CASLI General Knowledge Exam Study
Guide UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
language - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - people have different ways of saying the
same thing
language criteria - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of the smallest contrastive units of a
language
morphology - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of the smallest meaningful units in a
language
syntax - CORRECT ANSWER - the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well
formed sentences
,semantics - CORRECT ANSWER - relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - the "dictionary definition" or the production and
definition of a sign in its most basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? - CORRECT ANSWER - for emphasis or
clarity within confusion
variant - CORRECT ANSWER - synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same
meaning is expressed
free morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
derivational morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - a new word derived form another word;
they have different meanings (ex. SIT vs CHAIR)
lexical item - CORRECT ANSWER - a single word or sign
grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - the rules of a language; how words/signs and their
parts combine to form sentences
prescriptive grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - grammar that is rule based
, normative grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - how native speakers actually use a language
deletion - CORRECT ANSWER - getting rid of a letter of unit of a sign
metathesis - CORRECT ANSWER - the switching of letters, sounds, or sign parameters to
make something easier to produce
centralization - CORRECT ANSWER - the tendency of signs to centralize on the body in
production
dominance condition - CORRECT ANSWER - in two-handed signs, each hand has a
different hand shape and only the dominant hand moves (ex. MONEY)
symmetry condition - CORRECT ANSWER - in two-handed signs, both hands move and
have the same type of handshape and movement (ex. DRAMA)
sign displacement - CORRECT ANSWER - location of a sign is moved so that it an be
more easily seen or produced
visual vernacular - CORRECT ANSWER - a form of expression that relies heavily on
body movement, CL, and facial expressions
distributional aspect - CORRECT ANSWER - the modulation of select directional verb
signs to indicate some form of distribution or collection
distributional aspect to all in a group - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. "all" - to or from.
sweeping motion
2. "each" - to or from each in a group. serial order production
Guide UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
language - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - people have different ways of saying the
same thing
language criteria - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of the smallest contrastive units of a
language
morphology - CORRECT ANSWER - the study of the smallest meaningful units in a
language
syntax - CORRECT ANSWER - the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well
formed sentences
,semantics - CORRECT ANSWER - relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - the "dictionary definition" or the production and
definition of a sign in its most basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? - CORRECT ANSWER - for emphasis or
clarity within confusion
variant - CORRECT ANSWER - synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same
meaning is expressed
free morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
derivational morpheme - CORRECT ANSWER - a new word derived form another word;
they have different meanings (ex. SIT vs CHAIR)
lexical item - CORRECT ANSWER - a single word or sign
grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - the rules of a language; how words/signs and their
parts combine to form sentences
prescriptive grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - grammar that is rule based
, normative grammar - CORRECT ANSWER - how native speakers actually use a language
deletion - CORRECT ANSWER - getting rid of a letter of unit of a sign
metathesis - CORRECT ANSWER - the switching of letters, sounds, or sign parameters to
make something easier to produce
centralization - CORRECT ANSWER - the tendency of signs to centralize on the body in
production
dominance condition - CORRECT ANSWER - in two-handed signs, each hand has a
different hand shape and only the dominant hand moves (ex. MONEY)
symmetry condition - CORRECT ANSWER - in two-handed signs, both hands move and
have the same type of handshape and movement (ex. DRAMA)
sign displacement - CORRECT ANSWER - location of a sign is moved so that it an be
more easily seen or produced
visual vernacular - CORRECT ANSWER - a form of expression that relies heavily on
body movement, CL, and facial expressions
distributional aspect - CORRECT ANSWER - the modulation of select directional verb
signs to indicate some form of distribution or collection
distributional aspect to all in a group - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. "all" - to or from.
sweeping motion
2. "each" - to or from each in a group. serial order production
