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






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






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






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






6. The meaning derived from flouting






7. The meaning of a sign






8. The situation in which a sentence is uttered






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






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






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






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






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






14. Affix before the root






15. Morphemes that can appear alone (cat)






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






17. The principle of cooperation that requires you be as informative as required but not more than that






18. The science that studies language






19. The situation in which a sentence is uttered






20. Actually saying a word - what you can do






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






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






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






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






25. The overall meaning of a text






26. Meaning components






27. The vocabulary of a speaker/language






28. The word that connects the meaning and the referent






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






30. A new word






31. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






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






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






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






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






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






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






38. Affixes - need to attach to another morpheme






39. Affix in the middle of a word






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






41. One who knows many languages






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






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






44. Having more than one meaning (polysemy)






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






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






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






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






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






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