Question 1

The central and most highly developed human system of communication is:
A)kinesics.
B)proxemics.
C)body language.
D)pheromones.
E)language.

Accepted Answer

Language is the central and most highly developed human system of communication. While nonverbal communication, such as kinesics, proxemics, and body language, can also convey messages, language is the primary means of communication for humans. Pheromones, while important in some animal species, play a much lesser role in human communication.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is not an example of linguistic nationalism?
A)You are a Spanish-speaking person in the U.S. ,but want your children to use English so they will fit in more easily with the surrounding society.
B)A national committee in France declares that certain widely used terms will no longer be allowed to appear in public print because they are not French.
C)You live in Scotland and are so alarmed by the rapid decline in the number of people speaking Gaelic that you start a school in which all subjects are taught in Gaelic.
D)The southern part of India declares itself a separate country called Tamiland (the land of the people who speak Tamil)in defiance of India's declaration of Hindi as the national language
E)A country previously colonized by the British passes a law requiring everyone to speak the native tongue;English is banned because of its association with colonial domination.

Accepted Answer

Choice A is an example of assimilation or integration, rather than linguistic nationalism. The speaker is prioritizing the use of English for practical reasons of social integration, rather than for ideological reasons of preserving or promoting a specific language. The other choices involve efforts to promote or protect a particular language, either as a symbol of national identity or as a means of resisting assimilation or domination.

Question 3

The development of different languages from a single ancestral language is called:
A)descriptive linguistics.
B)historical linguistics.
C)language subgroups.
D)linguistic divergence.
E)linguistic nationalism.

Accepted Answer

Linguistic divergence refers to the process by which a language splits into distinct languages over time, originating from a common ancestral language.

Question 4

A language family is a group of languages:
A)that all have the same core vocabulary.
B)that are subordinate to a dominant language.
C)that all have the same syntax.
D)that use the same number of sounds.
E)that are descended from a single ancestral language.

Accepted Answer

A language family consists of languages that are descended from a common ancestral language. This means that while the languages within a family may have similarities in vocabulary, syntax, or sounds, they do not necessarily have the same core vocabulary, syntax, or number of sounds.

Question 5

The entire formal structure of a language consisting of all observations about its meaningful units of sounds and the rules or principles of making phrases and sentences is called its:
A)syntax.
B)form classes.
C)morphology.
D)phonology.
E)grammar.

Accepted Answer

The entire formal structure of a language consisting of all observations about its meaningful units of sounds and the rules or principles of making phrases and sentences is called its grammar. While syntax, form classes, and morphology are all aspects of grammar, phonology specifically refers to the study of the sound systems of languages. Therefore, the best choice is E, grammar.

Question 6

What are the long-term goals of the Chantek Project?
A)To free all primates from zoos and labs and return them to the wild
B)For Chantek and other enculturated apes to live in culture-based preserves instead of zoos or research centers.
C)To teach all primates how to use American Sign Language
D)To begin teaching primates how to write
E)To work with Chantek so that they can collect and write down original gorilla language

Accepted Answer

The article clearly states that one of the long-term goals of the Chantek Project is for enculturated apes like Chantek to live in "culture-based preserves" instead of zoos or research centers. This aligns with the goal of creating new spaces for apes to live in that are more appropriate for their needs and that respect their cultural identities. The other answer choices do not accurately reflect the long-term goals of the Chantek Project.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a signal?
A)Coughs from cold
B)Winking from pleasure
C)Screams from fear
D)Crying from sadness
E)Sneezing from sickness

Accepted Answer

Winking can be a deliberate gesture or action, but it is not typically considered a signal in the same way that the other options are. The other options involve a physiological response to a particular stimulus or situation.

Question 8

Professor Greymorning worked on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to help revitalize which Native American language?
A)Nez Perce
B)Blackfoot
C)Arapaho
D)Zuni
E)Assiniboine

Accepted Answer

Professor Greymorning worked on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to help revitalize the Arapaho language.

Question 9

As a way of revitalizing Arapaho,Professor Greymorning did all of the following except:
A)developed an Arapaho-only university.
B)translated a new dictionary of Arapaho.
C)translated the Disney film Bambi into Arapaho.
D)developed a new methodology of language acquisition.
E)modeled teaching Arapaho through new methodology.

Accepted Answer

There is no mention of Professor Greymorning developing an Arapaho-only university.

Question 10

The roots of linguistics,the modern scientific study of language,go back a long way to the works of ancient grammarians in__________________,more than 2,000 years ago.
A)South Asia
B)Central Asia
C)North Africa
D)Australia
E)Scandinavia

Accepted Answer

The ancient grammarians referred to in the question are from South Asia, particularly India. One of the most famous ancient grammarians from India is Panini, whose work on Sanskrit grammar dates back to the 4th century BCE.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the English language is incorrect?
A)English belongs to the Indo-European language family.
B)English belongs to the Germanic language subgroup.
C)English is one of the many languages that diverged from an ancient unified language called Proto-Indo- European.
D)English is a "daughter" language.
E)English has historically suffered a narrowing and loss of meaning.

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. English has actually undergone a broadening of meaning due to its extensive borrowing from other languages, particularly Latin and French.

Question 12

The systematic identification and description of distinctive speech sounds in a language is called:
A)grammar.
B)morphology.
C)linguistics.
D)phonetics.
E)phonemes.

Accepted Answer

Phonetics involves the study of speech sounds and their production, while grammar focuses on the structure of sentences and words. Morphology is the study of word formation and linguistics is the broader study of language and its structure. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that form meaningful distinctions in a language, which are studied within the field of phonetics.

