The origin, nature and study of language
1. Language is ...........
- b. mental phenomenon, a body of knowledge about sounds, meanings and syntax which resides in the mind
- Explanation: This definition emphasizes the internalized and cognitive nature of language. Language is not merely the physical act of speaking, but a complex system of rules and knowledge that exists within the human mind.
2. It is through the interactional function of a language that people ...........
- b. communicate knowledge, friendliness and hostility
- Explanation: The interactional function of language focuses on social interaction and relationships. It's how people use language to establish and maintain social connections, express emotions (like friendliness or hostility), and build rapport.
3. The interdisciplinary field which deals with the study of the relations between language and the brain is called ...........
- b. neurolinguistics
- Explanation: Neurolinguistics investigates how the brain processes and uses language. It explores areas like brain localization for language functions, the effects of brain damage on language, and the neurological basis of language acquisition.
4. Semantics, sociolinguistics, etc. have provided the intellectual climate for a more social or functional and a less abstract or .......... view of language.
- c. idealized
- Explanation: These fields have shifted the focus from abstract, idealized models of language to more realistic and socially grounded perspectives.
5. The notion that language is rule-governed helps us to comprehend that ...........
- b. people can produce endless number of sentences during their lives
- Explanation: The rule-governed nature of language allows for the creative generation of an infinite number of sentences. This is achieved through the combination of a finite set of rules and linguistic elements.
6. In its most general sense, ".........." refers to anything in the world in relation to which language is used.
- b. extralinguistics
- Explanation: Extralinguistics encompasses all factors outside of language itself that influence its use and interpretation. This includes social context, cultural norms, and individual beliefs and experiences.
7. Human beings must know some finite set of principles or rules which produce the infinite number of ...........
- c. sentences in their languages
- Explanation: This is the core idea of generative grammar. A finite set of rules can be used to generate an infinite number of grammatically correct sentences in a language.
8. If you want to speak or write proper Farsi, you have to follow the best writers in the language. This property is attributed to .......... grammarians.
- b. traditionalist
- Explanation: Traditional grammarians emphasized prescriptive rules and often looked to literary models as the standard for correct language use.
9. Which one of the following binary distinctions is NOT Saussurean in nature?
- a. Competence vs. performance
- Explanation: The distinction between competence (internalized knowledge) and performance (actual language use) was introduced by Noam Chomsky, not Ferdinand de Saussure.
10. Any approach which attempts to lay down rules of correctness as to how language should be used is called ..........
- c. prescriptive
- Explanation: Prescriptive grammar focuses on rules that dictate how language should be used, often based on traditional or socially approved standards.
11. Ferdinand de Saussure recognized two sides to the study of meaning, but emphasized that the relationship is arbitrary; the sound image, ···········, and the concept, ···········.
- a. signifiant / signifie
- Explanation: Saussure's concept of the sign divides it into the signifier (the sound image or form) and the signified (the concept or meaning).
12. Studies that follow the progress of a set of variables over time in the same set of cases are known as ··········· studies.
- b. longitudinal
- Explanation: Longitudinal studies track the same individuals or groups over an extended period, allowing researchers to observe changes and development over time.
13. In statistical linguistics, ……….
- c. samples are collected from texts with different styles
- Explanation: Statistical linguistics analyzes language data using statistical methods. This often involves collecting large samples of text from various sources to identify patterns and trends.
14. 'Language was seen as a dynamic structure with all social, historical or personal consideration.' This is a view developed by ..........
- c. Post Structuralists
- Explanation: Post-structuralists emphasized the dynamic and socially situated nature of language, recognizing the influence of social, historical, and personal factors on language use.
15. When a number of distinct languages can be traced back to a common source, they are said to belong to the same ·········.
- c. language family
- Explanation: A language family is a group of languages that have evolved from a common ancestor.
16. Comparing and contrasting parts of language in isolation is technically asserted to be the concern of .......... .
- c. microlinguistics
- Explanation: Microlinguistics focuses on the smaller units of language, such as phonemes, morphemes, and syntax, often studied in isolation from larger contexts.
