Linguistics and Language Study
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following vowel sounds is considered tense?

  • [ʌ]
  • [i] (correct)
  • [ɑ]
  • [ɔ]

What describes the vowel [ɔ] in terms of its quality?

  • Mid, central, unrounded, and lax
  • Low, back, unrounded, and tense
  • Mid, back, rounded, and lax (correct)
  • High, front, unrounded, and tense

Which vowel sound is unrounded and considered lax?

  • [ɑ] (correct)
  • [ɪ]
  • [u]
  • [i]

The Great English Vowel Shift primarily affected which aspect of English?

<p>Vowel pronunciation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which IPA symbol corresponds to the vowel sound in 'heat'?

<p>[i] (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic defines language as a systematic means of communication?

<p>It connects meanings to phonetic sounds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language does Noam Chomsky's definition highlight?

<p>Language is biologically inherited. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the definitions provided, language is characterized as consisting of:

<p>Arbitrary vocal and non-vocal signs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by ‘arbitrary’ in the context of language symbols?

<p>The meanings are established through social agreement. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which context is language said to operate according to the given definitions?

<p>In a speech community or culture. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best encapsulates the idea of language as a mental phenomenon?

<p>Language is a learned skill influenced by environment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which definition illustrates that language is a system of communication used by a particular group?

<p>Language utilizes arbitrary symbols consistent within a culture. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key components of language as defined in the provided definitions?

<p>It involves understanding meanings associated with symbols. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of linguistics as a scientific field?

<p>Understanding knowledge systems related to language (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what context does linguistics primarily examine the relationship between languages?

<p>Among diverse language families across the world (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do linguists utilize empirical observations?

<p>To test and validate theories of language behavior (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following aspects of language is NOT typically studied by linguists?

<p>The effectiveness of language in artistic expression (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to say that linguistics is a science?

<p>It relies on empirical data to formulate and test theories (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method might a linguist use to investigate language acquisition in infants?

<p>Examining how infants respond to speech sounds (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the essence of language as described by Henry Sweet?

<p>Language expresses ideas through a structured combination of speech-sounds. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which field is considered a sister discipline to linguistics in understanding language behavior?

<p>Psychology (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the variety of English that is closest to the standard?

<p>Acrolect (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the term 'basilect'?

<p>A variety that thoroughly digresses from the standard (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'edulects' defined as in the context of English varieties?

<p>Varieties resulting from specific types of education (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way do the structural characteristics of new varieties of English differ?

<p>They are influenced by the mother tongue or home languages (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the term 'mesolect'?

<p>A midway variety between acrolect and basilect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences varieties of English?

<p>Regional weather patterns (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'structural variation' refer to?

<p>Differences in grammar and language structure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT describe a feature of intercultural communication?

<p>It is consistent across all cultures (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of speakers from the Outer and Expanding Circle regarding rhythm?

<p>They often use a syllable-timed rhythm. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group uses a positive-negative question-answering system that can lead to confusion?

<p>Outer Circle speakers (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phonological change do Inner Circle countries observe in voiceless plosives?

<p>They observe initial aspiration of voiceless plosives. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinction do Japanese speakers fail to make?

<p>Between r and l sounds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What syntactical system do Inner Circle speakers typically observe?

<p>Positive-negative system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue faced by speakers of the Outer Circle when interpreting responses?

<p>They often misinterpret yes or no due to lack of clarification. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Nigerians differentiate between the pronunciation of ‘recognize’?

<p>They say ‘recog’nize. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between question polarity and answers in the Inner Circle?

<p>Answers affirm the positive questions with positive answers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'competence' refer to in the context of language according to Chomsky?

<p>The shared grammatical knowledge of speakers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the actual language used by speakers, involving mistakes and variations?

<p>Performance (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The name 'England' is derived from which of the following groups?

<p>The Angles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which region in Germany is likely the origin of the Angles?

<p>Angeln (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the invasions of the British Isles over the centuries?

<p>Various peoples brought their languages and customs. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the term CE in historical contexts?

<p>It refers to the Common Era and replaces AD. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'performance' in the linguistic context?

<p>The output of language used in real life situations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about Celtic influence on English is true?

<p>It has greatly diminished over the centuries. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language, encompassing its structure, history, acquisition, and use. It investigates how language is organized, learned, and employed in communication.

What is phonetics?

Linguists examine the sounds of language, analyzing their production, perception, and how sounds are organized within words.

What is syntax?

Linguists explore the rules that govern the structure of sentences, including word order, syntax, and grammatical relationships.

What is semantics?

Linguists delve into the meanings of words and phrases, analyzing how they relate to the real world and how they are interpreted.

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What is pragmatics?

