Historical Linguistics Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

The trajectory of 'speed up' is similar to that of 'speeded' due to the significance of semantic factors. (correct)
The verb 'burn' regularized first in the United Kingdom.
The irregular verb 'snuck' is becoming more common than 'sneaked'.
All of the verbs in the text regularized in the 19th century.

What is the purpose of the scatterplot shown in the excerpt?

To compare the frequencies of irregular verbs across different time periods.
To display the evolution of the frequency of use for specific irregular verbs over time.
To illustrate the relationship between the frequency of use and the time of regularization for various verbs. (correct)
To demonstrate the differences in regularization patterns between different geographic locations.

Why is the percentage of verbs with a change in regularity greater than 10% emphasized in the text?

To suggest that semantic factors are not always the driving force behind regularization.
To highlight verbs that have undergone significant shifts in their usage patterns. (correct)
To demonstrate the importance of frequency in the process of regularization.
To explain why the U.S. leads the UK in the regularization of verbs.

Based on the information provided, which of the following verbs is most likely to be considered a regular verb?

Burned (A) Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred from the information presented about the verb 'burn'?

The regularization of 'burn' was influenced by factors specific to the United States and the United Kingdom. (A) Signup and view all the answers

During which time period did the use of the term 'slavery' peak?

Early 1860s during the Civil War (D) Signup and view all the answers

What term showed a peak in frequency between 1915 and 1941?

'the Great War' (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the frequency of 'the Great War' after 1941?

It decreased, but interest shifted to 'World War I'. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the half-life mentioned in the content?

73 years (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many words are contained in the studied corpus from 1861?

386,434,758 words (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following years is highlighted as an example of cultural turnover?

1883 (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which events are connected to the peaks in the frequency of 'slavery'?

The Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does median frequency refer to in this context?

The frequency value at the midpoint of recorded data (B) Signup and view all the answers

What historical interval is specifically referenced in the content?

1800–1840 (D) Signup and view all the answers

How long did it take for a specific cultural turnover to occur after invention, according to the cohort data?

66 years (B) Signup and view all the answers

What language phenomenon is highlighted regarding the verbs 'light/lit' and 'wake/woke'?

They transitioned from irregular to regular forms and back. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was observed about the frequency of the term '1951'?

Its usage was minimal until increasing sharply in 1951. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What do the plots mentioned in the document primarily illustrate?

The transition of interest in various historical events over time. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role does America play in the context of the document regarding language?

It is characterized as the leading exporter of both regular and irregular verbs. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what way does the document suggest societies behave, similar to individuals?

They forget past trends and linguistic forms. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Quantitative Analysis of Culture

The study of cultural trends using numerical data from various sources.

Frequency of 'slavery'

The occurrence rate of the term 'slavery' in literature over time, peaking during the Civil War and civil rights movement.

'The Great War' vs 'World War I'

The shift in terminology from 'the Great War' to 'World War I' reflecting cultural context and historical significance.