Question 13

Chantek is a(n):
A)orangutan.
B)gorilla.
C)bonobo.
D)chimpanzee.
E)gibbon.

Accepted Answer

Chantek was a male orangutan, known for his ability to communicate through sign language and his exposure in the media as an ambassador for his species.

Question 14

Approximately how many languages are spoken today?
A)12,000
B)10,000
C)6,000
D)3,000
E)1,750

Accepted Answer

There are approximately 6,000 languages spoken in the world today, reflecting the vast diversity of cultures and communities.

Question 15

A system of communication using sounds,gestures,or marks that are put together in meaningful ways according to a set of share rules is called a(n):
A)signal set.
B)language.
C)code.
D)linguistic system.
E)analogue.

Accepted Answer

A language is a system of communication that includes sounds, gestures, and marks that are organized according to a specific set of rules. It is a complex system that allows for the expression of a wide range of ideas and concepts, and it is unique to humans. Signal sets, codes, and linguistic systems are all related to languages, but do not capture the full complexity of language as a system of communication. Analogue refers to a type of signal that is continuous and can vary in intensity, and is therefore not directly related to language.

Question 16

Chantek was able to do all of the following except:
A)use deception.
B)create complex meanings.
C)communicate through verbal words.
D)use displaced reference.
E)use code switching.

Accepted Answer

Chantek was not able to communicate through verbal words. He was taught American Sign Language, but he did not have the ability to speak like humans do.

Question 17

Which of the following would be an acceptable research topic in the field of historical linguistics?
A)Whether or not the speakers of Apache and Navajo once spoke a common language
B)Whether or not Apache and Navajo speakers use the same body language to signal gender differences
C)Whether or not Apache and Navajo speakers organize their languages using the same syntactical structures
D)All the features of a given language as it is spoken at a particular point in time
E)Frame substitution to investigate the syntax of a particular language

Accepted Answer

Historical linguistics focuses on the development and evolution of languages over time, including the relationships between languages. Investigating whether Apache and Navajo speakers once spoke a common language fits within this scope.

Question 18

Phonology is the:
A)modern scientific study of all aspects of language.
B)systematic identification and description of distinctive speech sounds in a language.
C)study of language sounds.
D)study of the patterns and rules by which words are arranged.
E)the entire formal structure of a language,including morphology and syntax.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Phonology is the:
A)modern scientific study of all...

Question 19

While the phonologist is making an inventory of permissible sounds in a language,the__________________is deciphering the groups or combinations of sounds that have meaning,or that are actually used to convey information.
A)phoneticist
B)morphologist
C)grammaticist
D)glottochronologist
E)consultant

Accepted Answer

The morphologist is concerned with the study of morphemes or the smallest units of meaning in a language. They analyze how these morphemes combine to form words and phrases, and how these structures convey meaning. Therefore, they are the ones deciphering the groups or combinations of sounds that have meaning in a language. Phoneticist is a specialist in the study of speech sounds and their production. A grammaticist is an expert in the study of grammar, while glottochronologist studies the relationships between languages. A consultant can refer to anyone who provides expert advice, but it is not a specific linguistic specialization.

Question 20

When countries react to a real or perceived threat of foreign cultural dominance by purging foreign words from the language,it is an example of:
A)cultural conservatism.
B)linguistic ethnocentrism.
C)linguistic parochialism.
D)linguistic nationalism.
E)ethnolinguistics.

Accepted Answer

The act of purging foreign words from a language as a reaction to a perceived threat of foreign cultural dominance falls under the category of linguistic nationalism, which stresses on the significance of language in promoting and preserving the nation and its cultural identity. It is a way of asserting nationalistic pride and resistance to foreign influence. Cultural conservatism (A) is a broader term that refers to the preservation of traditional cultural values and practices. Linguistic ethnocentrism (B) involves perceiving one's language as superior or the norm and judging others by that standard. Linguistic parochialism (C) refers to a self-centered attitude that discourages engagement with or tolerance for other cultures and languages. Ethnolinguistics (E) is the study of the relationship between language and culture within a particular ethnic group.

Quiz 15: Language and Communication

The central and most highly developed human system of communication is:

Which of the following statements is not an example of linguistic nationalism?

The development of different languages from a single ancestral language is called:

A language family is a group of languages:

The entire formal structure of a language consisting of all observations about its meaningful units of sounds and the rules or principles of making phrases and sentences is called its:

What are the long-term goals of the Chantek Project?

Which of the following is not a signal?

Professor Greymorning worked on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming to help revitalize which Native American language?

As a way of revitalizing Arapaho,Professor Greymorning did all of the following except:

The roots of linguistics,the modern scientific study of language,go back a long way to the works of ancient grammarians in__________________,more than 2,000 years ago.

Which of the following statements about the English language is incorrect?

The systematic identification and description of distinctive speech sounds in a language is called:

Chantek is a(n) :

Approximately how many languages are spoken today?

A system of communication using sounds,gestures,or marks that are put together in meaningful ways according to a set of share rules is called a(n) :

Chantek was able to do all of the following except:

Which of the following would be an acceptable research topic in the field of historical linguistics?

Phonology is the:

While the phonologist is making an inventory of permissible sounds in a language,the__________________is deciphering the groups or combinations of sounds that have meaning,or that are actually used to convey information.

When countries react to a real or perceived threat of foreign cultural dominance by purging foreign words from the language,it is an example of: