Test your basic knowledge |

Linguistics Basics

Subject : humanities
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






2. What we say in a literal sense (speech act)






3. Deals with how sentences are formed






4. The overall meaning of a text






5. A transformation in which you shift the object of a sentence (Mary gave a book to John --> Mary gave John a book)






6. A transformation in which you shift the object of a sentence (Mary gave a book to John --> Mary gave John a book)






7. Change the meaning of a word - or part of speech (ex. child -> childhood)






8. All aspects of meaning that go beyond the sense of the word - or the literal meaning






9. 1. Vowels (no obstruction) 2. Stops (complete obstruction) 3. Fricatives (Partial occlusion)






10. A transformation in which you change the voice of the sentence (Mary stoop up John --> John was stood up by Mary)






11. The meaning of a sign






12. All aspects of meaning that go beyond the sense of the word - or the literal meaning






13. Shortening a longer word (phone - auto) to create new words






14. The vocabulary of a speaker/language






15. When a public body decides which language will be taught in schools - what languages public employees must know - etc






16. Meanings of the same word that are unrelated (bank)






17. A black and white - right and wrong approach to language - traditional - seeks to impose outside arbitrary rules






18. When a public body decides which language will be taught in schools - what languages public employees must know - etc






19. The word that connects the meaning and the referent






20. Words that depend on the context of a sentence for meaning (I - here - now)






21. The ability to produce language - what you know






22. Aspects of meaning having to do with feelings or attitudes of speakers (liberal - terrorist)






23. What can be deduced from the sentence's literal meaning






24. The fact that saying something commits you to it (vow - promise - swearing) (speech act)






25. Deals with how sounds are put together to form words






26. Provides information about the group to which individuals belong






27. One who knows many languages






28. What can be deduced from the sentence's literal meaning






29. A new word






30. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






31. Aspects of meaning concerning other meanings of an expression that may be activated when irrelevant (cock)






32. Using a word from another language to create a new word (cafe - deja-vu)






33. Parts of a word are translated from other languages to create a new word (Fernsprecher)






34. The fact that saying something commits you to it (vow - promise - swearing) (speech act)






35. How sentences and texts are used in the world(context)






36. The ability to produce language - what you know






37. Two linked turns by different speakers which make sense only taken together (How are you? Fine. How about you?)






38. Aspects of meaning having to do with the linguistic environment in which the expression occurs (cease and desist)






39. 1. Quality or timbre 2. Volume 3. Length 4. Pitch or tone






40. The Principle of cooperation that states that one does not say what is false or what you lack evidence for






41. Moving parts of a sentence into different positions for emphatic purposes






42. 1. Airstream 2. Phonation 3. Nasalization 4. Articulation






43. Invent new words from scratch (Xerox - Kleenex)






44. How sentences and texts are used in the world(context)






45. The property of the surface structure of the text to 'hold together'






46. Affix in the middle of a word






47. Deals with the meaning of words - sentences - and texts






48. The word that connects the meaning and the referent






49. Aspects of meaning having to do with different levels of formality






50. Deals with how sounds are put together to form words