Linguists examine how language is used in different contexts, considering factors like social setting, speaker intention, and cultural norms.

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What is historical linguistics?

Linguists investigate the historical development of languages, tracing their origins, transformations, and relationships between different language families.

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What is language acquisition?

Linguists study the process of language acquisition in children, examining how they learn to speak, understand, and process grammar.

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What is neurolinguistics?

Linguists explore the neurological basis of language, investigating the brain areas involved in language processing and the cognitive mechanisms behind language use.

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What is the fundamental relationship language establishes?

Language is a system that combines meaning with a physical form, like sounds or symbols.

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What does Chomsky's view on language suggest?

Language is something innate, a human ability we are born with.

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Who uses language, and why?

Language is a shared tool used for communication within a group of people who understand its conventions.

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Why is language said to be arbitrary?

Language is a system of arbitrary, chosen signals, not based on natural relationships.

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What does Bloch and Trager's view on language imply?

Language is a social construct, changing and developing as people interact.

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How does Finnocchiaro describe language's purpose?

Language is a tool people in a culture use to communicate and interact.

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According to Webster's dictionary, what are the components of language?

Language is a system that uses conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks to express ideas and feelings.

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In its simplest form, what is language?

Language is a system of symbols used in human communication.

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Linguistic Competence

The ability to understand and produce grammatically correct sentences, detect grammatical errors, and make judgments about language.

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Linguistic Performance

The actual language used by speakers in real-world situations, including mistakes and variations.

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Communicative Competence

The process of applying linguistic competence to actual language use, considering factors like social context, speaker intent, and cultural norms.

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Ideal Speaker-Listener

A theoretical ideal speaker-listener who knows and uses language perfectly, without errors.

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Competence vs. Performance

The difference between the idealized knowledge of language (competence) and the actual use of language (performance).

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American English

The language used in the United States. It developed from British English with its own unique features and vocabulary.

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Canadian English

The language used in Canada, influenced by British English and French.

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Australian English

The language used in Australia, influenced by British English and Aboriginal languages.

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Tense Vowels

Vowels produced with a more extreme tongue or lip position compared to lax vowels.

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Lax Vowels

Vowels produced with a less extreme tongue or lip position compared to tense vowels.

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The Great English Vowel Shift

A significant historical change in the pronunciation of English vowels, which occurred around 500 years ago, resulting in a shift in the way many vowels were pronounced.

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IPA Symbols

The set of symbols used to represent sounds in language, developed by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

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Vowel Chart

The classification of vowels based on their position in the mouth, including height, frontness, backness, and rounding.

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Syllable-timed rhythm

The rhythm of a language where syllables are pronounced at a constant speed, regardless of stress.

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Stress-timed rhythm

The rhythm of a language where stressed syllables are pronounced longer than unstressed syllables.

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Agreement-disagreement system

A system where word order and grammatical agreement determine the meaning of a sentence.

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Positive-negative system

A system where the answer to a question follows the same polarity (positive or negative) as the question.

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Varieties of English

Variations in English language that emerge in different regions or communities due to the influence of local languages and cultural contexts.

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Acrolect

The version of English that closely resembles the standard form, often used in formal contexts.

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Phonetics

The way words are pronounced in a particular language, including variations like accents.

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Syntax

The rules governing the structure and order of words in sentences.

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Basilect

The version of English that significantly deviates from the standard form, often influenced heavily by local languages and used in informal contexts.

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Pragmatics

The study of how meanings are conveyed and interpreted in different contexts.

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Mesolect

The version of English that falls between the Acrolect and Basilect, representing a middle ground.

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Edulects

The types of English influenced by formal education, typically found among individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting the influence of schooling.

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Structural Characteristics

The way language is structured, including grammar, syntax, and word order.

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Local Languages

The ways in which language is influenced by local languages, particularly in terms of grammar and vocabulary.

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Intercultural Communication

The way people from different cultural backgrounds interact and communicate, taking into account their linguistic and cultural differences.

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Study Notes

Objectives

  • Students should be able to discuss language study, compare and contrast grammar components, and share arguments on various Englishes.

Linguistics as the Science of Language

  • Engagement Activities involve analyzing lists of statements about language and providing explanations.
  • Topics include language acquisition, comparisons of speech and writing, and the perceived differing language abilities among genders.
  • Individuals express thoughts and opinions about languages, whether “primitive” or complex.

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Related Documents

Chapter 1 & 2 Introduction to Linguistics PDF

Description

Explore the fascinating world of linguistics through this quiz focused on language acquisition, grammar, and gender differences in language skills. Engage with various statements about language, providing insights and arguments on the complexities of English and its diverse forms. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of language studies.

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