LING 115 LINGUISTICS MIDTERM 1 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What is an example of a language that has special verb forms for
gossip?
Answer: Turkish.
◉ What is a unique feature of the Al-Sayyid Bedouin tribe regarding
language?
Answer: All or most members can use a signed language.
◉ What is a key question in linguistics regarding language
structures?
Answer: What structures are possible in a given language, and what
structures aren't?
◉ What is the relationship between language and time?
Answer: All languages change over time.
◉ What is a common belief about the complexity of languages?
Answer: No language is more or less logical than another language.
,◉ What does the term 'ambiguity' refer to in language?
Answer: The existence of multiple meanings or interpretations.
◉ What is the role of the brain in language processing?
Answer: Specific areas in the brain are dedicated to processing
language.
◉ What is one way language varies?
Answer: dialects, vocabulary, grammatical differences
◉ What are instincts?
Answer: Biologically determined behaviors.
◉ How do honeybees communicate the location of food?
Answer: Through a 'waggle dance' where intensity indicates the
amount of food and angle indicates direction
◉ What is an example of learned cultural behavior in chimps?
Answer: Using branches to catch termites, known as 'termite fishing.'
◉ What is the significance of Lenneberg's Criteria?
, Answer: It proposes criteria for biologically determined behavior,
including that it follows its own schedule and happens to everyone.
◉ What is the critical period in language acquisition?
Answer: A specific developmental time window during which
language must be acquired.
◉ What happens if language exposure occurs after the critical
period?
Answer: Language acquisition may be severely limited or
impossible.
◉ What is the difference between language competence and
language performance?
Answer: Competence is implicit knowledge of language, while
performance is the observed use of language.
◉ What is 'motherese'?
Answer: A speech style used by caregivers that is slower and
exaggerated, which may aid language acquisition.
◉ What is the role of environmental input in instinctive behavior?
Answer: It must occur during the critical period for the behavior to
develop properly.
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
◉ What is an example of a language that has special verb forms for
gossip?
Answer: Turkish.
◉ What is a unique feature of the Al-Sayyid Bedouin tribe regarding
language?
Answer: All or most members can use a signed language.
◉ What is a key question in linguistics regarding language
structures?
Answer: What structures are possible in a given language, and what
structures aren't?
◉ What is the relationship between language and time?
Answer: All languages change over time.
◉ What is a common belief about the complexity of languages?
Answer: No language is more or less logical than another language.
,◉ What does the term 'ambiguity' refer to in language?
Answer: The existence of multiple meanings or interpretations.
◉ What is the role of the brain in language processing?
Answer: Specific areas in the brain are dedicated to processing
language.
◉ What is one way language varies?
Answer: dialects, vocabulary, grammatical differences
◉ What are instincts?
Answer: Biologically determined behaviors.
◉ How do honeybees communicate the location of food?
Answer: Through a 'waggle dance' where intensity indicates the
amount of food and angle indicates direction
◉ What is an example of learned cultural behavior in chimps?
Answer: Using branches to catch termites, known as 'termite fishing.'
◉ What is the significance of Lenneberg's Criteria?
, Answer: It proposes criteria for biologically determined behavior,
including that it follows its own schedule and happens to everyone.
◉ What is the critical period in language acquisition?
Answer: A specific developmental time window during which
language must be acquired.
◉ What happens if language exposure occurs after the critical
period?
Answer: Language acquisition may be severely limited or
impossible.
◉ What is the difference between language competence and
language performance?
Answer: Competence is implicit knowledge of language, while
performance is the observed use of language.
◉ What is 'motherese'?
Answer: A speech style used by caregivers that is slower and
exaggerated, which may aid language acquisition.
◉ What is the role of environmental input in instinctive behavior?
Answer: It must occur during the critical period for the behavior to
develop properly.
