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






2. Breaking a word down by the way it looks and adding morphemes (workaholic - veggieburger)






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






4. 1. Representations 2. Directives 3. Expressives 4. Commissives 5. Declaratives






5. Deals with the sounds of a language






6. The object which you can see - touch - hear - or smell






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






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






9. Actually saying a word - what you can do






10. An utterance produced by a speaker






11. The science that studies language






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






13. Actually saying a word - what you can do






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






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






16. The overall meaning of a text






17. The rise and fall of sentences






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






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






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






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






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






23. Describing the facts - Tries to determine why people use language the way they do - seeks to find the rules that govern spoken language






24. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






25. Meaning components






26. Core meaning - corresponds to a sign's sense or intension - the literal meaning of a word






27. Aspects of meaning evoked by cultural or literary codes






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






29. One who knows many languages






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






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






32. The word that connects the meaning and the referent






33. Affix after the root






34. A sentence in context






35. The connection between shape and meaning is arbitrary






36. Purposefully violating one of the principles/maxims of cooperation






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






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






39. The science that studies language






40. Provides information about the group to which individuals belong






41. The object which you can see - touch - hear - or smell






42. Affix in the middle of a word






43. A transformation in which you divide the phrasal verb (Mary stood up John --> Mary stoop John up)






44. 1. Representations 2. Directives 3. Expressives 4. Commissives 5. Declaratives






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






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






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






48. Affixes - need to attach to another morpheme






49. The ability to produce language - what you know






50. The effect an utterance has on its audience (speech act)