LING-115 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE: 2026/2027 UPDATED
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
1. According to global linguistic statistics, what percentage of the
world's languages is spoken by only 4% of the world's population?
A) 50%
B) 96%
C) 25%
D) 75%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: As highlighted in the course materials, a vast majority of the
world's languages (96%) are spoken by a very small minority of the
global population (4%), illustrating the uneven distribution of language
speakers.
2. In the study of language endangerment, having a speaker
population of over 10,000 people guarantees a language's survival
into the future.
A) True
B) False
C) Only if the language is official
D) Only in urban areas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Speaker numbers alone do not guarantee survival. A
language with over 10,000 speakers can still be endangered if the
,speakers are shifting to another language, if the transmission to
children has stopped, or if the language lacks prestige.
3. Which of the following is considered a primary cause of language
shift?
A) Code-switching
B) Bilingualism
C) Economic and social pressures
D) Learning a second language in school
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While code-switching and bilingualism are mechanisms or
stages within the process, the root causes of language shift are usually
socioeconomic pressures, such as the need to assimilate for
employment, education, or social mobility.
4. In the 3-generation language shift model, what is the linguistic
characteristic of the second generation?
A) Monolingual in the heritage language
B) Bilingual in the heritage language and the dominant language
C) Monolingual in the dominant language
D) Passive bilinguals who only understand but do not speak
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 3-generation model typically begins with the first
generation speaking mainly the heritage language, the second
generation becoming bilingual (speaking both the heritage and
dominant language), and the third generation shifting to
monolingualism in the dominant language.
5. Which region is identified as having one of the highest rates of
language extinction and endangerment?
,A) North America
B) Europe
C) East Asia
D) The Middle East
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: North America has experienced significant language loss due
to colonial history and the displacement of Indigenous populations,
making it a hotspot for language extinction.
6. In the town of Oberwart, Austria, what language situation is
observed among the oldest generation of speakers?
A) They speak only Hungarian.
B) They speak only German.
C) They speak Hungarian with survival skills in German.
D) They are perfectly bilingual in both German and Hungarian.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Oberwart study is a classic sociolinguistic case study. The
oldest generation typically retained Hungarian as their primary
language but possessed "survival skills" in German for necessary
interactions outside their community.
7. The process by which a community gradually stops using their
native language in favor of a dominant language is known as:
A) Language revival
B) Language shift
C) Language death
D) Language planning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Language shift refers to the gradual process where a
, community replaces their heritage language with another, usually more
dominant or prestigious language.
8. What is the term for the situation when a speaker alternates
between two or more languages within the same conversation?
A) Diglossia
B) Code-switching
C) Pidginization
D) Creolization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code-switching is the linguistic term for alternating between
languages or dialects in conversation. It is a common behavior in
bilingual communities.
9. A situation where two distinct languages are used by a single
community for different social functions (e.g., one for formal settings
and one for home) is called:
A) Bilingualism
B) Code-switching
C) Diglossia
D) Language shift
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diglossia describes a stable language situation where two
varieties or languages are used for different functional domains (high
vs. low prestige).
10. Which of the following is a characteristic of a "safe" language
according to the UNESCO language vitality framework?
A) It is spoken by a small, isolated tribe.
B) It is being passed down to the next generation.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS COMPLETE WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
1. According to global linguistic statistics, what percentage of the
world's languages is spoken by only 4% of the world's population?
A) 50%
B) 96%
C) 25%
D) 75%
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: As highlighted in the course materials, a vast majority of the
world's languages (96%) are spoken by a very small minority of the
global population (4%), illustrating the uneven distribution of language
speakers.
2. In the study of language endangerment, having a speaker
population of over 10,000 people guarantees a language's survival
into the future.
A) True
B) False
C) Only if the language is official
D) Only in urban areas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Speaker numbers alone do not guarantee survival. A
language with over 10,000 speakers can still be endangered if the
,speakers are shifting to another language, if the transmission to
children has stopped, or if the language lacks prestige.
3. Which of the following is considered a primary cause of language
shift?
A) Code-switching
B) Bilingualism
C) Economic and social pressures
D) Learning a second language in school
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: While code-switching and bilingualism are mechanisms or
stages within the process, the root causes of language shift are usually
socioeconomic pressures, such as the need to assimilate for
employment, education, or social mobility.
4. In the 3-generation language shift model, what is the linguistic
characteristic of the second generation?
A) Monolingual in the heritage language
B) Bilingual in the heritage language and the dominant language
C) Monolingual in the dominant language
D) Passive bilinguals who only understand but do not speak
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 3-generation model typically begins with the first
generation speaking mainly the heritage language, the second
generation becoming bilingual (speaking both the heritage and
dominant language), and the third generation shifting to
monolingualism in the dominant language.
5. Which region is identified as having one of the highest rates of
language extinction and endangerment?
,A) North America
B) Europe
C) East Asia
D) The Middle East
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: North America has experienced significant language loss due
to colonial history and the displacement of Indigenous populations,
making it a hotspot for language extinction.
6. In the town of Oberwart, Austria, what language situation is
observed among the oldest generation of speakers?
A) They speak only Hungarian.
B) They speak only German.
C) They speak Hungarian with survival skills in German.
D) They are perfectly bilingual in both German and Hungarian.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Oberwart study is a classic sociolinguistic case study. The
oldest generation typically retained Hungarian as their primary
language but possessed "survival skills" in German for necessary
interactions outside their community.
7. The process by which a community gradually stops using their
native language in favor of a dominant language is known as:
A) Language revival
B) Language shift
C) Language death
D) Language planning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Language shift refers to the gradual process where a
, community replaces their heritage language with another, usually more
dominant or prestigious language.
8. What is the term for the situation when a speaker alternates
between two or more languages within the same conversation?
A) Diglossia
B) Code-switching
C) Pidginization
D) Creolization
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Code-switching is the linguistic term for alternating between
languages or dialects in conversation. It is a common behavior in
bilingual communities.
9. A situation where two distinct languages are used by a single
community for different social functions (e.g., one for formal settings
and one for home) is called:
A) Bilingualism
B) Code-switching
C) Diglossia
D) Language shift
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diglossia describes a stable language situation where two
varieties or languages are used for different functional domains (high
vs. low prestige).
10. Which of the following is a characteristic of a "safe" language
according to the UNESCO language vitality framework?
A) It is spoken by a small, isolated tribe.
B) It is being passed down to the next generation.
