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






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






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






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






5. One who knows many languages






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






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






8. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






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






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






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






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






13. An utterance produced by a speaker






14. Mental representation of a word






15. Deals with how sentences are formed






16. The overall meaning of a text






17. Deals with the sounds of a language






18. The meaning derived from flouting






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






20. The meaning of a sign






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. The meaning derived from flouting






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






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






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






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






32. A word that has died out






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






40. A sentence in context






41. The meaning of a sign






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






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






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






45. One who knows many languages






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






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






48. The sequence of sounds that make up a word






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






50. Meaning components







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Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


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