LING 115 MIDTERM #1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
mutual intelligibility hypothesis - Correct Answers -if speakers can understand each
other, they speak different varieties of the same language
idiolect - Correct Answers -the unique way each individual speaks his or her language
counterexamples to mutual intelligibility hypothesis - Correct Answers -1. mandarin vs.
cantonese etc (China): varieties of same language but not mut. intell.
2. Hindu (India) vs. Urdu (Pakistan): mut. intell. but different languages
definition of positive/negative factors - Correct Answers -factors that make a variety a
separate/not a separate language
how does a dialect become a language?
aka positive factors of a language - Correct Answers -1. selection (natural or deliberate)
2. standardization (dictionaries, grammar, etc.)
3. historicity (attachment to language)
4. autonomy (language makes distinguishes a group)
example of a negative factor of a language - Correct Answers -language is a mix of
other languages (pidgin/creole)
Pidgin and Creole languages - Correct Answers -mixtures of two or more languages,
makes speakers feel like language is less of an independent language
indigenous minorities - Correct Answers -populations absorbed by other larger language
group
common 3-generation pattern of language shift - Correct Answers -GEN 1: fluent in the
heritage language (HL), learns survival skills in the local majority lang (LML)
GEN 2: bilingual in HL and LML
GEN 3: fluent in LML, not strong skills in HL
dialect - Correct Answers -a variety which is not recognized as a distinct language, but
which is related to other varieties which together make up a single language
properties of dialects - Correct Answers -1. has a root language
2. often associated with certain region/area
3. dialects of a singular language are mutually intelligible (but not always true in real
world)
, 4. linguistic differences (accent, grammar, vocab) among a set of dialects
isogloss - Correct Answers -a geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic
feature occurs
dialect continuum - Correct Answers -merging of dialects in a geographic region with no
very clear boundaries
examples of non-regional dialects - Correct Answers -1. religious group (baghdad-
muslim, jewish, christian varieties of Arabic)
2. social group (india-caste system)
3. ethnic group (african american vernacular english)
linguistic orphans/isolates - Correct Answers -languages you can't clearly relate to a
root
examples of linguistic orphans/isolates - Correct Answers -japanese, basque
style - Correct Answers -different ways of speaking
register - Correct Answers -type of speech which is used specifically for a certain job or
task (ex: auctioneer or sports commentator)
diglossia/diglossic situation - Correct Answers -bilingual situation with "high" (formal)
and "low" (informal, familial) varieties
extended diglossia - Correct Answers -two different languages, not 2 varieties of the
same language, are used in H/L functions
examples of diglossia - Correct Answers -1. Switzerland: standard german (H) vs. swiss
german (L)
2. Arabic Speaking Countries: classic arabic (H) vs. regional varieties (L)
3. Haiti: French (H) vs. Haitian Creole (L)
example of extended diglossia - Correct Answers -Paraguay: spanish (H) vs. Guarani
(L)
difference between diglossia and billingualism - Correct Answers -only a society can be
diglossic
code switching - Correct Answers -switching between different languages in a single
conversation
levels of code switching - Correct Answers -0. between sentences
1. extra-sentential switching/tag insertion: add phrase of one language at the beginning
or end of the sentence
ANSWERS
mutual intelligibility hypothesis - Correct Answers -if speakers can understand each
other, they speak different varieties of the same language
idiolect - Correct Answers -the unique way each individual speaks his or her language
counterexamples to mutual intelligibility hypothesis - Correct Answers -1. mandarin vs.
cantonese etc (China): varieties of same language but not mut. intell.
2. Hindu (India) vs. Urdu (Pakistan): mut. intell. but different languages
definition of positive/negative factors - Correct Answers -factors that make a variety a
separate/not a separate language
how does a dialect become a language?
aka positive factors of a language - Correct Answers -1. selection (natural or deliberate)
2. standardization (dictionaries, grammar, etc.)
3. historicity (attachment to language)
4. autonomy (language makes distinguishes a group)
example of a negative factor of a language - Correct Answers -language is a mix of
other languages (pidgin/creole)
Pidgin and Creole languages - Correct Answers -mixtures of two or more languages,
makes speakers feel like language is less of an independent language
indigenous minorities - Correct Answers -populations absorbed by other larger language
group
common 3-generation pattern of language shift - Correct Answers -GEN 1: fluent in the
heritage language (HL), learns survival skills in the local majority lang (LML)
GEN 2: bilingual in HL and LML
GEN 3: fluent in LML, not strong skills in HL
dialect - Correct Answers -a variety which is not recognized as a distinct language, but
which is related to other varieties which together make up a single language
properties of dialects - Correct Answers -1. has a root language
2. often associated with certain region/area
3. dialects of a singular language are mutually intelligible (but not always true in real
world)
, 4. linguistic differences (accent, grammar, vocab) among a set of dialects
isogloss - Correct Answers -a geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic
feature occurs
dialect continuum - Correct Answers -merging of dialects in a geographic region with no
very clear boundaries
examples of non-regional dialects - Correct Answers -1. religious group (baghdad-
muslim, jewish, christian varieties of Arabic)
2. social group (india-caste system)
3. ethnic group (african american vernacular english)
linguistic orphans/isolates - Correct Answers -languages you can't clearly relate to a
root
examples of linguistic orphans/isolates - Correct Answers -japanese, basque
style - Correct Answers -different ways of speaking
register - Correct Answers -type of speech which is used specifically for a certain job or
task (ex: auctioneer or sports commentator)
diglossia/diglossic situation - Correct Answers -bilingual situation with "high" (formal)
and "low" (informal, familial) varieties
extended diglossia - Correct Answers -two different languages, not 2 varieties of the
same language, are used in H/L functions
examples of diglossia - Correct Answers -1. Switzerland: standard german (H) vs. swiss
german (L)
2. Arabic Speaking Countries: classic arabic (H) vs. regional varieties (L)
3. Haiti: French (H) vs. Haitian Creole (L)
example of extended diglossia - Correct Answers -Paraguay: spanish (H) vs. Guarani
(L)
difference between diglossia and billingualism - Correct Answers -only a society can be
diglossic
code switching - Correct Answers -switching between different languages in a single
conversation
levels of code switching - Correct Answers -0. between sentences
1. extra-sentential switching/tag insertion: add phrase of one language at the beginning
or end of the sentence
