Language and Linguistics Definitions

27 Questions

Match the following subfields of linguistics with their description:

Phonetics = Concerned with the actual properties of speech sounds and nonspeech sounds Sociolinguistics = Looks at the relation between linguistic variation and social structures Neurolinguistics = Looks at language processing in the brain Language acquisition = How children or adults acquire language

Match the following disciplines with their relevance to linguistics:

Anthropology = Relevant to linguistics and informs work in the field Psychology = Relevant to linguistics and informs work in the field Acoustics = Relevant to linguistics and informs work in the field Informatics = Relevant to linguistics and informs work in the field

Match the following aspects of language with their definitions:

Syntax = The formation and composition of phrases and sentences from words Morphology = The formation and composition of words Phonology = Sound systems Semiotics = The general study of signs and symbols within and without language

Match the following areas of study related to language with their focus:

Evolutionary linguistics = Considers the origins of language Historical linguistics = Explores language change Discourse analysis = Involves the structure of texts and conversations Literary theory = Studies the use of language in literature

Match the following settings with their examples for appropriate speech:

Workplace = Determining what a person needs to know to speak appropriately Family = Determining what a person needs to know to speak appropriately Friends = Determining what a person needs to know to speak appropriately Interacting with speakers from different language and cultural backgrounds = Determining what happens when speakers interact

Match the following definitions with their terms:

A language is set of sounds, words, signs, body movements, gestures, facial expressions and interjections used by a specific group for the sake of communication. = Language Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context. = Linguistics The study of language meaning is concerned with how languages employ logical structures and real-world references to convey, process, and assign meaning, as well as to manage and resolve ambiguity. = Language meaning Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, and the analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own. = Description of languages

Match the following linguistic activities with their historical figure or time period:

Panini's Ashtadhyayi around 500 BCE with the analysis of Sanskrit = Descriptive linguistics activities The earliest known descriptive linguistics activities are said to have been Panini's Ashtadhyayi around 500 BCE with the analysis of Sanskrit. = Panini The study of language meaning is concerned with how languages employ logical structures and real-world references to convey, process, and assign meaning, as well as to manage and resolve ambiguity. = Language meaning Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context. = Subfields of linguistics

Match the following linguistic subfields with their descriptions:

Semantics (how meaning is inferred from words and concepts) = Language meaning Pragmatics (how meaning is inferred from context) = Language in context The study of language meaning is concerned with how languages employ logical structures and real-world references to convey, process, and assign meaning, as well as to manage and resolve ambiguity. = Language meaning Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, and the analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own. = Description of languages

Match the following areas of interest within linguistics with their descriptions:

The analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own = Language acquisition Linguists may study language as a thought process and seek a theory that accounts for the universal human capacity to produce and understand language. = Language as a thought process Some linguists examine language within a cultural context = Language within a cultural context Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, and the analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own. = Description of languages

Match the following linguistic studies with their focus:

The scientific study of human language = Linguistics The analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own = Language acquisition Linguists may study language as a thought process and seek a theory that accounts for the universal human capacity to produce and understand language. = Language as a thought process Some linguists examine language within a cultural context = Language within a cultural context

Match the following linguistic concerns with their descriptions:

Relationships between languages and with the ways languages change over time = Languages change over time The earliest known descriptive linguistics activities are said to have been Panini's Ashtadhyayi around 500 BCE with the analysis of Sanskrit. = Descriptive linguistics activities Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, and the analysis of how children acquire language and how people learn languages other than their own. = Description of languages Some linguists examine language within a cultural context = Language within a cultural context

What is the definition of language?

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

What is the definition of linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language, encompassing language form, language meaning, and language in context.

When did the earliest known descriptive linguistics activities take place?

Around 500 BCE with Panini's Ashtadhyayi and the analysis of Sanskrit.

What does the study of language meaning encompass?

The study of language meaning involves semantics (inference of meaning from words and concepts) and pragmatics (inference of meaning from context).

What does linguistics encompass in terms of language description?

Linguistics encompasses the description of languages, the study of their origin, and the analysis of language acquisition by children and adults learning new languages.

What do some linguists examine language within?

Some linguists examine language within a cultural context.

What is the study of language structure and grammar called?

Linguistics

Which branch of linguistics is concerned with the actual properties of speech sounds and how they are produced and perceived?

Phonetics

What is the area of linguistics that explores the relation between linguistic variation and social structures?

Sociolinguistics

Which subfield of linguistics considers the origins of language?

Evolutionary linguistics

What is the study of the representation and function of language in the mind called?

Psycholinguistics

Which branch of linguistics looks at language processing in the brain?

Neurolinguistics

What area of linguistics involves the study of language acquisition in both children and adults?

Language acquisition

Which aspect of linguistics involves the structure of texts and conversations?

Discourse analysis

What is the general study of signs and symbols, both within language and without, called?

Semiotics

Which field draws on and informs work from diverse areas such as acoustics, anthropology, computer science, and psychology?