LINGUISTICS FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
Linguistics
The systematic, scientific study of the phenomenon of human language.
TRUE or FALSE: Linguistics is learning a language to communicate it?
FALSE! - This is not a goal that linguists have
Language
A vehicle of thought, a system of expression tat mediates the transfer of thought
6 Steps that language is transferred from one human to another...
1. THINK what you want to say
2. PICK WORDS you want to use to express this (semantics)
3. Put words TOGETHER in a certain order (syntax) using correct form (morphology)
4. Figure out how to PRONOUNCE these words, then make them sounds (phonology)
5. SEND pronunciations to vocal anatomy (articulatory phonetics)
6. SPEAK: send sounds through the air! Perceive: listener hears sounds Decode: listener
interprets sounds as language Connect: listener receives communicated idea
TRUE or FALSE: All languages are created equal?
TRUE!
Phonetically & Phonologically
What sounds and sound sequences can I pronounce?
Morhpologically
How do I make a plural? A past tense verb?
Syntactically
What is the correct word order?
,Prescriptive Grammar (Prescribed)
People come up with "rules" all speakers are "supposed" to follow, and people make you feel
like you are saying things "wrong". (I ain't gonna do nothing = wrong)
Descriptive Grammar (Described)
Observing language, NOT passing judgement. Native speakers set the standard for what is "good
grammar". "Bad grammar" would be something native speakers don't normally do. If it's
"normal" to natives it's OK! (With whom shall I speak? = wrong)
Arbitrariness
Language is an "arbitrary" system used by human beings to communicate with one another -
Finegan (grammar is a lot like fashion, reapropriate things)
TRUE or FALSE: Every language is equally systematic, complex, and meets
communicative needs of its speakers?
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: We should judge others for the way they speak because it tells a lot
about that person?
FALSE! - We are NOT here to judge
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
"The language you have affects how you think."
6 Problems With The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
1. Inability to express certain thoughts through language
2. Accounting for differences in variations of sentences
3. The ability to utter "nonsensical" sentences
4. Humans that don't have language can still THINK
5. Circular reasoning, language affects thought or vice versa?
6. Translatability
Egocentric Coordinates
, Conceptualize space in relation to the human body itself. (Our directions will change depending
on which way we are facing)
TRUE or FALSE: Many languages are egocentric rather than geographic?
FALSE - Many languages are geographic
TRUE or FALSE: Language determines how you see the world?
FALSE! - It affects it, but to what extent.. we don't know
Syntax
The way in which words are put together to form phrases and sentences. It's all about structure
and rules.
Parts of Speech
Categories of words based on similar meanings, forms, and functions. "We use a code to
translate between orders of words and combinations of thoughts" - Pinker
TRUE or FALSE: Parts of Speech can also be called, lexical categories, word classes, and
syntactic categories?
TRUE!
Classification
Sometimes this can be a little fuzzy because you can use the same form of a word in multiple
sentences and it may seem to have a different meaning
The MAJOR Classes
NOUNS, VERBS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS = These are OPEN classes
The MINOR Classes
PRONOUNS, DETERMINERS, PREPOSITIONS, AUXILIARIES, CONJUNCTIONS = These
are CLOSED classes, and consist of FUNCTION words
Noun
AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
Linguistics
The systematic, scientific study of the phenomenon of human language.
TRUE or FALSE: Linguistics is learning a language to communicate it?
FALSE! - This is not a goal that linguists have
Language
A vehicle of thought, a system of expression tat mediates the transfer of thought
6 Steps that language is transferred from one human to another...
1. THINK what you want to say
2. PICK WORDS you want to use to express this (semantics)
3. Put words TOGETHER in a certain order (syntax) using correct form (morphology)
4. Figure out how to PRONOUNCE these words, then make them sounds (phonology)
5. SEND pronunciations to vocal anatomy (articulatory phonetics)
6. SPEAK: send sounds through the air! Perceive: listener hears sounds Decode: listener
interprets sounds as language Connect: listener receives communicated idea
TRUE or FALSE: All languages are created equal?
TRUE!
Phonetically & Phonologically
What sounds and sound sequences can I pronounce?
Morhpologically
How do I make a plural? A past tense verb?
Syntactically
What is the correct word order?
,Prescriptive Grammar (Prescribed)
People come up with "rules" all speakers are "supposed" to follow, and people make you feel
like you are saying things "wrong". (I ain't gonna do nothing = wrong)
Descriptive Grammar (Described)
Observing language, NOT passing judgement. Native speakers set the standard for what is "good
grammar". "Bad grammar" would be something native speakers don't normally do. If it's
"normal" to natives it's OK! (With whom shall I speak? = wrong)
Arbitrariness
Language is an "arbitrary" system used by human beings to communicate with one another -
Finegan (grammar is a lot like fashion, reapropriate things)
TRUE or FALSE: Every language is equally systematic, complex, and meets
communicative needs of its speakers?
TRUE!
TRUE or FALSE: We should judge others for the way they speak because it tells a lot
about that person?
FALSE! - We are NOT here to judge
The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
"The language you have affects how you think."
6 Problems With The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
1. Inability to express certain thoughts through language
2. Accounting for differences in variations of sentences
3. The ability to utter "nonsensical" sentences
4. Humans that don't have language can still THINK
5. Circular reasoning, language affects thought or vice versa?
6. Translatability
Egocentric Coordinates
, Conceptualize space in relation to the human body itself. (Our directions will change depending
on which way we are facing)
TRUE or FALSE: Many languages are egocentric rather than geographic?
FALSE - Many languages are geographic
TRUE or FALSE: Language determines how you see the world?
FALSE! - It affects it, but to what extent.. we don't know
Syntax
The way in which words are put together to form phrases and sentences. It's all about structure
and rules.
Parts of Speech
Categories of words based on similar meanings, forms, and functions. "We use a code to
translate between orders of words and combinations of thoughts" - Pinker
TRUE or FALSE: Parts of Speech can also be called, lexical categories, word classes, and
syntactic categories?
TRUE!
Classification
Sometimes this can be a little fuzzy because you can use the same form of a word in multiple
sentences and it may seem to have a different meaning
The MAJOR Classes
NOUNS, VERBS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS = These are OPEN classes
The MINOR Classes
PRONOUNS, DETERMINERS, PREPOSITIONS, AUXILIARIES, CONJUNCTIONS = These
are CLOSED classes, and consist of FUNCTION words
Noun
