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






2. The vocabulary of a speaker/language






3. The sequence of sounds that make up a word






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






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






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






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






8. A new word






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






10. Meaning components






11. A sentence in context






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






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






14. Meaning components






15. The meaning derived from flouting






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






17. A new word






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






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






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






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






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






23. The principle of cooperation that requires relevance






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






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






26. The science that studies language






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. Morphemes that can appear alone (cat)






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






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






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






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






38. An utterance produced by a speaker






39. The science that studies language






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






41. Deals with how sentences are formed






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






43. The rise and fall of sentences






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






45. Actually saying a word - what you can do






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






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






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






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






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