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






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






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






4. The meaning derived from flouting






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






6. The rise and fall of sentences






7. A new word






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






9. Deals with how sentences are formed






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






11. An utterance produced by a speaker






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






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






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






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






16. Putting two old words together to make a new word (railway)






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






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






19. Having more than one meaning (polysemy)






20. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






21. Actually saying a word - what you can do






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






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






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






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






26. Affixes - need to attach to another morpheme






27. Aspects of meaning evoked by cultural or literary codes






28. The principle of cooperation that states to avoid obscurity and ambiguity - be brief and orderly






29. The sequence of sounds that make up a word






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






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






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






33. Mental representation of a word






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






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






36. The science that studies language






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






38. The science that studies language






39. A word that has died out






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






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






42. The meaning of a sign






43. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






44. Deals with how the sounds are organized






45. Affix before the root






46. The word that connects the meaning and the referent






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






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






49. Combined phonemes - the smallest unit of language with a distinct meaning






50. A word that has died out