CASLI General Knowledge Exam Study Guide UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
language a system of relatively arbitrary symbols and grammatical signals that change
across time and that members of a community share and use for several purposes
variation in language people have different ways of saying the same thing
language criteria 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology the study of the smallest contrastive units of a language
morphology the study of the smallest meaningful units in a language
syntax the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well formed sentences
semantics relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation where the hand shapes of one hand has become like the hand shape of the other
hand or the blending of sounds of signs together
citation form the "dictionary definition" or the production and definition of a sign in its most
basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? for emphasis or clarity within confusion
variant synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same meaning is expressed
free morpheme stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
, derivational morpheme a new word derived form another word; they have different meanings (ex. SIT vs
CHAIR)
lexical item a single word or sign
grammar the rules of a language; how words/signs and their parts combine to form
sentences
prescriptive grammar grammar that is rule based
normative grammar how native speakers actually use a language
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
language a system of relatively arbitrary symbols and grammatical signals that change
across time and that members of a community share and use for several purposes
variation in language people have different ways of saying the same thing
language criteria 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology the study of the smallest contrastive units of a language
morphology the study of the smallest meaningful units in a language
syntax the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well formed sentences
semantics relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation where the hand shapes of one hand has become like the hand shape of the other
hand or the blending of sounds of signs together
citation form the "dictionary definition" or the production and definition of a sign in its most
basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? for emphasis or clarity within confusion
variant synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same meaning is expressed
free morpheme stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
, derivational morpheme a new word derived form another word; they have different meanings (ex. SIT vs
CHAIR)
lexical item a single word or sign
grammar the rules of a language; how words/signs and their parts combine to form
sentences
prescriptive grammar grammar that is rule based
normative grammar how native speakers actually use a language
