Question Details

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): From a sociolinguistic point of view, mainstream SLA studies remain asocial-the social import of learning to interact through language remains hidden.
Reason (R): A sociolinguistic perspective focusses on the linguistic system as well as on a concern with specific items of pragmatic and discourse development and rejects the tendency of looking at language as a set of norms, at language diversity and ideologies.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Options

A

Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

B

Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

C

(A) is correct but (R) is not correct.

D

(A) is not correct but (R) is correct.

Correct Answer :

(A) is correct but (R) is not correct.

Solution :

The correct option is: (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.

Analysis of Assertion (A):
Mainstream Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research has historically been dominated by cognitive and psycholinguistic frameworks. These approaches view language acquisition primarily as an internal cognitive process occurring within the individual's mind, often isolating the learner from their environment. From a sociolinguistic standpoint, this heavy focus on cognitive mechanics renders mainstream SLA "asocial" because it overlooks the social dynamics, identity construction, and interpersonal interactions that define how people actually learn to communicate. Therefore, Assertion (A) is correct in stating that the social import of learning to interact through language remains hidden in these studies.

Analysis of Reason (R):
Sociolinguistics is the study of language in relation to social factors. Far from rejecting language diversity, ideologies, and social norms, a sociolinguistic perspective places these concepts at the center of its inquiry. Sociolinguists investigate how social variables (such as social class, gender, and ethnicity) influence language variation and diversity, and how ideological beliefs affect language status and use. Because the statement in Reason (R) incorrectly claims that a sociolinguistic perspective rejects the study of language diversity and ideologies, Reason (R) is incorrect.

Unlock Our Free Library

Access expert-curated educational resources and study materials—completely free.