Question 1

A line that marks a boundary in space of common word usage is known as a:
A) threshold.
B) perimeter.
C) dialect.
D) isologloss.
E) frontier.

Accepted Answer

A line that marks a boundary in space of common word usage is referred to as an isogloss. Isoglosses are lines on a map that mark the boundaries between one region's dialect and another's.

Question 2

All Americans who communicate in English speak with an accent.

Accepted Answer

No matter where you are from in the United States, everyone has their own unique accent and way of speaking English. Therefore, all Americans speak with some form of an accent.

Question 3

In the United States today, dialects of English have largely disappeared because of television and movies.

Accepted Answer

While it is true that television and movies can influence language use, dialects of English still exist and are present in various regions throughout the United States.

Question 4

The hearth of Indo-European languages is in northern Europe.

Accepted Answer

The exact location of the Indo-European language's origin is still a matter of discussion among linguists, but it is generally believed to have originated in the Pontic-Caspian steppe region, which is located in present-day Ukraine and Russia.

Question 5

An isogloss is a line that marks a boundary of word usage.

Accepted Answer

An isogloss is a linguistic term for a line on a map marking the boundary of an area in which a particular linguistic feature predominates, such as the pronunciation of a vowel, the meaning of a word, or the use of a particular grammatical construction. Thus, an isogloss is a line that marks a boundary of word usage.

Question 6

A dialect is a variety of a language with a distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A dialect is a variation of a language that differs in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, while still being recognizable as the same language. Different regions or communities may develop their own dialects, which reflect their unique history and cultural influences.

Question 7

Many African countries along with India and Pakistan have linguistic diversity index scores of over .75. This means that:
A) there is a high likelihood that two randomly selected residents could not speak to each other.
B) more than 75% of the people speak the standard dialect.
C) creolization has occurred.
D) there are relatively few languages used in the country.
E) more than one language family is present in the country.

Accepted Answer

A linguistic diversity index score of over .75 indicates that there is a high likelihood that two randomly selected residents could not speak to each other, meaning there is a high degree of linguistic diversity in the country.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a form of language?
A) spoken language
B) body language
C) language family
D) sign language
E) tactile language

Accepted Answer

A language family is not a form of language. It refers to a group of languages that have evolved from a common ancestor or proto-language. Examples of language families include Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, and Afroasiatic.

Question 9

A language that is no longer taught to children, either in the home or in school, is:
A) a lingua franca
B) an endangered language.
C) an extinct language.
D) a pidgin language.
E) a creole language.

Accepted Answer

An endangered language is defined as a language with very few remaining speakers and is at risk of becoming extinct. If children are no longer being taught the language in the home or in school, it means that the language is not being passed down to the next generation, which puts it at risk of being lost.

Question 10

Currently, a majority of the 6000 languages used in the world have less than 10,000 native speakers.

Accepted Answer

According to UNESCO, around 3,000 languages (approximately half of the world's languages) have fewer than 10,000 speakers.

Question 11

You have proposed changing the name of the street on which you live. What is likely to happen?
A) Few will notice, since toponyms frequently change.
B) Groups that identify with the current street name will likely object.
C) Most people don't care about the name of their street.
D) If the proposed name is proper and in standard dialect, it will be approved.
E) New street names have to be introduced gradually.

Accepted Answer

Changing the name of a street can be a contentious issue, especially if the current name has cultural or historical significance to certain groups in the community. These groups may object to the change, and their objections could result in public debate or even legal action.

Question 12

People want to change place names because of the powerful statement the name of a place makes about identity and political power.

Accepted Answer

Place names are often tied to the identity and history of a region, and changing them can be seen as a way to assert a particular political or cultural perspective. For example, renaming streets that were previously named after Confederate leaders in the United States is often seen as a way to challenge the power and legacy of white supremacy. Similarly, changing the names of cities or towns can signal a rejection of the colonial or imperial past, as well as a desire to assert local autonomy and cultural pride.

