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






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






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






4. Having more than one meaning (polysemy)






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






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






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






8. Deals with how the sounds are organized






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






10. The science that studies language






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






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






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






14. Aspects of meaning evoked by cultural or literary codes






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






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






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






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






19. The ability to produce language - what you know






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






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






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 sentences are formed






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






25. Mental representation of a word






26. The set of sentences that must be true for the sentence to be true






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






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






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






30. The meaning derived from flouting






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






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






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






34. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






35. A new word






36. The rise and fall of sentences






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






38. Morphemes that can appear alone (cat)






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






40. The vocabulary of a speaker/language






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






42. The meaning of a sign






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






44. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






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






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






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






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






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






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