Aitchison's Linguistics Quiz

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Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It explores how language works, its structure, and its use in society.

This book, Aitchison’s Linguistics, aims to provide an introductory guide to the field of linguistics, making it accessible to beginners. It serves as a stepping stone for those interested in further exploration.

When presenting different theories or perspectives within linguistics, the book aims to offer a neutral, balanced understanding rather than advocating for one side.

Controversies within linguistics demonstrate the dynamic nature of the field. Different perspectives and opinions drive research and understanding.

Like a tree constantly growing new branches, the field of linguistics is expanding and evolving with new discoveries and theories.

As linguistics progresses, new research emerges, making it necessary to update readings to reflect current knowledge.

Updated readings benefit students and researchers by providing the most accurate and relevant information in the field of linguistics.

Identifying errors in books ensures the accuracy of the information presented, promoting rigorous and reliable learning experiences.

Characteristics that distinguish language from other communication systems.

Communication using vocalizations or noises.

They can be used over long distances, in the dark, allow diverse messages, and free the body for other activities.

Many animals utilize sounds for communication, including birds, dolphins, and monkeys.

Organs used for speech have primary functions like breathing and eating.

The vocal cords are used for breathing, but also for producing sounds.

Because the organs used for speech primarily serve basic functions like breathing and eating

The vocal cords being used to close the lungs for actions like weightlifting to make the rib cage rigid.

A group of linguists in the 19th century who believed that language changes follow specific, predictable 'laws'.

A school of thought in linguistics that emphasizes the interconnectedness of language elements, viewing language as a structured system.

De Saussure revolutionized linguistics by emphasizing that all language items are interconnected. He compared language to a chess game, where each piece's meaning is defined by its relation to others.

In the 20th century, linguistics moved away from studying how languages change over time to focusing on describing a language at a specific point in time.

A Swiss linguist considered the 'father of modern linguistics', known for emphasizing the interconnected nature of language elements.

The study of language as it is used, focusing on describing and analyzing language at a specific point in time.

A groundbreaking work by Ferdinand de Saussure, published posthumously, which greatly influenced the development of structural linguistics.

A hypothetical ancestor language from which many modern European and Indian languages are thought to have descended.

The lack of a natural connection between a word and the thing it represents. For example, there's no reason why 'cat' refers to a feline creature, it's simply agreed upon.

Animals often communicate through signals that directly reflect their intentions, like an aggressive posture, while human language relies on abstract symbols that have no inherent connection to meaning.

Humans acquire language through a long process of learning and exposure, unlike many animals who communicate instinctively.

Human language has two levels: sounds (phonemes) and meanings (morphemes). We combine these basic units to create a vast range of words and sentences.

Animals have a limited range of sounds they can make, and they generally use each sound for a single purpose. Human language allows for much greater flexibility and creativity in communication.

Human language is passed down through generations, learned from our environment and culture. Animals typically have genetically determined communication systems.

While we learn language, humans are born with a built-in capacity to acquire it. This innate ability allows us to grasp the complex rules and patterns of language.

Onomatopoeic words like 'quack-quack' and 'crash' are special cases where there is a connection between the sound and the meaning. However, these are relatively rare compared to most arbitrary words in language.

A type of grammar that uses transformations to generate all possible sentences in a language. It focuses on the underlying structure of sentences and how they are derived from simpler structures.

A type of grammar that aims to explain how humans generate and understand sentences. It focuses on the underlying rules and principles that govern language production.

A proposed innate set of linguistic principles that are shared by all human languages. It suggests humans are born with a basic understanding of language structure.

Features or principles that are common to all human languages, reflecting shared cognitive abilities and constraints.

Limits or boundaries within which human languages operate. They constrain the possible structures and variations of languages.

A more abstract approach to linguistics proposed by Chomsky, focusing on the bare bones of language structure and seeking to identify the fundamental principles governing all languages.

Chomsky revolutionized linguistics by introducing the concept of generative grammar, focusing on language universals and proposing the existence of Universal Grammar.

Some argue that Chomsky's theories overemphasize constraints, leading to overly rigid models. The boundaries of language are often more flexible and diverse than his theories suggest.