LING 115 MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2026/2027
Which of the following is true?
There isn't a proper or improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries.
There isn't a proper or improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is NOT the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but
rather what is actually in the speakers' heads.
There is a proper and improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries.
There is a proper and improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is NOT the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but
rather what is actually in the speakers' heads. - Correct answer ✔✔ There is a proper and
improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates that language is NOT
the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but rather what is actually in
the speakers' heads.
What's the problem with saying that two speakers speak the same language if they use the
same grammar and vocabulary?
Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two separate languages.
Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules and vocabulary.
,The different dialects of Urdu are so different that the speakers cannot understand each other.
Papua New Guinea has an extraordinary number of languages that are difficult to classify by
family. - Correct answer ✔✔ Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules
and vocabulary.
What's the problem with the Mutual Intelligibility Hypothesis?
Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two separate languages.
Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules and vocabulary.
The different dialects of Urdu are so different that the speakers cannot understand each other.
Papua New Guinea has an extraordinary number of languages that are difficult to classify by
family. - Correct answer ✔✔ Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two
separate languages.
Which of the following has approximately 40 mutually unintelligible dialects?
Arabic
Jamaican Creole
Scots
, English - Correct answer ✔✔ Arabic
The Papua New Guinea varieties Lusi and Kove are considered by the people who speak them to
be the same language because their grammar and vocabulary are almost identical.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ False
The end points of a dialect continuum are easily defined as separate languages.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ True
Listening to how people speak, there is no way to say where Spanish ends and French begins on
the Spain/France border.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ True
How do speakers decide when they are speaking the same language?
Lexico-statistics
Mutual Intelligibility
2026/2027
Which of the following is true?
There isn't a proper or improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries.
There isn't a proper or improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is NOT the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but
rather what is actually in the speakers' heads.
There is a proper and improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries.
There is a proper and improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates
that language is NOT the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but
rather what is actually in the speakers' heads. - Correct answer ✔✔ There is a proper and
improper way of using casual/daily speech (ex: ain't). This demonstrates that language is NOT
the proper version written down in grammar books/dictionaries, but rather what is actually in
the speakers' heads.
What's the problem with saying that two speakers speak the same language if they use the
same grammar and vocabulary?
Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two separate languages.
Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules and vocabulary.
,The different dialects of Urdu are so different that the speakers cannot understand each other.
Papua New Guinea has an extraordinary number of languages that are difficult to classify by
family. - Correct answer ✔✔ Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules
and vocabulary.
What's the problem with the Mutual Intelligibility Hypothesis?
Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two separate languages.
Every speaker of a language has slightly different grammar rules and vocabulary.
The different dialects of Urdu are so different that the speakers cannot understand each other.
Papua New Guinea has an extraordinary number of languages that are difficult to classify by
family. - Correct answer ✔✔ Norwegian and Danish are very similar yet they are considered two
separate languages.
Which of the following has approximately 40 mutually unintelligible dialects?
Arabic
Jamaican Creole
Scots
, English - Correct answer ✔✔ Arabic
The Papua New Guinea varieties Lusi and Kove are considered by the people who speak them to
be the same language because their grammar and vocabulary are almost identical.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ False
The end points of a dialect continuum are easily defined as separate languages.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ True
Listening to how people speak, there is no way to say where Spanish ends and French begins on
the Spain/France border.
True
False - Correct answer ✔✔ True
How do speakers decide when they are speaking the same language?
Lexico-statistics
Mutual Intelligibility
