Question 1

Identify the deep structure in the statement, "That's like finding a needle in a haystack."
A)The task referred to is very difficult.
B)It's hard to find a needle in a haystack.
C)The actual symbols used in the statement are the deep structure.
D)The syntax of the statement is the deep structure.

Accepted Answer

The deep structure of a sentence refers to the underlying meaning or concept that the sentence conveys. In this case, the statement "That's like finding a needle in a haystack" metaphorically means that the task referred to is very difficult, which is the deep structure of the statement.

Question 2

Evolutionary theorists suggest that language evolved to help individuals
A)use tools more effectively
B)attract mates
C)care for offspring
D)deal with larger social groups

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary theorists propose that language evolved primarily as a mechanism for dealing with the complexities of larger social groups, facilitating communication, social bonding, and coordination among members.

Question 3

You can readily use language to describe the features of a person that you know. This use of language demonstrates how language is symbolic and illustrates the linguistic feature of ____________.
A)syntax
B)displacement
C)semantics
D)pragmatics

Accepted Answer

The answer of You can readily use language to describe...

Question 4

All of the following were mentioned by the text as examples of mental representations EXCEPT
A)an image
B)an idea
C)the sound "th"
D)a principle

Accepted Answer

The text likely mentioned mental representations that are more abstract or conceptual, such as images, ideas, and principles, rather than specific phonetic sounds like "th."

Question 5

The surface structure of a language refers to the ways that symbols are combined within that language, while the underlying meaning of these combined symbols is considered ____________________.
A)syntax
B)semantics
C)deep structure
D)displacement

Accepted Answer

The underlying meaning of combined symbols in a language is referred to as its "deep structure," which contrasts with the "surface structure" that deals with the combination of symbols themselves.

Question 6

Language can be used to create an infinite number of messages that can have novel or new meanings. This quality of language is referred to as
A)symbolic
B)propositional
C)structural
D)generative

Accepted Answer

The generative quality of language refers to its capacity to produce an endless variety of sentences, including new and novel ideas, through the combination of a finite set of elements according to rules of syntax and grammar.

Question 7

Individuals suffering from visual neglect also demonstrate disruptions in their mental imagery.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with visual neglect, a condition often resulting from damage to one hemisphere of the brain, not only ignore parts of the visual field but also show disruptions in their ability to imagine or remember visual scenes, indicating that the condition affects mental imagery as well as physical sight.

Question 8

While playing one afternoon, a group of children decided to develop a special language only they would know. They decided that they would use the word "yof" to mean adults. Whenever a child used the word "yof" the others knew that the child was referring to an adult. This represents which property of language?
A)Symbolic
B)Structure
C)Syntax
D)Generative

Accepted Answer

The use of "yof" to represent adults is symbolic, as language uses symbols (words) to represent objects, actions, ideas, and states.

Question 9

Consider the statement, "Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas." Since this sentence has at least two different interpretations (the pajamas could be worn by the person shooting the elephant OR they could be worn by the elephant), this means that this sentence has
A)two different deep structures and one surface structure
B)two different surface structures and one deep structure
C)two different surface structures and two different deep structures
D)one surface structure and one deep structure

Accepted Answer

The sentence has one surface structure, which is the arrangement of words as they are spoken or written, but it can be interpreted to have two different deep structures, which represent the underlying meanings or interpretations (the shooter wearing pajamas vs. the elephant wearing pajamas).

Question 10

As an English speaker, you recognize that if you want to put a verb into the past tense you can add an 'ed' to it, such as changing 'walk' to 'walked'. The rules governing this type of transformation are known as
A)syntax
B)semantics
C)phonemics
D)pragmatics

Accepted Answer

Syntax refers to the set of rules, principles, and processes that govern the structure of sentences in a given language, including the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. Adding 'ed' to a verb to form its past tense is a syntactic operation because it involves manipulating the structure of the word according to the grammatical rules of English.

Question 11

Semantics is to syntax as
A)structure is to meaning
B)meaning is to structure
C)nouns are to verbs
D)verbs are to nouns

Accepted Answer

Semantics relates to the meaning of words and sentences, while syntax refers to the structure or arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Question 12

The term syntax refers to the rules that govern the organization of the surface structure of a language, while the rules that determine how symbols are connected to what they represent are referred to as ______________.
A)heuristics
B)semantics
C)morphemes
D)phonemes

Accepted Answer

Semantics refers to the aspect of meaning in language, including how individual words and phrases relate to what they stand for or represent in the real world, which fits the description given.

Question 13

Seth is interested in studying individuals' ability to recognize phonemes present in different languages. Seth's research interests lie in the area of
A)psycholinguistics
B)neurolinguistics
C)sociolinguistics
D)anthrolinguistics

Accepted Answer

Psycholinguistics is the study of the psychological and neurobiological factors that enable humans to acquire, use, comprehend, and produce language, which includes the study of phoneme recognition across different languages.

