Introduction to Linguistics

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Questions and Answers

What is a language?

A language is a set of sounds, words, signs, body movements, gestures, facial expressions and interjections used by a specific group for the sake of communication.

What is linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language.

Which of the following are subfields of linguistics?

Language form (correct)
Language meaning (correct)
Language in context (correct)
All of the above

The study of language meaning is concerned with how languages employ logical structures and real-world references to convey, process, and assign meaning.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two subfields that encompass the study of language meaning?

Semantics and Pragmatics Signup and view all the answers

What are the different aspects that linguistics encompasses?

Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own, relationships between languages and how languages change over time, language as a thought process, and language within a cultural context. Signup and view all the answers

Linguistics is only concerned with the scientific study of language.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is "register" in linguistics?

Register refers to the way language is used appropriately in different settings, such as the workplace, among friends, or among family. Signup and view all the answers

What is "grammar" in linguistics?

Grammar is the study of language structure. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are aspects of grammar?

Morphology (A), Syntax (B), Phonology (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does "Phonetics" focus on?

Phonetics is concerned with the actual properties of speech sounds and nonspeech sounds, and how they are produced and perceived. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are broader subfields of linguistics?

Evolutionary linguistics (A), Historical linguistics (B), Sociolinguistics (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between "evolutionary linguistics" and "historical linguistics"?

Evolutionary linguistics considers the origins of language while historical linguistics explores language change. Signup and view all the answers

What does "sociolinguistics" focus on?

Sociolinguistics examines the relationship between linguistic variation and social structures. Signup and view all the answers

What is "psycholinguistics" concerned with?

Psycholinguistics explores the representation and function of language in the mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of "neurolinguistics"?

Neurolinguistics looks at language processing in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What does "language acquisition" study?

Language acquisition explores how children or adults acquire language. Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of "discourse analysis"?

Discourse analysis involves the structure of texts and conversations. Signup and view all the answers

Besides linguistics, what other intellectual disciplines intersect with language?

Other disciplines that intersect with language include semiotics, literary theory, acoustics, anthropology, biology, computer science, human anatomy, informatics, neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and speech-language pathology. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Language

A system of sounds, words, signs, and other symbols used by a group for communication.

Linguistics

The scientific study of human language.