Language Study and Linguistic Debate Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What were the three aims of the early grammarians mentioned in the text?

Maintain linguistic standards, describe language variation, evaluate language change
Prohibit certain language variations, advocate for linguistic diversity, maintain language customs
Codify the principles of their languages, settle disputes over usage, point out common errors (correct)
Implement language legislation, enforce specific language rules, pronounce judgment on all usage

How did the prescriptive approach view language usage?

Language change was encouraged to improve communication
Usage was either right or wrong with no middle ground (correct)
Alternative usages were recorded without any judgment
All forms of usage were considered equally valid

What is the main difference between descriptivists and prescriptivists regarding linguistic analysis?

'Descriptivists' see all language variations as wrong, while 'prescriptivists' allow any form of usage
'Descriptivists' push for standardized language, while 'prescriptivists' embrace diversity
'Descriptivists' advocate for strict grammar rules, while 'prescriptivists' emphasize spoken language
'Descriptivists' focus on recording linguistic diversity, while 'prescriptivists' enforce rules (correct)

What does Joseph Priestley's view in his Rudiments of English Grammar emphasize?

'The custom of speaking is the original and only just standard of any language' (B) Signup and view all the answers

How is the opposition between 'descriptivists' and 'prescriptivists' characterized in the text?

'Descriptivists' are seen as not caring about standards, while 'prescriptivists' are viewed as adherents to tradition (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Cinderella's stepmother want for one of her daughters?

To marry a rich man (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why did Cinderella's stepmother order her to do all the chores?

To make Cinderella unhappy (C) Signup and view all the answers

Where did Cinderella sleep in the house?

On a straw bed on the kitchen floor (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was unique about Cinderella's dress compared to her stepsisters?

It was made of old rags (C) Signup and view all the answers

Who were Cinderella's only friends?

The animals (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who did the men who came to Cinderella's house fall in love with?

Cinderella (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did Cinderella do in the evening by the fireplace in the kitchen?

Told jokes to the family of mice (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why did Cinderella's stepsisters say she couldn't go to the ball?

She had nothing to wear (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who appeared in the kitchen and claimed to be Cinderella's fairy godmother?

An old woman (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Cinderella's fairy godmother turn into a golden carriage with her magic wand?

A pumpkin (B) Signup and view all the answers

What would happen to Cinderella's dress and carriage if she wasn't home by midnight?

The dress would turn back into rags, and the carriage into a pumpkin (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why did Cinderella have to return home by midnight according to the fairy godmother?

'To prevent her dress and carriage from reverting back' (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language Study Challenges

Systematic and objective language study is often complicated due to emotionally charged opinions.
Popular linguistic debates frequently spiral into heated arguments and personal attacks.
Language is a public medium, leading to scrutiny and criticism of varying usages.

Public Perception and Identity

Language influences perceptions of personality, intelligence, social status, and job aptitude.
Everyone feels entitled to express opinions about language, resulting in conflicts, even over minor usage points.
The public nature of language can lead to emotional reactions when criticisms are made.

Prescriptivism in Linguistics

Prescriptivism posits that one language variety is superior and should be mandated across the speech community.
The focus is often on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, aligning with a 'standard' written language.
Standard language forms are usually those found in literature and formal spoken contexts, deemed 'correct' by prescriptivists.
Deviations from the standard are categorized as 'incorrect,' affecting how language users are judged socially.

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Description

Test your knowledge on language study, linguistic debates, and public language behavior. Explore the challenges of being systematic and objective in language discussions.