Week 11 Lecture Slides - Quiz 1 PDF

**1. What is the primary focus of phonology?**\ a) The study of word structure and formation.\ b) The study of physical properties of sounds.\ c) The study of sounds in language.\ d) The relationship between language and society.\ e) The exploration of cultural contexts within language use. **Corre...

**1. What is the primary focus of phonology?**\ a) The study of word structure and formation.\ b) The study of physical properties of sounds.\ c) The study of sounds in language.\ d) The relationship between language and society.\ e) The exploration of cultural contexts within language use. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Phonology is the study of sounds within a language and how they function. **2. How does linguistic anthropology differ from general linguistics?**\ a) It focuses on the physical production of sounds.\ b) It prioritizes formal language rules over cultural interpretation.\ c) It explores the relationship between language, culture, and society.\ d) It examines minimal pairs in language systems.\ e) It emphasizes the mechanical properties of sounds in human speech. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Linguistic anthropology focuses on how language interacts with cultural and societal contexts, beyond formal linguistic structures. **3. What is the difference between etic and emic approaches?**\ a) Etic is subjective, while emic is objective.\ b) Etic involves an insider's perspective, while emic is external.\ c) Etic uses an outsider\'s perspective, while emic involves a subjective, insider view.\ d) Etic eliminates cultural bias, while emic enforces it.\ e) Etic prioritizes phonetics, while emic focuses on semantics. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** The etic approach provides an objective, external perspective, whereas the emic approach reflects the subjective, insider viewpoint. **4. What distinguishes phonemics from phonetics?**\ a) Phonemics focuses on physical sound properties, while phonetics studies sound meaning.\ b) Phonemics examines how sounds function in specific languages, while phonetics focuses on physical properties of sounds.\ c) Phonemics studies grammar, while phonetics explores syntax.\ d) Phonemics investigates cultural context, while phonetics examines phonemes.\ e) Phonemics eliminates minimal pairs, while phonetics creates them. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Phonemics studies how sounds function in languages, while phonetics analyzes the physical characteristics of sounds. **5. Which of the following demonstrates a minimal pair?**\ a) \"Put the pan in the tin.\"\ b) \"Pin the tin to the wall.\"\ c) \"Put the pin in the tin.\"\ d) \"Place the tin inside the bin.\"\ e) \"Pin a tin to a tin.\" **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** A minimal pair, like \"pin\" and \"tin,\" involves two words differing by only one phoneme. **6. What is one implication of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?**\ a) Language does not influence thought or perception.\ b) All languages conceptualize time in a linear way.\ c) Language shapes how individuals perceive and interact with reality.\ d) Language has no filtering effect on human cognition.\ e) Language functions identically across cultures. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis posits that language shapes thought and influences how individuals perceive the world. **7. How do Hopi and English differ in their treatment of time?**\ a) Both emphasize time as cyclical.\ b) Both view time as strictly linear.\ c) Hopi treats time cyclically, while English treats it linearly.\ d) Hopi eliminates the concept of future time entirely.\ e) English emphasizes event-based time, while Hopi focuses on hypothetical time. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** English conceptualizes time linearly, while Hopi emphasizes a cyclical or event-based understanding of time. **8. What does the design feature of discreteness refer to?**\ a) The ability to create infinite new utterances.\ b) Communication about non-present ideas or objects.\ c) The use of meaningless units to form meaningful expressions.\ d) The perception of linguistic units as distinct, separate sounds.\ e) The lack of inherent connection between form and meaning. **Correct Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Discreteness refers to the perception of sounds or linguistic units as distinct and separate, enabling clear communication. **9. What is an example of arbitrariness in language?**\ a) Phonemes combining to form morphemes.\ b) The word \"buzz\" resembling the sound it represents.\ c) The word \"dog\" having no natural connection to its meaning.\ d) Discussing past events using structured syntax.\ e) Creating new sentences using grammatical rules. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Arbitrariness means there is no inherent connection between a word\'s form and its meaning, as seen in \"dog.\" **10. Which feature of language allows speakers to discuss hypothetical scenarios?**\ a) Productivity.\ b) Arbitrariness.\ c) Duality of patterning.\ d) Displacement.\ e) Discreteness. **Correct Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Displacement allows speakers to discuss events or ideas not present in the immediate environment, such as hypothetical scenarios. **11. What does David Harrison suggest about the loss of Indigenous languages?**\ a) It eliminates inefficiencies in human communication.