17. The existence of onomatopoeic words supports the origin of human speech based on ...........
- a. natural sounds
- Explanation: Onomatopoeic words (like "buzz" or "meow") imitate natural sounds, suggesting that sounds from the environment may have played a role in the development of human speech.
18. The interdisciplinary field which deals with the study of relationships between language and the brain is called ..........
- b. neurolinguistics
- Explanation: As explained earlier, neurolinguistics investigates the neurological underpinnings of language.
19. What are the earliest grammatical morphemes acquired in English?
- c. inflectional suffixes
- Explanation: Children typically acquire inflectional suffixes (like -ing, -ed, -s) relatively early in language development.
20. The Alexandrians of the third and second centuries were interested in ..........
- c. the meaning of linguistic utterances as well as their form
- Explanation: The Alexandrians were scholars who focused on the study of language, including both its form (grammar) and its meaning (semantics).
21. Linguistic competence is the term used to explain the ..........
- c. speaker’s intuitive knowledge of the grammar of the language
- Explanation: Linguistic competence refers to the internalized knowledge of the rules of a language that enables a speaker to produce and understand an infinite number of sentences.
22. The systematic pattering underlying individual utterances which makes it possible for one person to understand or be understood by another is called ..........
- b. langue
- Explanation: In Saussurean terms, "langue" refers to the underlying system of language shared by a community, which makes communication possible.
23. The .......... approach breaks the global language into an inventory of grammatical structures, presented progressively and a limited number of lexical items.
- b. synthetic
- Explanation: The synthetic approach to language teaching focuses on building language from smaller components to larger structures.
24. One of famous dichotomies proposed by Saussure is the difference he makes between ......
- a. langue and parole
- Explanation: As mentioned earlier, Saussure distinguished between "langue" (the abstract system) and "parole" (the actual use of language).
25. Linguistic studies that follow the progress of a set of variables over time in the same set of children are known as ............ studies.
- c. longitudinal
- Explanation: Longitudinal studies track the same children over time to observe their language development.
26. Some languages are more useful or prestigious than others, at a given period of history, but this is due to the preeminence of the speakers at that time, and not to any inherent linguistic characteristics. Thus, languages should ....... .. .
- a. not be valued on the basis of the influence of their speakers
- Explanation: Language should be valued for its own merits, not based on the social or political power of its speakers.
27. A synchronic description of a language describes the language ........ .
- b. as it is constructed by native-speakers
- Explanation: Synchronic linguistics studies language at a particular point in time, as it exists for native speakers at that moment.
28. The two halves or hemispheres of the brain exercise ………. control of the body. That is, the left and right hemispheres control their opposite sides of the body.
- d. contralateral
- Explanation: Contralateral control means that each hemisphere of the brain primarily controls the opposite side of the body.
29. If certain rules can be described to be relevant to all languages, one can speak of ……….
- d. relative universal parameters
- Explanation: Linguistic universals refer to features that are shared by all or most human languages.
30. Linguistic forms are described as arbitrary because there is generally ……….
- a. no natural connection between the form and its meaning
- Explanation: The relationship between the sound of a word and its meaning is arbitrary. There is no inherent
31. By means of the .......... function of language, humans use their linguistic abilities to communicate knowledge.
- d. transactional
- Explanation: The transactional function of language focuses on the exchange of information and the conveying of factual content.
32. The "bow-wow" theory is related to the .......... view of origins of language.
- b. onomatopoeic
- Explanation: The "bow-wow" theory suggests that language originated from imitations of natural sounds.
33. That all languages have some words with pronunciations which seem to echo naturally occurring sounds supports the .......... theory.
- c. bow-wow
- Explanation: The existence of onomatopoeic words provides some evidence for the "bow-wow" theory, which posits that language developed from imitations of natural sounds.
34. What people say in a language is called .......... and it varies from individual to individual.
- b. parole
- Explanation: "Parole" refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations, which varies from person to person and includes individual speech habits and styles.
