CASLI GENERAL KNOWLEDGE EXAM
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Language - ANS 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 - ANS people have different ways of saying the same thing
language criteria - ANS 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language - ANS 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology - ANS the study of the smallest contrastive units of a language
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,morphology - ANS the study of the smallest meaningful units in a language
syntax - ANS the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well formed sentences
semantics - ANS relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation - ANS 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 - ANS the "dictionary definition" or the production and definition of a sign in its
most basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? - ANS for emphasis or clarity within confusion
variant - ANS synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same meaning is expressed
free morpheme - ANS stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme - ANS cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
derivational morpheme - ANS a new word derived form another word; they have different
meanings (ex. SIT vs CHAIR)
lexical item - ANS a single word or sign
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, grammar - ANS the rules of a language; how words/signs and their parts combine to form
sentences
prescriptive grammar - ANS grammar that is rule based
normative grammar - ANS how native speakers actually use a language
deletion - ANS getting rid of a letter of unit of a sign
metathesis - ANS the switching of letters, sounds, or sign parameters to make something
easier to produce
centralization - ANS the tendency of signs to centralize on the body in production
dominance condition - ANS in two-handed signs, each hand has a different hand shape and
only the dominant hand moves (ex. MONEY)
symmetry condition - ANS in two-handed signs, both hands move and have the same type of
handshape and movement (ex. DRAMA)
sign displacement - ANS location of a sign is moved so that it an be more easily seen or
produced
visual vernacular - ANS a form of expression that relies heavily on body movement, CL, and
facial expressions
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Language - ANS 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 - ANS people have different ways of saying the same thing
language criteria - ANS 1. natural and native
2. arbitrary
3. systematic
4. multilayered
4 components of language - ANS 1. phonology
2. morphology
3. syntax
4. semantics
phonology - ANS the study of the smallest contrastive units of a language
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,morphology - ANS the study of the smallest meaningful units in a language
syntax - ANS the arrangement of signs, words, or phrases to create well formed sentences
semantics - ANS relating to meaning in a language or logic
assimilation - ANS 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 - ANS the "dictionary definition" or the production and definition of a sign in its
most basic form
when are separate prepositional signs used? - ANS for emphasis or clarity within confusion
variant - ANS synonyms; a set of possible forms of words, but the same meaning is expressed
free morpheme - ANS stands alone on its own (ex. "able")
bound morpheme - ANS cannot stand alone (ex. "un-")
derivational morpheme - ANS a new word derived form another word; they have different
meanings (ex. SIT vs CHAIR)
lexical item - ANS a single word or sign
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, grammar - ANS the rules of a language; how words/signs and their parts combine to form
sentences
prescriptive grammar - ANS grammar that is rule based
normative grammar - ANS how native speakers actually use a language
deletion - ANS getting rid of a letter of unit of a sign
metathesis - ANS the switching of letters, sounds, or sign parameters to make something
easier to produce
centralization - ANS the tendency of signs to centralize on the body in production
dominance condition - ANS in two-handed signs, each hand has a different hand shape and
only the dominant hand moves (ex. MONEY)
symmetry condition - ANS in two-handed signs, both hands move and have the same type of
handshape and movement (ex. DRAMA)
sign displacement - ANS location of a sign is moved so that it an be more easily seen or
produced
visual vernacular - ANS a form of expression that relies heavily on body movement, CL, and
facial expressions
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