\ b) It fosters the survival of dominant languages.\ c) It leads to the loss of cultural and ecological knowledge.\ d) It enhances global cultural diversity.\ e) It reduces the efficiency of multilingual cognition. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Harrison argues that the loss of Indigenous languages erases cultural and ecological knowledge encoded within them. **12. What does Wade Davis mean by describing language as an \"old-growth forest of the mind\"?**\ a) Language grows continuously without human intervention.\ b) Language lacks diversity, similar to monocultures.\ c) Languages are static systems unconnected to cultural contexts.\ d) Each language represents a rich ecosystem of human thought and knowledge.\ e) Language systems universally resemble natural forests. **Correct Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Davis describes languages as rich ecosystems that embody unique knowledge and cultural identity. **13. How does multilingualism benefit cognition?**\ a) It reduces cognitive strain by limiting linguistic diversity.\ b) It enhances problem-solving skills and broadens perspectives.\ c) It eliminates cultural misunderstandings globally.\ d) It simplifies communication by focusing on one language.\ e) It hinders learning additional languages. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Multilingualism enhances cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and perspective-taking, providing broader cultural insights. **16. What is the primary focus of morphology in linguistics?**\ a) Analyzing how words are formed and structured.\ b) Studying physical sound properties.\ c) Examining minimal pairs in phonetics.\ d) Exploring the syntax of sentence formation.\ e) Investigating cultural contexts of language use. **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Morphology examines the structure of words and how they are formed, focusing on the rules for combining morphemes. **17. Which of the following falls under socio-linguistics?**\ a) Analyzing the phonetic properties of vowels in a language.\ b) Studying how language changes based on social context.\ c) Documenting the minimal pairs in a language.\ d) Focusing on the internal grammar of a language.\ e) Investigating historical changes in linguistic systems. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Socio-linguistics examines how social factors, such as class or gender, influence the way language is used. **18. What is an emic approach in linguistic anthropology?**\ a) Applying external perspectives to analyze language.\ b) Creating general linguistic frameworks for universal use.\ c) Observing how minimal pairs function in cultural settings.\ d) Adopting an insider\'s view to understand language and culture.\ e) Using only objective data to describe linguistic systems. **Correct Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Emic approaches involve adopting an insider\'s perspective to explore the subjective experience of language in cultural contexts. **19. How does a phoneme differ from a morpheme?**\ a) Phonemes are meaningful units, while morphemes are not.\ b) Phonemes are physical sounds, while morphemes carry meaning.\ c) Phonemes and morphemes both represent semantic meaning.\ d) Phonemes are studied in morphology, while morphemes are in phonemics.\ e) Phonemes focus on syntax, while morphemes focus on grammar. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Phonemes are distinct sounds in a language, while morphemes are the smallest units of meaning, formed by combining phonemes. **20. Which example best demonstrates a minimal pair?**\ a) \"Bet\" and \"bat.\"\ b) \"Dog\" and \"cat.\"\ c) \"Chair\" and \"table.\"\ d) \"Flower\" and \"plant.\"\ e) \"Light\" and \"bright.\" **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Minimal pairs like \"bet\" and \"bat\" differ by only one phoneme, such as /e/ and /æ/, illustrating phonemic contrasts. **21. According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, what role does language play in shaping reality?**\ a) Language creates a universal framework for all cultures.\ b) Language acts as a neutral medium for conveying thoughts.\ c) Language shapes perception and filters how reality is experienced.\ d) Language eliminates cultural differences through shared grammar.\ e) Language limits creativity by imposing rigid structures. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Sapir and Whorf argued that language acts as a filtering system, shaping how individuals perceive and interact with reality. **23. How do English and Hopi differ in their concepts of time?**\ a) English eliminates cyclic perspectives, while Hopi focuses only on the present.\ b) Hopi conceptualizes time as linear, unlike English.\ c) English views time linearly, while Hopi emphasizes cyclical or event-based time.\ d) Both languages share identical views on time due to universal grammar.\ e) Hopi eliminates the need for temporal expressions entirely. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** English treats time linearly (past, present, future), while Hopi highlights cyclical or event-based perspectives. **24. Which design feature enables the creation of infinite novel sentences?**\ a) Discreteness.\ b) Arbitrariness.\ c) Duality of patterning.\ d) Productivity.\ e) Displacement. **Correct Answer:** d\ **Explanation:** Productivity allows language users to create an infinite number of sentences and ideas through grammar and syntax. **25. What does duality of patterning enable in language?