Question 1

Regarding studies on bilingualism, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Additive bilingualism refers to the situation where a second language is learned in addition to the first language without detracting from it. However, minority American children who do not speak English at home may not always experience additive bilingualism, as their development in both languages can be influenced by several factors including the quality of educational programs, the level of support for their first language, and societal attitudes towards bilingualism.

Question 2

A Bangkok, Thailand, dry cleaner had an advertisement posted that stated "Drop your trousers here for best results." This illustrates how translating languages can cause __________ problems.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a semantic problem because the issue arises from the meaning of the words when translated, not from the sound (phonetic), structure (syntax), or rules (grammar) of the language. The advertisement's wording unintentionally suggests a different meaning than intended.

Question 3

English-speakers tend to think of the future as being "ahead" of them and the past "behind" them, while speakers of the South American language Aymara see the past as being "ahead" of them. A finding, such as this, lends support to the

Accepted Answer

The linguistic relativity hypothesis suggests that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview or cognition. The example of English speakers and Aymara speakers having different spatial metaphors for time supports this hypothesis, as it shows how language influences thought processes regarding the concept of time.

Question 4

In a study of how language affects one's thoughts, individuals who spoke different languages were asked to arrange a set of cards that depicted a series of events, such as a meal being cooked and eaten. Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the findings of this study?

Accepted Answer

The false statement is that all subjects, regardless of the language they spoke, arranged the cards from left to right. This is incorrect because the study found variations in how subjects arranged the cards based on their native language's reading direction or spatial orientation, demonstrating the influence of language on thought processes, which contradicts the claim made in option C.

Question 5

Regarding the study of words and language, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The study of the meaning of words and language is known as semantics, not grammar. Grammar refers to the set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.

Question 6

You are asked to circle the word that does not belong in the series: skyscraper , cathedral, temple, prayer. Another student is asked to circle the word that does not belong in the series: cathedral, prayer, temple, skyscraper . If you circled "prayer" and the other student circled "skyscraper," the difference in your answers would be due to

Accepted Answer

The difference in answers is due to context. "Prayer" and "skyscraper" are different from the other words in each series based on their context; "prayer" is not a type of building, while "skyscraper," "cathedral," and "temple" are. The context in which the words are understood changes which word does not belong.

Question 7

When given a set of cards depicting a series of events, speakers of Hebrew arrange the cards in a(n)__________ sequence.

Accepted Answer

Speakers of Hebrew, a language that is written and read from right to left, tend to arrange cards depicting a series of events in a right-to-left sequence. This reflects the influence of reading and writing direction on non-linguistic cognitive processes.

Question 8

An Acapulco, Mexico, hotel attempted to reassure tourists that its water is safe to drink by posting a sign reading, "The Manager Has Personally Passed All the Water Served Here." This sign illustrates how translating languages can cause __________ problems.

Accepted Answer

The sign illustrates semantic problems because the phrase "The Manager Has Personally Passed All the Water Served Here" can be misinterpreted to mean something unintended due to the nuances of language translation. In this context, "passed" was likely intended to mean "approved," but it can also be understood as "passed through the body," which would be an inappropriate and off-putting meaning for readers. Semantic problems involve issues with meaning, not with the structure or sound of the language.

Question 9

A father and his young son walk by a store and see a big sign in the store window advertising a "Fire Sale" next Tuesday. Although the father knows this means that the store will be selling their goods at greatly reduced prices, his son wonders why anyone would sell "fire." This difference in their reactions is due to

Accepted Answer

The difference in their reactions is due to semantics, which refers to the meanings of words and phrases in a particular language. The father understands the idiomatic meaning of "Fire Sale," while the son interprets it literally.

Question 10

When given a set of cards depicting a series of events, speakers of Kuuk Thaayorre, the language of the Cape York Australian aboriginals, arranged the cards in a(n)__________ sequence.

Accepted Answer

Kuuk Thaayorre speakers, who use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) instead of relative directions (left, right, etc.), arranged the cards in an east-to-west sequence, reflecting their language's orientation to absolute cardinal directions.

Question 11

A mother and her four-year-old daughter hear the grandmother refer to the weather outside as "it's raining cats and dogs." The mother tends to get one meaning from this phrase, while her daughter is hoping for a lot of new pets. In understanding the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs," the mother and daughter are experiencing a difference in

Accepted Answer

The difference lies in semantics, which refers to the meaning of words and phrases. The mother understands the idiomatic meaning (heavy rain), while the daughter interprets it literally (animals falling from the sky).

Question 12

The study of meanings in words and language is called

Accepted Answer

Semantics is the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning. It specifically focuses on the meanings of words and language, including how meaning is constructed, interpreted, and understood.

Question 13

When given a set of cards depicting a series of events, English speakers arranged the cards from left to right, speakers of Hebrew usually arranged the cards from right to left, and speakers of Kuuk Thaayorre, the language of the Cape York Australian aboriginals, used a temporal sequence from east to west in arranging the cards. These findings lend support to the

Accepted Answer

The findings support the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which suggests that the structure of a language affects its speakers' worldview or cognition. In this case, the directionality of reading in a language (left to right for English, right to left for Hebrew) and the cultural orientation towards cardinal directions (east to west for Kuuk Thaayorre speakers) influence how speakers of different languages perceive and organize temporal sequences.

Question 14

Regarding language, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The context of a word within a sentence often significantly affects the word's meaning, making statement A false. Context can change how a word is interpreted, adding nuances or entirely different meanings depending on how it's used.

Question 15

The ability to speak two languages is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Bilingualism is the term used to describe the ability to speak two languages fluently.

Question 16

If you translated "Pepsi is for the younger generation" into Spanish and the translation reads "Pepsi reverses aging," you have a problem with

Accepted Answer

The issue lies in semantics, which deals with the meaning of words and sentences. The translation inaccurately conveys the original message's meaning, suggesting a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the intended meaning.

Question 17

Studies have found that students who learn to speak two languages will have

Accepted Answer

Bilingualism has been associated with improved cognitive abilities, including better control of attention and enhanced problem-solving skills, due to the mental exercise of managing two languages.

Question 18

The word shot means different things when we are thinking of marksmanship, bartending, medicine, photography, or golf, which illustrates that words get much of their meaning from

Accepted Answer

Words derive their specific meanings from the context in which they are used, as the same word can have different meanings in different situations.

Question 19

When minority children are placed in English-only classrooms, they usually end up losing some proficiency in their native language and are at risk for being less than fully competent in both languages, a problem known as

Accepted Answer

Subtractive bilingualism occurs when a second language is learned at the expense of the first language. This often happens when minority children are placed in English-only classrooms, leading to a decrease in proficiency in their native language while also struggling to fully master the new language.

Question 20

People have been shown to give different responses to surveys if the word "banned" is used in a question than if "not allowed" is used. The difference is primarily a matter of

Accepted Answer

The difference between "banned" and "not allowed" is a matter of semantics, which refers to the meanings of words and phrases. While both phrases convey a prohibition, the connotations and nuances of the words can influence people's responses differently.

Quiz 8: Cognition, Language, and Creativity