LING 115 Midterm Exam 2026/2027 – 120 Practice
Questions & Verified Answers with Rationales |
Latest Edition | Instant Download PDF
SECTION 1: LANGUAGE, DIALECT & VARIATION (Questions 1–30)
1. What is a language isolate?
A) A language spoken by only one person
B) A language that is not related to any other varieties or languages
C) A dialect spoken on an island
D) A language with no written form
Correct Answer: B
A language isolate has no demonstrable genealogical relationship to any other known
language. Examples include Basque and Korean (in the Koreanic family, though its
relationship to other families is debated). This concept is foundational for understanding
language families and genetic classification .
2. According to the principle that “a language is a dialect with an army and a navy,”
the distinction between a language and a dialect is primarily a matter of:
A) Mutual intelligibility
B) Vocabulary size
C) Power and politics
D) Grammatical complexity
,Correct Answer: C
This famous aphorism captures the sociopolitical reality that the language/dialect boundary
is not purely linguistic. Varieties with political autonomy and standardization are called
“languages,” while subordinate varieties are called “dialects,” even when mutual intelligibility
is high (e.g., Serbian and Croatian) .
3. Two varieties differ only in pronunciation. According to linguists, these are best
classified as:
A) Separate languages
B) Dialects of the same language
C) Registers
D) Pidgins
Correct Answer: B
Pronunciation differences alone do not constitute separate languages. Linguists classify
such varieties as dialects (specifically, accents) of the same language, because the
structural differences are phonological rather than lexical or grammatical .
4. What is a dialect continuum?
A) A situation where dialects are spreading into one another without clear boundaries
B) A language that has no dialects
C) A continuum between a pidgin and a creole
D) A writing system used across dialects
Correct Answer: A
A dialect continuum occurs when geographically adjacent varieties gradually shade into one
another, with mutual intelligibility decreasing as distance increases. Clear linguistic
boundaries often do not exist, which complicates the language/dialect distinction .
,5. An isogloss is best defined as:
A) A line on a map drawn by dialect geographers to indicate areas where certain linguistic
features occur
B) A grammatical rule shared by all dialects
C) A sound change that affects all languages
D) A bilingual speaker’s ability to switch codes
Correct Answer: A
Isoglosses are boundaries that separate regions using different linguistic features (e.g., the
“cot–caught” merger line). Bundles of isoglosses often define dialect regions .
6. Which language pair is commonly cited as challenging the mutual intelligibility
hypothesis?
A) Spanish and Portuguese
B) Korean and Japanese
C) Dutch and Afrikaans
D) Norwegian and Swedish
Correct Answer: B
Korean and Japanese are often cited as a problematic case for the mutual intelligibility
hypothesis: despite significant grammatical similarities, they are not mutually intelligible and
are not considered dialects of the same language. This illustrates that mutual intelligibility is
neither necessary nor sufficient for languagehood .
7. What are the four functions of a national language?
A) Unifying, separatist, frame of reference, prestige
B) Standardizing, modernizing, teaching, testing
C) Unifying, dividing, borrowing, code-switching
D) Official, unofficial, regional, local
, Correct Answer: A
National languages serve to unify a population, separate it from other nations, provide a
common frame of reference, and confer prestige. These functions are central to language
planning and national identity .
8. Linguistic repertoire refers to:
A) A range of different languages or varieties of a language spoken by a speaker or
community
B) The total vocabulary of a language
C) The set of grammatical rules shared by all speakers
D) A dictionary of slang terms
Correct Answer: A
A speaker’s linguistic repertoire is the full set of linguistic resources (languages, dialects,
styles, registers) available to them. In multilingual communities, repertoires are typically
heterogeneous .
9. The term “register” refers to:
A) A variety of language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting
B) A regional dialect
C) A language isolate
D) A writing system
Correct Answer: A
Register (or style) is a functional variety shaped by context, audience, and purpose—e.g.,
formal academic writing versus casual conversation. It is distinct from regional or social
dialects, which are shaped by geography and social identity .
