Language and Communication Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What characteristic is most commonly associated with distinguishing humans from other living creatures?

Intelligence

Language (correct)

Tool use

Social behavior

What allows humans to create an endless array of novel messages?

Observational skills

Random sounds and gestures

A limited number of symbols (correct)

Innate knowledge

Which aspect best describes the structured nature of language?

Language is purely instinctual

Words can be arranged in specific ways (correct)

All languages sound the same

There are no rules in language

What is one of the effects of bilingualism on language acquisition?

It enhances cognitive flexibility Signup and view all the answers

What type of structure is present in human languages?

Hierarchical structure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about language is NOT true?

Language has no inherent rules Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of how humans use language?

Creating and comprehending novel sentences Signup and view all the answers

How do humans typically convey information through language?

Combining symbols and sounds Signup and view all the answers

What are phonemes?

Units of vocal sound that do not have meaning Signup and view all the answers

What is a morpheme?

The smallest units of meaning in a language Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about syntax is true?

Syntax rules dictate that a sentence must have a subject and a verb Signup and view all the answers

How many phonemes are roughly estimated to be in the English language?

40 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a complete sentence?

The sound annoyed me Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix 'ed' exemplify?

A morpheme indicating a root word Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of articles like 'the' in a sentence?

They modify the nouns they precede Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes morphemes from phonemes?

Phonemes are sound units; morphemes convey meaning Signup and view all the answers

What is fast mapping?

The process of mapping a word onto an underlying concept after only one exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What might contribute to the vocabulary spurt in toddlers?

Improved articulation skills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes telegraphic speech?

Speech that only includes content words, omitting less critical words. Signup and view all the answers

At what age does the vocabulary spurt typically begin in children?

18–24 months Signup and view all the answers

What is a common error that toddlers make when developing their vocabulary?

Overextensions and underextensions Signup and view all the answers

How does telegraphic speech relate to syntax?

It shows a limited understanding of syntax. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does not contribute to the vocabulary spurt?

Enhanced social interactions Signup and view all the answers

Telegraphic speech is characterized by:

The minimal use of function words. Signup and view all the answers

What benefit does bilingualism provide in relation to cognitive processing?

It enhances controlled processing throughout life. Signup and view all the answers

How does bilingualism affect the onset of dementia according to the findings?

Bilingual patients experience the onset of dementia four years later. Signup and view all the answers

In which age groups is the cognitive advantage of bilingualism observed?

Throughout adulthood and into old age. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of cognition may be less affected by aging due to bilingualism?

Controlled processing. Signup and view all the answers

Which study focused on the impact of bilingualism on dementia?

The study by Bialystok et al. (2007). Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding bilingualism and aging?

Bilingualism maintains certain cognitive functions in older adults. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn about cognitive losses in bilingual patients?

Bilingual patients experience cognitive losses later than monolinguals. Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive function is most likely to benefit from bilingualism into older age?

Controlled processing. Signup and view all the answers

What unique ability do infants raised in a bilingual home environment develop?

Increased capacity to control and switch attention Signup and view all the answers

What language did researchers attempt to train chimps to use?

American Sign Language (ASL) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a misconception regarding language?

Only humans possess the ability to learn language. Signup and view all the answers

Which animal was specifically mentioned as having been tested for understanding simple actions through language?

Kanzi the chimp Signup and view all the answers

How did researchers ensure Kanzi understood the commands given to him?

By including novel constructions in the commands Signup and view all the answers

What is one aspect where humans have a unique talent compared to other species?

Using complex grammatical rules Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following animal species is NOT mentioned as acquiring language skills?

Foxes Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of American Sign Language (ASL)?

It uses grammatical rules with hand combinations. Signup and view all the answers

According to Skinner, what happens to vocalizations that are not reinforced?

They decline in frequency. Signup and view all the answers

What role do reinforcers play in language development according to behaviorists?

They shape vocalizations until they are correct. Signup and view all the answers

What is one suggested benefit of communication among ancient ancestors?

Assisting in hunting and gathering. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common viewpoint among scholars regarding human language and evolution?

Human language lacks unique adapted characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

During language acquisition, what might parents insist on for their children?

Closer approximations of words. Signup and view all the answers

What does the adaptive value of language imply, according to the passage?

Language facilitates essential human activities. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language is emphasized by behaviorists in helping children learn?

Control over reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What is one criticism regarding the evolutionary account of human language?

It lacks consensus and is subject to debate. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language and Thought

Language is fundamental to human behavior, allowing for communication, self-expression, and relationship building.
Language is symbolic, using sounds and words to represent objects, actions, events, and ideas.
Language is semantic, possessing meaning.
Language is generative, facilitating an infinite array of messages.
Language is structured, following grammatical rules governing word order and sentence formation.

Language Structure

Phonemes are the smallest perceptual units of sound in a language.
Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language (root words, prefixes, suffixes).
Syntax is a system of rules specifying how words are arranged into sentences.
Semantics focuses on the meanings of words and phrases.

Language Development

Infants exhibit remarkable language-related abilities early on, encompassing phonemic discrimination abilities across languages.
Bilingualism does not hinder development; studies show similar or even slightly improved cognitive abilities in bilingual children compared to monolingual children.
Cultural factors influence cognitive styles, with Eastern cultures (e.g., China, Japan) often exhibiting a holistic cognitive style and Western cultures an analytical style.
Language itself may shape thought, as seen in the linguistic relativity hypothesis.
However, recent research has not shown a strong correlation between the language used and a cultural group's thought process, suggesting a weaker version of the linguistic relativity hypothesis, and a distinction is made between the understanding of a colour and the use of words to describe it.
Children acquire language by combining sounds into meaningful units, progressing from single words to two-word phrases and then increasingly more complex sentence structures.

Problem Solving

Four common barriers to effective problem solving include: irrelevant information, functional fixedness (thinking about objects solely in terms of their usual functions), mental sets (persistent use of previously successful strategies), and unnecessary constraints.
Trial and Error is one approach to solving problems, though not always the most effective.
Heuristics (e.g., forming subgoals, searching for analogies, changing the representation of a problem) can aid problem-solving.
Functional fixedness refers to the tendency to think about objects only in terms of their traditional use (screwdriver only for screwing, not as a weight).
Mental set occurs when individuals persist in using problem-solving strategies that may have worked in the past, even if less effective strategies exist for the current problem.
Incubation can sometimes lead to solutions when a problem is proving difficult initially.

Decision Making

Risk assessments may be affected by the gambler's fallacy, the belief that previous outcomes influence future outcomes in random events.
The law of small numbers illustrates the tendency to draw conclusions from small, non-representative samples that are inaccurate given the size of the population.
Confirmation bias is when people seek and interpret information that confirms existing beliefs.
Belief perseverance is the tendency to stick to initial beliefs, even when faced with contradictory evidence.
Choice overload can occur from experiencing an excessive number of options, which diminishes decision satisfaction and increases regret.
Framing effects show that how a problem is presented affects decision-making outcomes, while people tend to avoid losses more prominently than accepting gains.
The sunk-costs fallacy occurs when people continue a course of action solely because they have already invested time or resources, and not due to the overall value of the continued action.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the characteristics that distinguish human language from other forms of communication. This quiz covers topics such as phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and the effects of bilingualism. Perfect for students of linguistics or anyone interested in the science of language.