35. The production of utterances in actual situations is called ...........
- b. performance
- Explanation: Linguistic performance refers to the actual use of language in real-world situations, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
36. Those who stressed the existence of regularity in language were known as ...........
- b. analogists
- Explanation: Analogists believed that language learning primarily involves the use of analogy and the identification of patterns.
37. A language which is used for communication between different people , each speaking a different language is referred to as ...........
- b. lingua franca
- Explanation: A lingua franca is a language used for communication between people who speak different native languages.
38. The unconscious knowledge about sounds, meanings, and syntax possessed by the native speakers of a language is called ...........
- a. linguistic competence
- Explanation: Linguistic competence refers to the internalized knowledge of the grammar of a language that allows speakers to produce and understand an infinite number of sentences.
39. Languages that are believed to have developed from a single language, because of similarities in vocabulary, sounds and grammar are said to belong to the same ...........
- a. language family
- Explanation: Languages that share a common ancestor belong to the same language family.
40. The basis for linguistic theory is provided by ...........
- a. structural descriptions
- Explanation: Linguistic theory is built upon the analysis and description of the underlying structures of language.
41. According to the .......... theory of language origin, language started with grunts, groans and cries of pleasure.
- c. pooh-pooh
- Explanation: The "pooh-pooh" theory suggests that language originated from instinctive emotional expressions like cries of pain or pleasure.
42. The "oral gesture" theory of language origin holds that there is a close link between words in a human language and ...........
- b. movements of physical organs of physical organs
- Explanation: The "oral-gesture" theory proposes that language developed from gestures and movements of the mouth and other body parts.
43. The greatest shortcoming of computers in processing linguistic messages is not having access to ...........
- c. knowledge of the world
- Explanation: Computers lack the real-world knowledge and common sense that humans possess, which is crucial for understanding and interpreting language in context.
44. According to the .......... theory, the sounds of a person involved in physical effort could be the source of human language.
- b. yo-heave-ho
- Explanation: The "yo-heave-ho" theory suggests that language originated from sounds produced during physical exertion.
45. The type of grammar involving "linguistic etiquette" seems to be of most interest to ...........
- d. sociolinguists
- Explanation: Sociolinguists study how language use varies in different social contexts, including the appropriate use of language in different social situations.
46. The Alexandrines of the third and second centuries B. c. were interested in ...........
- c. the meaning of linguistic utterances as well as their form
- Explanation: As mentioned earlier, the Alexandrians were interested in both the form and meaning of language.
47. The science of making machines do things that would require mental ability if done by men is called ...........
- d. artificial intelligence
- Explanation: Artificial intelligence (AI) aims to create machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and 1 understanding language.
48. Modern attempts to create speech electronically are generally describe as ...........
- b. speech synthesis
- Explanation: Speech synthesis is the process of generating human-like speech electronically.
49. One of the short-comings of the field of artificial intelligence is that computers ...........
- a. work from a static store of background knowledge
- Explanation: Computers often struggle to adapt to new situations and incorporate new information into their knowledge base.
50. Which of the following sentences is true?
- a. Linguistics is considered a science primarily because of its method of study.
- Explanation: Linguistics employs scientific methods like observation, data collection, and analysis to study language.
51. The main purpose of the study of language in Chomsky's view is to ...........
- a. find how human language and mind interact
- Explanation: Chomsky emphasized the relationship between language and the human mind, exploring how humans are able to acquire and use language.
52. One of the reasons why linguists prefer to study the spoken language rather than the written language is the .......... of the spoken language.
- c. spontaneity
- Explanation: Spoken language is more spontaneous and reflects natural language use more accurately than written language, which is often more carefully planned and edited.
53. The relationship between language and the mind is of interest to ...........
- b. psycholinguists
- Explanation: Psycholinguistics investigates the mental processes involved in language use, including how language is acquired, processed, and understood.
54. .......... is mainly concerned with the study of physiological aspects of language, principally with regards to the areas in the brain in which the language functions are located.