Question 14

A friend is trying to solve a problem and you have an idea about how to solve it. You translate your idea into words and tell the person your idea for solving the problem. You have transferred your idea from your mind to your friend's mind. In this example, your idea is considered an example of
A)a proposition
B)a mental representation
C)a schema
D)a heuristic

Accepted Answer

Your idea is a mental representation because it is a thought or image in your mind that you have communicated to your friend. Mental representations are the ways in which information is stored and understood in the mind, including ideas, concepts, and perceptions.

Question 15

While researchers have long debated whether animals can acquire language, more recent research has clearly demonstrated that at least chimps are capable of acquiring it like humans.

Accepted Answer

While some research has shown that chimps and other animals can learn aspects of language, such as sign language or symbols to communicate, they do not acquire language in the same complexity or manner as humans. Their abilities are limited compared to human language acquisition and use.

Question 16

While playing one afternoon, a group of children decided to develop a special language only they would know. Jordan started working on the new symbols for their thoughts and behaviours. After writing quite an elaborate letter using his new symbols he gave it to the other children to try to decipher the message. To their dismay, the same symbols were used in very different ways and different symbols often represented the same idea. Jordan had violated one of the three critical properties of language because his language
A)was able to produce an infinite number of messages
B)was generative
C)was not symbolically linked
D)did not have a rule-governed structure

Accepted Answer

Jordan's language lacked a consistent rule-governed structure, as indicated by the use of the same symbols for different ideas and different symbols for the same idea, making it difficult for others to understand.

Question 17

The essential properties that define this ability are that it is symbolic, has structure, conveys meaning and is generative. This ability is
A)language
B)problem solving
C)intelligence
D)mental imagery

Accepted Answer

Language is defined by its symbolic nature, structured grammar, ability to convey meaning, and generativity, which refers to the capacity to create an infinite variety of messages.

Question 18

Two types of metacognition are metacomprehension and metamemory.

Accepted Answer

Metacognition refers to one's awareness and understanding of their own thought processes. It includes metacomprehension, which is the awareness of one's understanding and comprehension abilities, and metamemory, which is the understanding of one's memory capabilities and strategies.

Question 19

In terms of the properties of languages, displacement is to symbolic as infinite is to _____________.
A)structure
B)propositional
C)representational
D)generative

Accepted Answer

Infinite is to generative as these terms relate to the properties of language. Displacement allows language to refer to things not present in time or space, while symbolic refers to the use of symbols (words, signs) to represent ideas, objects, or actions. The property of being infinite, meaning language can produce an endless number of sentences, is due to its generative nature, which refers to the capability of language's rules to generate an unlimited variety of sentences from a finite set of elements.

Question 20

Theide and Anderson found in their research on metacomprehension in undergraduates, that students who wrote a delayed summary were both better able to assess their comprehension of the material and recall it on a test.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Theide and Anderson found in their research...

Quiz 9: Language and Thinking

Identify the deep structure in the statement, "That's like finding a needle in a haystack."

Evolutionary theorists suggest that language evolved to help individuals

You can readily use language to describe the features of a person that you know. This use of language demonstrates how language is symbolic and illustrates the linguistic feature of ____________.

All of the following were mentioned by the text as examples of mental representations EXCEPT

The surface structure of a language refers to the ways that symbols are combined within that language, while the underlying meaning of these combined symbols is considered ____________________.

Language can be used to create an infinite number of messages that can have novel or new meanings. This quality of language is referred to as

Individuals suffering from visual neglect also demonstrate disruptions in their mental imagery.

Consider the statement, "Last night, I shot an elephant in my pajamas." Since this sentence has at least two different interpretations (the pajamas could be worn by the person shooting the elephant OR they could be worn by the elephant) , this means that this sentence has

As an English speaker, you recognize that if you want to put a verb into the past tense you can add an 'ed' to it, such as changing 'walk' to 'walked'. The rules governing this type of transformation are known as

Semantics is to syntax as

The term syntax refers to the rules that govern the organization of the surface structure of a language, while the rules that determine how symbols are connected to what they represent are referred to as ______________.

Seth is interested in studying individuals' ability to recognize phonemes present in different languages. Seth's research interests lie in the area of

A friend is trying to solve a problem and you have an idea about how to solve it. You translate your idea into words and tell the person your idea for solving the problem. You have transferred your idea from your mind to your friend's mind. In this example, your idea is considered an example of

While researchers have long debated whether animals can acquire language, more recent research has clearly demonstrated that at least chimps are capable of acquiring it like humans.

The essential properties that define this ability are that it is symbolic, has structure, conveys meaning and is generative. This ability is

Two types of metacognition are metacomprehension and metamemory.

In terms of the properties of languages, displacement is to symbolic as infinite is to _____________.

Theide and Anderson found in their research on metacomprehension in undergraduates, that students who wrote a delayed summary were both better able to assess their comprehension of the material and recall it on a test.