Principles of Word Meanings

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What is the primary focus of semanticists?

The structure of language at the level of paragraphs
The study of syntax in language
How words and sentences express meaning (correct)
The process of speech perception in everyday life

What is the term for the study of language use at the level beyond the sentence?

Semantics
Language Comprehension
Syntax
Discourse (correct)

What is the first step involved in understanding what someone says?

Making sense of sentences
Assigning meaning to words
Perceiving and recognizing words (correct)
Understanding the context of the conversation

Why is speech perception crucial in human communication?

It is necessary for effective communication in everyday life (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the study of the structure of language?

Syntax (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is involved in understanding what someone says?

Multiple processes including perceiving words, assigning meaning, and making sense of sentences (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to cognitive psychologists, what might slips of the tongue reveal about language production?

The lack of correspondence between thought and spoken language (A) Signup and view all the answers

What might disrupt our mental plan for speaking, leading to slips of the tongue?

Intrusions by other thoughts or environmental stimuli (C) Signup and view all the answers

What might slips of the tongue suggest about the language of thought?

It differs somewhat from the language of spoken expression (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why might we not be aware of our slips of the tongue?

Until they are pointed out to us (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common occurrence in preplanned and practiced speech?

Slips of the tongue occasionally occur (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the idea in our mind and its expression in speech?

The idea is often correct, but the expression is wrong (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum rate of phonemes per second that we can perceive in a language we are fluent in?

Fifty (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why do foreign languages often seem to be spoken quickly?

Because the sounds of the language are unfamiliar to the listener (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the phonetic refinement theory an example of?

A theory of speech perception (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why might the author's Spanish sound 'American' to a native Spanish speaker?

Because the author tends to reinterpret Spanish sounds in terms of the American English phonetic system (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between how we perceive speech sounds and non-speech sounds?

We perceive speech sounds more quickly (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'ordinary' view of speech perception?

That speech perception is the same as perceiving other sounds (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the topic of the metaphor?

Tenor (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the tenor and the vehicle in a metaphor?

They share similarities but also have differences (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of how people use language in social contexts?

Pragmatics (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the set of similarities between the tenor and the vehicle in a metaphor?

Ground (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do people usually adjust their language use in response to contextual cues?

Unselfconsciously and automatically (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the set of dissimilarities between the tenor and the vehicle in a metaphor?

Tension (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which principle states that meanings of words are determined by agreements among people?

Principle of conventionality (A) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes language from random sounds?

Meaningful patterns of sounds and letters (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of contrast imply when two words represent different things?

They are at least slightly different (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the regular structure of language mentioned in the text?

Facilitates the formation of meaningful words (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it necessary for any meaningful utterance to be analyzed at multiple levels according to the text?

To provide deeper insight and analysis (C) Signup and view all the answers