Question 1

A structured system of sound patterns (words and sentences) that have socially standardized meanings is termed:

Accepted Answer

Language is a structured system of sound patterns that have socially standardized meanings, encompassing words and sentences.

Question 2

The process by which people transmit information, ideas, attitudes, and emotions to one another is called:

Accepted Answer

Communication is the process through which individuals convey information, ideas, attitudes, and emotions to each other.

Question 3

Proponents of the view that thought shapes language believe that:

Accepted Answer

Proponents of the view that thought shapes language believe that thought can occur independently of language, meaning that thought can happen with or without the presence of language. This contrasts with the linguistic relativity hypothesis, which suggests that language shapes thought.

Question 4

Proponents of the view that language shapes thought believe that:

Accepted Answer

Language and thought are believed to develop together, with language shaping how we think and perceive the world.

Question 5

Grouping perceptions into categories on the basis of certain similarities is called:

Accepted Answer

Conceptualization is the process of grouping perceptions into categories based on certain similarities. This cognitive process helps individuals make sense of their experiences by organizing sensory information into meaningful concepts or categories.

Question 6

The belief that humans are "prewired" by their brain circuitry for language use corresponds to which theory of language acquisition?

Accepted Answer

The nativist theory, associated with linguist Noam Chomsky, posits that humans are born with an innate ability to learn language, suggesting that the capacity for language is "hard-wired" into the brain.

Question 7

The idea that human beings posses an inborn language-generating mechanism, which is called a language acquisition device (LAD), is attributed to:

Accepted Answer

The concept of a language acquisition device (LAD) is attributed to Noam Chomsky. He proposed that humans have an innate ability to learn language, and the LAD is the theoretical mechanism that facilitates this process.

Question 8

According to Chomsky, the world's languages differ in the words they use or __________ structure, but are similar in their basic composition or ___________ structure.

Accepted Answer

Chomsky's theory distinguishes between surface structure, which varies across languages in terms of words and syntax, and deep structure, which refers to the underlying meanings that are universal across languages.

Question 9

__________ is a neurological disorder that appears in "normal" children around age 2 who regress and show marked deficits in communication and social interaction, language impairment, preoccupation with fantasy, and unusual repetitive or excessive behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Autism is characterized by the symptoms described, including regression around age 2, deficits in communication and social interaction, language impairment, and repetitive behaviors.

Question 10

Caregiver speech differs from everyday speech in all the following ways EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Caregiver speech often includes more questions and imperatives to engage the child and stimulate language development, contrary to option C which suggests fewer questions and imperatives. Options A, B, and D are characteristics of caregiver speech, which typically involves simplified vocabulary, a higher pitch, and exaggerated intonation to capture the child's attention and facilitate learning.

Question 11

While her mother is holding her, baby Dianna smiles and coos. Her mother responds by saying in a high-pitched voice, "Hey little smiley. Are you happy? Are you happy? That's my good girl." This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This interaction is an example of caregiver speech, which is characterized by a high-pitched voice and simplified language used by adults when speaking to infants.

Question 12

At 13 months Jose has just begun walking. His father motions toward a ball and says to him, "Go get the blue ball. Yes, the blue ball. See it? Go get the blue ball." This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Parentese, also known as "motherese" or "infant-directed speech," is characterized by a higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation. It is a way parents and caregivers speak to infants and young children to help them learn language. In this scenario, the father's repetitive and simplified way of speaking, emphasizing the object and action, is a classic example of parentese.

Question 13

Natasha walks in the door and exclaims to Bert, "I just won the lottery!" Bert looks up and raises his eyebrows. Bert is responding with:

Accepted Answer

Bert's response involves raising his eyebrows, which is a form of nonverbal communication related to body movements and facial expressions. This falls under the category of kinesics.

Question 14

Body language:

Accepted Answer

Body language involves the use of physical movements and gestures to communicate, often complementing or substituting verbal communication.

Question 15

The stress, pitch, and volume of vocalizations by which we communicate expressive meaning are called:

Accepted Answer

Paralanguage refers to the non-verbal elements of communication used to modify meaning and convey emotion, such as the stress, pitch, and volume of vocalizations.

Question 16

The quality of receiving or taking in messages is termed:

Accepted Answer

Language reception is the term that refers to the quality of receiving or taking in messages, focusing on how individuals understand and interpret language.

Question 17

Kaitlin's mother asks her what she would like to eat for dinner. Kaitlin responds, "Fis." Her mother queries, "Fis?" "No," Kaitlin responds, "fis." Suddenly realizing what her daughter meant, Kaitlin's mother responds, "Oh, fish!" Kaitlin, exasperated, says, "Yeah, fis." This exchange exemplifies that:

Accepted Answer

Kaitlin understands the correct pronunciation of "fish" when her mother says it, indicating her receptive language skills (understanding) are more advanced than her productive language skills (speaking), which is common in young children.

Question 18

Meisha is 6 months old. She has begun making the following utterance: "ma ma ma ma." This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Babbling is a stage in child language acquisition, during which an infant appears to be experimenting with uttering articulate sounds, but does not yet produce any recognizable words. Babbling usually begins at around 4 to 6 months of age. Meisha's repetition of "ma ma ma ma" is a classic example of babbling, where she is playing with sounds but not forming actual words with meaning.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true about deaf infants based on recent research?

Accepted Answer

Recent research indicates that deaf infants, especially those with deaf parents, use hand gestures in a way that mirrors the babbling phase in hearing infants. These gestures serve similar communicative and developmental functions as vocal babbling does for hearing children.

Question 20

Although 8-month-old Ronnie does not yet speak, his mother asks him, "Where is Mommy's nose?" Ronnie responds by pointing to her nose, indicating that he understood her question. This shows that:

Accepted Answer

Ronnie has developed receptive vocabulary, which means he understands words even though he cannot express them verbally yet. This is evident from his ability to correctly identify his mother's nose upon being asked.

Quiz 5: Infancy: Cognitive and Language Development