Questions & Verified Answers with Rationales |
Latest Edition | Instant Download PDF
SECTION 1: LANGUAGE, DIALECT & VARIATION (Questions 1–30)
1. What is a language isolate?
A) A language spoken by only one person
B) A language that is not related to any other varieties or languages
C) A dialect spoken on an island
D) A language with no written form
Correct Answer: B
A language isolate has no demonstrable genealogical relationship to any other known
language. Examples include Basque and Korean (in the Koreanic family, though its
relationship to other families is debated). This concept is foundational for understanding
language families and genetic classification .
2. According to the principle that “a language is a dialect with an army and a navy,”
the distinction between a language and a dialect is primarily a matter of:
A) Mutual intelligibility
B) Vocabulary size
C) Power and politics
D) Grammatical complexity
,Correct Answer: C
This famous aphorism captures the sociopolitical reality that the language/dialect boundary
is not purely linguistic. Varieties with political autonomy and standardization are called
“languages,” while subordinate varieties are called “dialects,” even when mutual intelligibility
is high (e.g., Serbian and Croatian) .
3. Two varieties differ only in pronunciation. According to linguists, these are best
classified as:
A) Separate languages
B) Dialects of the same language
C) Registers
D) Pidgins
Correct Answer: B
Pronunciation differences alone do not constitute separate languages. Linguists classify
such varieties as dialects (specifically, accents) of the same language, because the
structural differences are phonological rather than lexical or grammatical .
4. What is a dialect continuum?
A) A situation where dialects are spreading into one another without clear boundaries
B) A language that has no dialects
C) A continuum between a pidgin and a creole
D) A writing system used across dialects
Correct Answer: A
A dialect continuum occurs when geographically adjacent varieties gradually shade into one
another, with mutual intelligibility decreasing as distance increases. Clear linguistic
boundaries often do not exist, which complicates the language/dialect distinction .
,5. An isogloss is best defined as:
A) A line on a map drawn by dialect geographers to indicate areas where certain linguistic
features occur
B) A grammatical rule shared by all dialects
C) A sound change that affects all languages
D) A bilingual speaker’s ability to switch codes
Correct Answer: A
Isoglosses are boundaries that separate regions using different linguistic features (e.g., the
“cot–caught” merger line). Bundles of isoglosses often define dialect regions .
6. Which language pair is commonly cited as challenging the mutual intelligibility
hypothesis?
A) Spanish and Portuguese
B) Korean and Japanese
C) Dutch and Afrikaans
D) Norwegian and Swedish
Correct Answer: B
Korean and Japanese are often cited as a problematic case for the mutual intelligibility
hypothesis: despite significant grammatical similarities, they are not mutually intelligible and
are not considered dialects of the same language. This illustrates that mutual intelligibility is
neither necessary nor sufficient for languagehood .
7. What are the four functions of a national language?
A) Unifying, separatist, frame of reference, prestige
B) Standardizing, modernizing, teaching, testing
C) Unifying, dividing, borrowing, code-switching
D) Official, unofficial, regional, local
, Correct Answer: A
National languages serve to unify a population, separate it from other nations, provide a
common frame of reference, and confer prestige. These functions are central to language
planning and national identity .
8. Linguistic repertoire refers to:
A) A range of different languages or varieties of a language spoken by a speaker or
community
B) The total vocabulary of a language
C) The set of grammatical rules shared by all speakers
D) A dictionary of slang terms
Correct Answer: A
A speaker’s linguistic repertoire is the full set of linguistic resources (languages, dialects,
styles, registers) available to them. In multilingual communities, repertoires are typically
heterogeneous .
9. The term “register” refers to:
A) A variety of language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting
B) A regional dialect
C) A language isolate
D) A writing system
Correct Answer: A
Register (or style) is a functional variety shaped by context, audience, and purpose—e.g.,
formal academic writing versus casual conversation. It is distinct from regional or social
dialects, which are shaped by geography and social identity .
