LING 115 Midterm Study Guide 2026/2027 –
Latest 200 Q&A with Rationales | Language in
Society Exam Prep | Verified Answers
DOMAIN 1: LANGUAGE, DIALECT, AND VARIETY (Questions 1–30)
1. What is a language isolate?
A. A language spoken on an island
B. A language that is not related to any other varieties or languages
C. A language with no dialects
D. A language spoken by only one person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A language isolate is a language that has no demonstrable genealogical
relationship with any other language, meaning it is not related to any other varieties or
languages.
2. According to the mutual intelligibility hypothesis (MIH), if speakers of Variety A and
Variety B can understand each other when they speak, then:
A. They speak two separate languages
B. They speak varieties of a single language
C. They are bilingual
D. They are using a pidgin
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MIH states that if speakers of two varieties can understand each other when
they speak, then A and B can be considered varieties of a single language C.
3. Which language pair does NOT support the mutual intelligibility hypothesis?
A. English and Scots
B. Danish and Swedish
C. Mandarin and Cantonese
D. Dutch and Afrikaans
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually intelligible, yet they are often
considered varieties of "Chinese," which challenges the MIH. Other examples include
Danish/Swedish/Norwegian (mutually intelligible but considered separate languages) and
Egyptian/Moroccan Arabic.
4. "A language is a dialect with an army and a navy" illustrates that:
A. Military power determines grammar
B. The distinction between language and dialect is based on socio-political factors, not
purely linguistic ones
C. Dialects cannot become languages
D. Languages are always standardized
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The quote points out the arbitrariness of language selection: a dialect becomes a
language due to socio-political factors, not because of linguistic differences alone.
5. Which of the following is an example of dialects that are formally considered
separate languages?
,A. Mandarin and Cantonese
B. Hindi and Urdu
C. Swiss German and Standard German
D. African American Vernacular English and Standard American English
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hindi and Urdu are mutually intelligible to a significant degree but are formally
considered separate languages due to socio-political and religious factors.
6. Which of the following is an example of a language that is formally considered a
single language but is made up of mutually unintelligible varieties?
A. German
B. Chinese
C. Arabic
D. Spanish
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chinese is formally considered one language but is made up of Mandarin,
Cantonese, and Taiwanese, which are not mutually intelligible.
7. The umbrella term for dialect, idiolect, and other language varieties is:
A. Language
B. Register
C. Variety
D. Pidgin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Variety" is the umbrella term used in sociolinguistics to refer to any distinct form
of a language, including dialects, idiolects, registers, and styles.
, 8. An idiolect is:
A. A language spoken by a single community
B. The unique way that each person speaks his or her language
C. A standardized national language
D. A language without a writing system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An idiolect is the unique, individual way that each person speaks his or her
language.
9. Style, in sociolinguistics, refers to:
A. The grammar of a language
B. Ways of speaking depending on formality, age, group, and social status
C. The writing system of a language
D. The number of speakers of a language
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Style refers to ways of speaking that vary depending on formality, age, group,
and social status.
10. Register is best defined as:
A. The unique speech of an individual
B. Speech used for a particular activity or social setting
C. A language without native speakers
D. A regional dialect
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A register is speech used for a particular activity or social setting, such as sports
commentary or auctioneering.
Latest 200 Q&A with Rationales | Language in
Society Exam Prep | Verified Answers
DOMAIN 1: LANGUAGE, DIALECT, AND VARIETY (Questions 1–30)
1. What is a language isolate?
A. A language spoken on an island
B. A language that is not related to any other varieties or languages
C. A language with no dialects
D. A language spoken by only one person
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A language isolate is a language that has no demonstrable genealogical
relationship with any other language, meaning it is not related to any other varieties or
languages.
2. According to the mutual intelligibility hypothesis (MIH), if speakers of Variety A and
Variety B can understand each other when they speak, then:
A. They speak two separate languages
B. They speak varieties of a single language
C. They are bilingual
D. They are using a pidgin
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The MIH states that if speakers of two varieties can understand each other when
they speak, then A and B can be considered varieties of a single language C.
3. Which language pair does NOT support the mutual intelligibility hypothesis?
A. English and Scots
B. Danish and Swedish
C. Mandarin and Cantonese
D. Dutch and Afrikaans
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually intelligible, yet they are often
considered varieties of "Chinese," which challenges the MIH. Other examples include
Danish/Swedish/Norwegian (mutually intelligible but considered separate languages) and
Egyptian/Moroccan Arabic.
4. "A language is a dialect with an army and a navy" illustrates that:
A. Military power determines grammar
B. The distinction between language and dialect is based on socio-political factors, not
purely linguistic ones
C. Dialects cannot become languages
D. Languages are always standardized
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The quote points out the arbitrariness of language selection: a dialect becomes a
language due to socio-political factors, not because of linguistic differences alone.
5. Which of the following is an example of dialects that are formally considered
separate languages?
,A. Mandarin and Cantonese
B. Hindi and Urdu
C. Swiss German and Standard German
D. African American Vernacular English and Standard American English
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hindi and Urdu are mutually intelligible to a significant degree but are formally
considered separate languages due to socio-political and religious factors.
6. Which of the following is an example of a language that is formally considered a
single language but is made up of mutually unintelligible varieties?
A. German
B. Chinese
C. Arabic
D. Spanish
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chinese is formally considered one language but is made up of Mandarin,
Cantonese, and Taiwanese, which are not mutually intelligible.
7. The umbrella term for dialect, idiolect, and other language varieties is:
A. Language
B. Register
C. Variety
D. Pidgin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Variety" is the umbrella term used in sociolinguistics to refer to any distinct form
of a language, including dialects, idiolects, registers, and styles.
, 8. An idiolect is:
A. A language spoken by a single community
B. The unique way that each person speaks his or her language
C. A standardized national language
D. A language without a writing system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An idiolect is the unique, individual way that each person speaks his or her
language.
9. Style, in sociolinguistics, refers to:
A. The grammar of a language
B. Ways of speaking depending on formality, age, group, and social status
C. The writing system of a language
D. The number of speakers of a language
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Style refers to ways of speaking that vary depending on formality, age, group,
and social status.
10. Register is best defined as:
A. The unique speech of an individual
B. Speech used for a particular activity or social setting
C. A language without native speakers
D. A regional dialect
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A register is speech used for a particular activity or social setting, such as sports
commentary or auctioneering.
