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. Describes how language words today or at any given moment in time - not concerned with origin/history






2. Multiword units - the meaning of which is not the sum of its parts






3. A sentence in context






4. Figurative use of meaning (Bob is a pig)






5. A transformation in which you add an auxiliary verb and switching to question format






6. Used by linguists to represent sounds in the languages of the world






7. Noam Chomsky's idea that the principles that govern grammar are genetically programmed in human beings






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






9. The meaning derived from flouting






10. One who knows many languages






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






12. Adding derivational morphemes to create new words (to fax)






13. Affix in the middle of a word






14. A transformation in which you add an auxiliary verb and switching to question format






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






16. Noam Chomsky's idea that the principles that govern grammar are genetically programmed in human beings






17. Associations that an individual/small group may develop through everyday experiences (inside joke)






18. Using the initial letters of a set of words (NFL - NASA)






19. A transformation in which you add a negation word to the sentence






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






21. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






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






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






24. A single sound. K - d - t - e






25. Multiword units - the meaning of which is not the sum of its parts






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






27. The science that studies language






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






29. Actually saying a word - what you can do






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






31. An utterance produced by a speaker






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






33. The connection between shape and meaning is arbitrary






34. Historical - shows how language has changed through time - traces the etymology of words






35. Provides information about the group to which individuals belong






36. Two words of different meanings that differ in only one phoneme (bit and pit - dog and dock)






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






38. Provides information about the group to which individuals belong






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






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






41. Shift in meaning (drink a glass of water)






42. Affix before the root






43. Occurs when words have been disambigued and a sentence has a clear meaning






44. The rise and fall of sentences






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






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






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






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






49. Deals with how the sounds are organized






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