Question 13

In looking for the origin of a language family, geographers commonly find:
A) that the original language is still used in some remote areas.
B) they must guess at the hearth area since language development happened so long ago.
C) ancient documents explain the development of language families.
D) most language families show limited diffusion because few people migrated in the past.
E) most language families are very spatially compact.

Accepted Answer

Language development happened so long ago that it is difficult to pinpoint the exact hearth area or region where the language family originated. Therefore, geographers often have to make educated guesses based on linguistic and archaeological evidence.

Question 14

African American English and Chicano English are:
A) examples of widely used dialects in the United States.
B) actually separate languages.
C) disappearing in modern society.
D) a variation of the southern dialect.
E) now a part of the standard dialect of English.

Accepted Answer

African American English and Chicano English are both dialects of English that are widely used in the United States by specific communities. These dialects have their own unique grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation patterns.

Question 15

If the United States made English an official language, how would things be different?
A) No change, since English is the official language of the United States
B) No change, since everyone uses English already.
C) Foreign language publications could no longer be sold in the United States.
D) It would affect how people dealt with the government, but not in their homes.
E) It would increase the linguistic diversity in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Making English the official language would primarily impact interactions with government entities, such as in the provision of services and official communications, without mandating language use in private settings or affecting the availability of foreign language publications.

Question 16

While ski, karaoke, hammock, and cruise are considered English words today, they are actually loanwords.

Accepted Answer

Loanwords are words that have been borrowed from another language and incorporated into the vocabulary of another language. Ski, karaoke, hammock, and cruise are all loanwords borrowed from other languages.

Question 17

A dead language is a language that:
A) is not tied to a specific language branch.
B) has only been spoken in large communities.
C) is no longer taught to children by their parents.
D) has no living speakers.
E) has no known dialects.

Accepted Answer

A dead language is a language that no longer has any native or fluent speakers. This means that it is no longer in everyday use and is considered to be "dead."

Question 18

A language that is used to facilitate trade or business between people who speak different languages is a lingua franca.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A lingua franca is a language that is used as a common communication tool between people who have different native languages. It is often used in areas where there is a lot of trade or business taking place among people from different linguistic backgrounds.

Question 19

A standard dialect, such as standard Russian, is an example of an official language.

Accepted Answer

A standard dialect, like standard Russian, is a standardized form of a language used for official communication, but an official language is designated by a country's laws or constitution, and a language can be official without being a standard dialect.

Question 20

The assortment of languages in a particular area is:
A) language association.
B) lingua franca.
C) language assortment.
D) linguistic diffusion.
E) linguistic diversity.

Accepted Answer

Linguistic diversity refers to the variety of languages spoken in a particular area.

Quiz 4: Geographies of Language

A line that marks a boundary in space of common word usage is known as a:

All Americans who communicate in English speak with an accent.

In the United States today, dialects of English have largely disappeared because of television and movies.

The hearth of Indo-European languages is in northern Europe.

An isogloss is a line that marks a boundary of word usage.

A dialect is a variety of a language with a distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Many African countries along with India and Pakistan have linguistic diversity index scores of over .75. This means that:

Which of the following is not a form of language?

A language that is no longer taught to children, either in the home or in school, is:

Currently, a majority of the 6000 languages used in the world have less than 10,000 native speakers.

You have proposed changing the name of the street on which you live. What is likely to happen?

People want to change place names because of the powerful statement the name of a place makes about identity and political power.

In looking for the origin of a language family, geographers commonly find:

African American English and Chicano English are:

If the United States made English an official language, how would things be different?

While ski, karaoke, hammock, and cruise are considered English words today, they are actually loanwords.

A dead language is a language that:

A language that is used to facilitate trade or business between people who speak different languages is a lingua franca.

A standard dialect, such as standard Russian, is an example of an official language.

The assortment of languages in a particular area is: