Question 1

Which term refers to words that gain their meaning through comparison?
A)equivocal words
B)convergence
C)semantic discordance
D)relative words

Accepted Answer

Relative words gain their meaning through comparison to something else. Examples include big, small, tall, short, etc.

Question 2

Which of the following is the problem with "you" language?
A)They are always negative.
B)They attribute ownership to some unidentified source.
C)They are unclear.
D)They imply a judgment of another person.

Accepted Answer

"You" language implies a judgment of another person, which can be confrontational and create resistance or defensiveness. It can also be perceived as blaming or accusatory, making it unproductive for communication and problem-solving. It is better to use "I" language, which communicates one's own perspective and feelings without attributing them to another person.

Question 3

I often refer to my three colleagues as "an uptight team." What am I using that might cause a misunderstanding?
A)emotive words
B)equivocal words
C)reappraisal wording
D)pragmatic wording

Accepted Answer

Emotive words carry strong emotional connotations or associations, which can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations based on the feelings they evoke. Describing colleagues as "an uptight team" uses language that has a negative emotional charge, potentially leading to misunderstandings about the nature of the team or the speaker's intentions.

Question 4

What do the syntactic rules of language govern?
A)the words that become slang
B)the way that semanticists create meaning
C)how symbols can be arranged
D)how speakers respond to symbols

Accepted Answer

The syntactic rules of language govern how symbols can be arranged to create meaningful sentences and expressions. Slang and speakers' responses to symbols are influenced by various factors including culture, context, and individual preferences, but are not directly governed by syntactic rules. Semanticists may use syntactic rules as a tool to analyze and understand how meaning is constructed in language, but the rules themselves do not dictate the meaning.

Question 5

You are in your criminology course, and you notice that the professor uses only the terms "them," "they," "their," and "everyone" when addressing the class. According to your textbook, what is the professor doing?
A)providing convergence
B)using gender-neutral pronouns
C)differentiating
D)excluding man-linked language

Accepted Answer

The professor is using gender-neutral pronouns by using terms like "them," "they," "their," and "everyone," which do not specify a particular gender.

Question 6

Which term refers to words that have more than one dictionary definition?
A)equivocal words
B)convergent
C)relative words
D)semantic equivalents

Accepted Answer

Equivocal words are words that have multiple meanings or definitions.

Question 7

How are men's and women's use of language similar?
A)They both talk about similar topics.
B)They both use about the same level of direct speech.
C)They both speak about the same number of words each day.
D)They both use about the same amount of supportive comments.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that men and women speak about the same number of words each day, debunking the stereotype that women talk more than men.

Question 8

You are listening to a podcast, and the narrator is describing a "male geriatric patient" who did not receive proper care from the health care system. What language sensitivity concern does this comment raise?
A)ageist language
B)man-linked language
C)heterosexist language
D)sexist language

Accepted Answer

Referring to an older person as a "geriatric patient" can be seen as ageist language, as it can perpetuate negative stereotypes and discrimination based on age. Additionally, using the term "male" could be seen as irrelevant and potentially divisive, as the patient's gender may not be particularly relevant to the issues they faced within the healthcare system. A more sensitive and inclusive approach might be to simply refer to the patient as an "older adult" or "senior" without emphasizing gender or age.

Question 9

In which of the following statements is the use of a "we" statement most appropriate?
A)"We have a problem here."
B)"What are we going to do about this issue?"
C)"We aren't doing a very good job of keeping the place clean, are we?"
D)"I think that we need to talk to Stephanie.'

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which of the following statements is...

Question 10

You ask for a small piece of cake but get a piece twice as large as you expected. What caused this semantic problem?
A)equivocal words
B)convergence language
C)relative words
D)semantic discordance

Accepted Answer

Relative words like "small" can vary greatly in meaning based on individual interpretation, leading to misunderstandings in communication.

Question 11

Which of the following indicates a speaker's willingness to take responsibility for his/her thoughts or feelings?
A)"I" vs."we" or "you"
B)"it" vs."his"
C)"his" or "her" vs."their"
D)singular vs.plural terms

Accepted Answer

The use of "I" instead of "we" or "you" indicates that the speaker is willing to take responsibility for his/her thoughts or feelings. Using "I" suggests ownership and personal responsibility, whereas "we" or "you" can be interpreted as deflecting responsibility onto others.

Question 12

Which of the following will you find in a low-context language culture?
A)much use of silence
B)much self-expression
C)indirect expression of opinions
D)less reliance on explicit verbal messages

Accepted Answer

In a low-context language culture, communication is direct and explicit, with a strong emphasis on clear, detailed verbal messages and self-expression.