- b. Neurolinguistics
- Explanation: Neurolinguistics focuses on the neurological basis of language, including brain areas involved in language processing and the effects of brain damage on language.
55. "Study of the language people use in the real world" is the definition of ...........
- c. sociolinguistics
- Explanation: Sociolinguistics examines how language is used in social contexts, including factors like social class, gender, ethnicity, and culture.
56. According to .........., grammar is rules that govern the use of language in social situations.
- d. sociologists
- Explanation: Sociologists are interested in how language use reflects and shapes social relationships and interactions.
57. The possession of two languages to a native degree of competence in each is called ...........
- c. bilingualism
- Explanation: Bilingualism refers to the ability to speak two languages fluently and accurately.
58. Those who stressed the regularity in language were known as .......... while those who emphasized the presence of irregularity were called ...........
- b. analogists/anomalists
- Explanation: Analogists focused on patterns and regularities in language, while anomalists emphasized the exceptions and irregularities.
59. The use of plural forms such as men, sheep and children in English supports ...........
- b. analogists
- Explanation: These irregular plural forms challenge the idea of complete regularity in language, supporting the perspective of the anomalists.
60. The philosopher uses linguistic insights to find out the relationship between language and ...........
- c. thought
- Explanation: Philosophers often explore the relationship between language and thought, investigating how language shapes and influences our thinking and understanding of the world.
61. Leonard Bloomfield was one of the leaders in ...........
- d. descriptive linguistics
- Explanation: Leonard Bloomfield was a prominent figure in American structuralism and descriptive linguistics.
62. There are .......... views on the nature of human languages: ...........
- a. two/structural and functional
- Explanation: Two major perspectives on language are the structuralist view, which focuses on the formal structures of language, and the functionalist view, which emphasizes the social and communicative functions of language.
63. The .......... view of language claims that language is a vehicle for the realization of interpersonal relations and for the performance of social transactions between individuals.
- c. functional
- Explanation: The functionalist view emphasizes the social and communicative functions of language, highlighting its role in social interaction and human relationships.
64. It was believed by .......... that all human languages share a core of linguistic universals.
- b. modistae and rationalist philosophers of 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries
- Explanation: The idea of linguistic universals, the shared features of all human languages, was explored by scholars like the Modistae (medieval grammarians) and later by rationalist philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries.
65. Language is ...........
- b. a complete, abstract and productive system which links meaning with sounds
- Explanation: This definition captures the essence of language as a complex system that allows humans to create and understand an infinite number of meaningful utterances.
66. Which of the following is NOT among the basic tenets of structural linguists?
- d. Language is what people say.
- Explanation: Structural linguists focused on the underlying structures of language, emphasizing the importance of observable speech data.
**67. Which of the following statements cannot be considered as a universal of language? **
- c. Different grammatical categories are found in different languages.
- Explanation: While languages may differ in the specific grammatical categories they employ, all languages have some way of expressing grammatical concepts like tense, number, and person.
68. According to the Divine Source, ………. .
- b. a supernatural force enables humans to learn and use language
- Explanation: The Divine Source theory proposes that language was given to humans by a divine power.
69. Humans are born with the physiological adaptation to speak a language; that is . . . . . . . .
- c. certain physical aspects provide their speech capacity
- Explanation: Humans possess the physical and neurological structures necessary for speech production, such as vocal cords, tongue, and brain areas dedicated to language.
70. Humans indicate friendliness, cooperation, hostility, etc. through the ………. function of language, whereas, they communicate knowledge and information by means of the ………. function of language.
- c. interactional, transactional
- Explanation: The interactional function focuses on social interaction and relationships, while the transactional function emphasizes the exchange of information and knowledge.
71. Which one of the following sentences is NOT correct?
- c. The study of the written form of language provides more information for the linguists than the study of the spoken form.
- Explanation: While written language can provide valuable insights, spoken language is generally considered to be a more direct reflection of the underlying linguistic system.