Language Faculty and Universal Grammar Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is one of the requirements for an adequate theory of Universal Grammar (UG)?

  • Must be complex in nature
  • Must be vague in explanation
  • Must be descriptively adequate (correct)
  • Must be focused on non-human languages

    • The Innateness Hypothesis suggests that all aspects of language competence are learned through experience.

    False

    What is the primary focus of Minimalist Syntax?

    To create a simplified model of Generative grammar.

    The principles of UG are based on __________ determinants.

    <p>genetic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following components of UG to their descriptions:

    <p>Descriptively adequate theory = Accurately describes human languages Explanatory adequate theory = Explains how languages work Requirement of learnability = Condition for language acquisition Economical theory = Limited in descriptive power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle suggests that certain language capabilities are present without previous experience?

    <p>Innateness Hypothesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    UG principles support that all languages are grammatically identical.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one function of Universal Grammar principles.

    <p>To guide children in acquiring their first language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the Innateness Hypothesis, aspects of language competence are part of genetic __________.

    <p>inheritance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an abstract noun?

    <p>Courage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A collective noun refers to a single entity representing a group.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three subcategories of verbs mentioned?

    <p>Intransitive, transitive, ditransitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An adjective can describe a noun as well as express degrees of __________.

    <p>comparison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Collective noun = Refers to a group Abstract noun = Represents ideas or emotions Intransitive verb = Does not require a direct object Transitive verb = Requires a direct object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example illustrates a transitive verb?

    <p>She reads the book.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Frogs and tables are examples of abstract nouns.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of intransitive verbs?

    <p>They do not combine with a direct object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Nouns can often be preceded by a __________.

    <p>determiner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identify the example of an adjective from the options below.

    <p>Beautiful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a definite article?

    <p>the</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Demonstrative pronouns refer to items based on their physical distance from the speaker.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are determiners that specify the quantity of a set of things called?

    <p>Quantifiers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a circumposition?

    <p>The extremely cold night</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The word '_____ ' is an example of a personal pronoun.

    <p>I</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Prepositions can undergo inflection for tense, number, and superlative forms.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the semantic role of prepositions?

    <p>Marking a spatial relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of pronouns with their examples:

    <p>Personal = I, you, he, she Possessive = my, your, his Relative = which, that Interrogative = who, what, which</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which conjunction term describes a construction with two or more conjunctions where all parts belong to the same category?

    <p>Co-ordinate construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A circumposition is one that stands on both ____ of its complement.

    <p>sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following languages with their examples of prepositions:

    <p>English = in the house Afrikaans = uit die huis uit Dutch = naar het einde toe French = à un détail près</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following phrases is an example of a noun phrase following a preposition?

    <p>in the garden</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The word 'under' can form a plural when used as a preposition.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Provide an example of a circumposition.

    <p>The very tall building</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Prepositions can be followed by a noun phrase (NP), another prepositional phrase (PP), or ____ be followed by anything.

    <p>not</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example shows a preposition followed by another prepositional phrase?

    <p>She walked down into the cellar.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'op de heuvel' mean in English?

    <p>on the hill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The word 'brilling' is an adjective.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of word class is 'determiner'?

    <p>Function word</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the _____ Bansersnatch.'

    <p>frumious</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following words with their definitions:

    <p>Toves = Noun Gyre = Verb Mimsy = Adjective Raths = Verb/Noun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following words serves a grammatical function?

    <p>And</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'vorpal' is an adjective.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a determiner?

    <p>To modify a noun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    He took his _____ sword in hand.

    <p>vorpal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following languages with their phrases:

    <p>Afrikaans = Agter die deur German = In dem Zimmer Dutch = Op de heuvel French = Sur la table</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Language Faculty

    • The Language Faculty is the part of the brain responsible for language.
    • The innate hypothesis states that certain aspects of language competence are present at birth and not acquired or learned.
    • The Innateness Hypothesis suggests that these aspects are part of genetic inheritance and universal across all human languages.
    • These aspects are expressed in the form of Universal Grammar (UG) principles.

    Universal Grammar (UG)

    • It contains a set of genetically-determined principles that guide language acquisition in children.
    • UG principles do not dictate that all languages are grammatically identical.
    • UG theory should be:
      • Descriptively adequate
      • Explanatory adequate
      • Adequately constrained
      • Learnable
      • Economical

    Minimalist Syntax

    • The newest model within the generative approach.

    Word Classes

    • Nouns
      • Indicate persons, places, and things (including abstract things).
      • They can be preceded by determiners (including articles).
      • Can be made plural.
    • Verbs
      • Express actions, events, and states.
      • Categorized as intransitive, transitive, or ditransitive.
      • Transitive verbs combine with a direct object.
      • Intransitive verbs do not combine with a direct object.
    • Adjectives
      • Describe nouns.
      • Express degrees of comparison.
      • Attribute use precedes the noun as part of a noun phrase.
      • Predicative use follows the noun as part of a verb phrase.
      • Can be followed by prepositions like about, to, and of.
      • The adjective category is not universal; some languages lack true adjectives.
    • Prepositions
      • Mark spatial relationships between two elements.
      • Follow a noun phrase, another prepositional phrase, or no complement.
      • Cannot undergo inflection.
      • Form a subclass of the category of Adpositions.
      • Prepositions precede their complement.
    • Adverbs
      • Modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
      • Express time, frequency, manner, place, and degree.
    • Circumpositions
      • Are a type of Adposition with two parts.
      • The complement is placed between the two parts.
    • Function Words
      • Have no descriptive content but serve a grammatical function.
      • Include determiners, conjunctions, pronouns, and auxiliary verbs.
    • Determiners
      • Modify nouns but lack descriptive content.
      • Include articles, demonstrative pronouns, and quantifiers.
      • Can be prenominal (used before a noun) or pronominal (used alone).
    • Conjunctions
      • Join words, phrases, or clauses.
      • Co-ordinated constructions can contain multiple conjunctions.
      • Conjuncts must belong to the same category.
    • Pronouns
      • Substitute for nouns.
      • Types: Personal, possessive, relative, demonstrative, interrogative.
      • Pronouns like personal pronouns can have different forms depending on grammatical function.
      • In English and Afrikaans, personal pronouns have distinct case forms.

    Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky”

    • The poem provides examples of various word classes.
    • Examples: brilling, sithy, toves, gyre, gimble, wable, mimsy, borogves, mome, raths, outgrabe, beward, Jabbberwock, jaws, claws, catch, Jubjub, shun, frumious, Bansersnatch, hus, vorpal, manxome, foe, sought, Tumtum, thought.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on the Language Faculty, its role in language acquisition, and the principles of Universal Grammar. Explore the Innateness Hypothesis, Minimalist Syntax, and Word Classes as you answer questions related to these fundamental concepts in linguistics.

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