Question 13

Jack told his friend Maurice that he was "kinda disappointed" that he was not able to join him for the hockey game last night. What type of deferential language did Jack use?
A)disclaimer
B)hedge
C)hesitation
D)accommodation

Accepted Answer

"Kinda disappointed" is an example of hedging language, where Jack is softening the impact of his disappointment and not stating it too forcefully.

Question 14

What is the process of adapting one's speech style to match that of others with whom the communicator wants to identify?
A)convergence
B)divergence
C)differentiation
D)accommodation

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the process of adapting one's...

Question 15

"When you didn't let me know you weren't coming to the planning meeting, I felt that you weren't interested in providing input, and that forced me to go ahead without you." What is missing from this "I" statement?
A)a description of the other person's behaviour
B)a description of the speaker's feelings
C)a description of the consequences that the other person's behaviour has for the speaker
D)a description of the speaker's interpretation of the other person's behaviour

Accepted Answer

The statement includes a description of the other person's behavior (not informing the speaker about not coming), the consequences of this behavior (the speaker had to go ahead without them), and the speaker's interpretation of the behavior (feeling that the other person wasn't interested in providing input). However, it lacks a direct description of the speaker's feelings, such as feeling disappointed, frustrated, or upset.

Question 16

Which statement best describes cultures that stress formality in language?
A)People talk less.
B)There are fewer close relationships.
C)Language use defines a social position.
D)Using correct grammar is the most important.

Accepted Answer

In cultures that stress formality in language, the way language is used defines an individual's social position, indicating the level of respect and formality that should be used when speaking to them. This can include the use of honorifics, particular verb forms, and other linguistic markers that distinguish between levels of social hierarchy. However, this does not necessarily mean that people talk less or have fewer close relationships, nor does it imply that correct grammar is the most important factor.

Question 17

Which term refers to a range of more to less abstract terms describing an event or object?
A)abstract language
B)abstraction ladder
C)abstraction evaluation
D)abstract words

Accepted Answer

An abstraction ladder is a range of terms that vary in their level of abstraction, from specific and concrete to more general and abstract. It allows speakers to adjust their language based on the needs and understanding of their audience.

Question 18

What do people who practise convergence in their speech hope to achieve?
A)affiliation and acceptance with a group
B)agreement on a critical issue
C)resolution of a conflict
D)unity within a group

Accepted Answer

People who practise convergence in their speech hope to achieve affiliation and acceptance with a group by adapting their language to match the speech patterns and communication style of the group they are interacting with.

Question 19

Which of the following is the least abstract?
A)iPhone
B)2020 red Apple iPhone
C)red iPhone
D)reliable cell phone

Accepted Answer

The least abstract option is "2020 red Apple iPhone" because it provides the most specific details, including the brand (Apple), color (red), and year (2020), making it the most concrete and least abstract compared to the other options.

Question 20

Which statement is a fact?
A)"You shouldn't have said that."
B)"I heard you say you weren't interested."
C)"Fact number one: you are stupid."
D)"It's a fact that using the tone of voice you did always backfires."

Accepted Answer

Statement B is a factual statement because it directly refers to something that was heard by the speaker. Statements A, C, and D are opinions or subjective judgments.

Quiz 5: Language: Barrier and Bridge

Which term refers to words that gain their meaning through comparison?

Which of the following is the problem with "you" language?

I often refer to my three colleagues as "an uptight team." What am I using that might cause a misunderstanding?

What do the syntactic rules of language govern?

You are in your criminology course, and you notice that the professor uses only the terms "them," "they," "their," and "everyone" when addressing the class. According to your textbook, what is the professor doing?

Which term refers to words that have more than one dictionary definition?

How are men's and women's use of language similar?

You are listening to a podcast, and the narrator is describing a "male geriatric patient" who did not receive proper care from the health care system. What language sensitivity concern does this comment raise?

In which of the following statements is the use of a "we" statement most appropriate?

You ask for a small piece of cake but get a piece twice as large as you expected. What caused this semantic problem?

Which of the following indicates a speaker's willingness to take responsibility for his/her thoughts or feelings?

Which of the following will you find in a low-context language culture?

Jack told his friend Maurice that he was "kinda disappointed" that he was not able to join him for the hockey game last night. What type of deferential language did Jack use?

What is the process of adapting one's speech style to match that of others with whom the communicator wants to identify?

"When you didn't let me know you weren't coming to the planning meeting, I felt that you weren't interested in providing input, and that forced me to go ahead without you." What is missing from this "I" statement?

Which statement best describes cultures that stress formality in language?

Which term refers to a range of more to less abstract terms describing an event or object?

What do people who practise convergence in their speech hope to achieve?

Which of the following is the least abstract?

Which statement is a fact?