewer to conduct personal interviews to collect and collate economic data. Requirements: High School-pass, must be available for Day, Evening and Saturday work. Transportation paid, expenses reimbursed.
Which one of the following is the best inference from the above advertisement?
- The documents expose the cynicism of the government officials – and yet as the media website reflects, not a single newspaper has reported on their existence.
Which one of the following inferences may be drawn with the greatest accuracy from the above passage? The information contained in DNA is used to synthesize proteins that are necessary for the functioning of life. DNA is composed of four nucleotides: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G). The information contained in DNA can then be thought of as a sequence of these four nucleotides: A, T, C, and G. DNA has coding and non-coding regions. Coding regions—where the sequence of these nucleotides are read in groups of three to produce individual amino acids—constitute only about 2% of human DNA. For example, the triplet of nucleotides CCG codes for the amino acid glycine, while the triplet GGA codes for the amino acid proline. Multiple amino acids are then assembled to form a protein.
Based only on the information provided above, which of the following statements can be logically inferred with certainty?
(i) The majority of human DNA has no role in the synthesis of proteins.
(ii) The function of about 98% of human DNA is not understood.