**\ a) The ability to use symbols with inherent meanings.\ b) The distinction between literal and metaphorical language.\ c) Meaningless sounds combining to create meaningful units.\ d) Communication of abstract and hypothetical ideas.\ e) The elimination of arbitrary words from language. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Duality of patterning refers to how meaningless sounds (phonemes) combine to form meaningful units (morphemes and words). **26. Which example illustrates displacement?**\ a) Discussing last weekend's events.\ b) Using phonemes to form new words.\ c) Creating a new sentence for the first time.\ d) Differentiating between \"bat\" and \"pat.\"\ e) Expressing abstract emotions through metaphor. **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Displacement enables communication about things not immediately present, such as past or future events. **27. What does Wade Davis suggest about language loss?**\ a) It fosters greater cultural integration globally.\ b) It has little impact on cultural knowledge.\ c) It represents the erosion of cultural heritage.\ d) It promotes multilingualism through adaptation.\ e) It benefits dominant languages by simplifying communication. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Davis argues that language loss symbolizes the erosion of cultural heritage and the loss of diverse knowledge systems. **28. What is one cognitive benefit of multilingualism?**\ a) It eliminates cultural misunderstandings.\ b) It enhances memory, problem-solving, and creativity.\ c) It simplifies the process of learning new languages.\ d) It standardizes human perception across cultures.\ e) It reduces cognitive strain by limiting linguistic options. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Multilingualism improves cognitive abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, and creative thinking. **29. Why does Harrison advocate for preserving endangered languages?**\ a) It prevents linguistic borrowing across cultures.\ b) It promotes the efficiency of dominant languages.\ c) It protects cultural, biological, and ecological knowledge.\ d) It ensures linguistic uniformity for global communication.\ e) It discourages the natural evolution of language. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Harrison highlights that endangered languages encode valuable cultural, biological, and ecological knowledge. **30. Which term highlights how language encodes specific cultural behaviors?**\ a) Prozvonit (Czech): A phone call that prompts a return call.\ b) Utepils (Norwegian): To sit indoors during a rainy day.\ c) Backpfeifengesicht (German): A natural smile.\ d) Sapirian Time (Hopi): A universal time perspective.\ e) Discreteness (English): Using fixed phonemes without cultural context. **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** The Czech term \"prozvonit\" encapsulates a culturally specific behavior of calling and hanging up to save money. **31. What does anthropological linguistics study?**\ a) The mechanics of sound production in different languages.\ b) The cultural roles and functions of language in society.\ c) The use of minimal pairs in phonemic analysis.\ d) The influence of grammatical structures on speech patterns.\ e) The creation of universal linguistic frameworks. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Anthropological linguistics explores how language functions in cultural and societal contexts, bridging linguistics and anthropology. **32. Which word exemplifies phonemic distinction in Tahltan?**\ a) Tsa\' (beaver) differs from ts\'a\' (plate) through subtle air stops.\ b) Put (to place) and pin (a sharp object).\ c) Bat (an animal) and pat (a gentle touch).\ d) Cat (an animal) and tack (a sharp object).\ e) Chair (a seat) and table (a surface). **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** In Tahltan, minimal phonemic changes like air stops distinguish words such as tsa\' (beaver) and ts\'a\' (plate). **33. Which example highlights linguistic relativity?**\ a) All languages share a universal grammar.\ b) English conceptualizes time linearly, while Hopi emphasizes cyclical time.\ c) Words like \"prozvonit\" have no cultural significance.\ d) Phonemes are universally understood across languages.\ e) Displacement eliminates the need for cultural context. **Correct Answer:** b\ **Explanation:** Linguistic relativity is shown by how English and Hopi differ in their treatment of time, shaping distinct cultural worldviews. **34. What is an example of displacement in animal communication?**\ a) Bees performing a waggle dance to describe distant food sources.\ b) Monkeys producing specific alarm calls for predators.\ c) Birds mimicking human speech patterns.\ d) Dogs responding to vocal commands from their owners.\ e) Cats purring as a sign of contentment. **Correct Answer:** a\ **Explanation:** Displacement in animal communication is rare but occurs in examples like bees describing food sources far from the hive. **35. What does the German word Backpfeifengesicht describe?**\ a) An act of cultural misunderstanding.\ b) A sunny day enjoyed with a drink.\ c) A face badly in need of a punch.\ d) A traditional form of linguistic relativity.\ e) A word borrowed into English. **Correct Answer:** c\ **Explanation:** Backpfeifengesicht humorously describes a face that looks like it \"needs a punch,\" reflecting German cultural specificity.