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






2. Affix before the root






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






4. The situation in which a sentence is uttered






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






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






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






8. Having more than one meaning (polysemy)






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






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






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






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






13. The meaning derived from flouting






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






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






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






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






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






19. The sequence of sounds that make up a word






20. Provides information about the group to which individuals belong






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






22. A new word






23. Affixes - need to attach to another morpheme






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






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






26. A sentence in context






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






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






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






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






31. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






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






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






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






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






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






37. The connection between shape and meaning is arbitrary






38. Blending two existing words (motel - brunch)






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






40. Morphemes that can appear alone (cat)






41. The overall meaning of a text






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






43. A sentence in context






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






45. Affix before the root






46. The rise and fall of sentences






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






48. Deals with how the sounds are organized






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






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