LING 115 LINGUISTICS MIDTERM 2 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ (T/F) An isogloss is a line between two dialects.
Answer: False
◉ It has become common in some varieties of English recently to say
"las" instead of "last" (as in: "He came in las"). Which of the
following is true of this change?
Answer: It is the result of a predictable change whereby speakers
reduce the markedness of the language.
◉ What does the Benrath Line mark?
Answer: Whether speakers of German say "k" or "ch" on words such
as "ich" and "machen."
◉ (T/F) If speakers of a variety are unsure about a linguistic feature
(ex: they can't quite decide if the plural of "cactus" is "cacti" or
"cactuses"), it's probably because that linguistic feature is in the
process of changing.
Answer: True
, ◉ Why do most speakers of American English pronounce "cursory"
with three syllables and "every" with two syllables?
Answer: "Every" is a more common word than "cursory."
◉ What is Labov 1963 about?
Answer: a language change away from the Standard
◉ (T/F) The youth on Martha's Vineyard were the most likely to use
the new vowels.
Answer: False
◉ (T/F) The people who lived up-island on Martha's Vineyard were
the most likely to use the new vowels.
Answer: True
◉ (T/F) We are more likely to be aware of language changes we
make towards the Standard than changes we make away from the
Standard.
Answer: True
◉ (T/F) A woman who uses Vocal Fry is more likely to describe
celebrities such as the Kardashians with positive terms than a
woman who doesn't use Vocal Fry.
Answer: True
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ (T/F) An isogloss is a line between two dialects.
Answer: False
◉ It has become common in some varieties of English recently to say
"las" instead of "last" (as in: "He came in las"). Which of the
following is true of this change?
Answer: It is the result of a predictable change whereby speakers
reduce the markedness of the language.
◉ What does the Benrath Line mark?
Answer: Whether speakers of German say "k" or "ch" on words such
as "ich" and "machen."
◉ (T/F) If speakers of a variety are unsure about a linguistic feature
(ex: they can't quite decide if the plural of "cactus" is "cacti" or
"cactuses"), it's probably because that linguistic feature is in the
process of changing.
Answer: True
, ◉ Why do most speakers of American English pronounce "cursory"
with three syllables and "every" with two syllables?
Answer: "Every" is a more common word than "cursory."
◉ What is Labov 1963 about?
Answer: a language change away from the Standard
◉ (T/F) The youth on Martha's Vineyard were the most likely to use
the new vowels.
Answer: False
◉ (T/F) The people who lived up-island on Martha's Vineyard were
the most likely to use the new vowels.
Answer: True
◉ (T/F) We are more likely to be aware of language changes we
make towards the Standard than changes we make away from the
Standard.
Answer: True
◉ (T/F) A woman who uses Vocal Fry is more likely to describe
celebrities such as the Kardashians with positive terms than a
woman who doesn't use Vocal Fry.
Answer: True
