Chapter 11 Communication: Sharing What We Need To Know

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  • 1/25 Questions

    Being able to communicate about things not present in space or time is called:

    • Displacement
    • Duality
    • Productivity
    • Arbitrariness
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About This Quiz

The questions in this quiz are not of my creation. They are solely used as study material.

Communication Quizzes & Trivia

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  • 2. 

    About how many different languages are spoken in the world today?

    • Millions

    • About 3000

    • Around 150

    • About a dozen main ones with lots of subgroups and dialects

    Correct Answer
    A. About 3000
    Explanation
    There are about 3000 different languages spoken in the world today. This suggests that there is a wide diversity of languages across different regions and cultures. Each language represents a unique form of communication and expression, highlighting the rich linguistic tapestry of our global society.

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  • 3. 

    The individual sounds used in a language are called:

    • Morphemes

    • Phonemes

    • Alleles

    • Letters

    Correct Answer
    A. Phonemes
    Explanation
    Phonemes are the individual sounds used in a language. They are the basic units of sound that distinguish one word from another. Morphemes, on the other hand, are the smallest meaningful units of language, such as prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Alleles are variations of a gene, and letters are symbols used to represent sounds in written language. Therefore, the correct answer is phonemes.

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  • 4. 

    Chimpanzees and other apes have brains complex enough to learn the rudiments of human language because:

    • They lead complex lives requiring such brains

    • They are closely related to humans

    • They are clearly on the way to eventually evolving into humanlike species

    • They use complex communication in the wild only it hasn't been observed

    Correct Answer
    A. They lead complex lives requiring such brains
    Explanation
    Chimpanzees and other apes have complex brains because they lead complex lives. This means that their environments and social structures are intricate, and they need to navigate and understand these complexities in order to survive. Having complex brains allows them to learn and adapt to their surroundings, which includes learning the rudiments of human language. This explanation suggests that their brain complexity is a result of their need to cope with the demands of their complex lives.

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  • 5. 

    Words for ____________ are not normally cognates?

    • Body parts

    • Scientific ideas and technologies

    • Numbers

    • Family relationships

    Correct Answer
    A. Scientific ideas and technologies
    Explanation
    Cognates are words that have a common origin and similar meaning in different languages. Body parts, numbers, and family relationships are concepts that are universal and have similar words across different languages. However, scientific ideas and technologies often have unique terms in different languages, as they are constantly evolving and may not have direct equivalents in other languages. Therefore, scientific ideas and technologies are not normally cognates.

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  • 6. 

      The units of meaning in a language are called:

    • Morphemes

    • Phonemes

    • Alleles

    • Letters

    Correct Answer
    A. Morphemes
    Explanation
    The units of meaning in a language are called morphemes. Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units of language, such as words, prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Phonemes refer to the smallest units of sound in a language, alleles are variants of genes, and letters are individual symbols used to represent sounds in written language.

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  • 7. 

     Modern human vocal tracts seem to appear at the time of:

    • Australopithecus

    • Homo erectus

    • Archaic Homo sapiens

    • Anatomically modern Homo sapiens

    Correct Answer
    A. Homo erectus
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Homo erectus. This is because Homo erectus is believed to have had a vocal tract similar to that of modern humans, which would have allowed for the production of complex speech sounds. Australopithecus, archaic Homo sapiens, and anatomically modern Homo sapiens are all believed to have had different vocal tracts that were not as developed as those of Homo erectus.

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  • 8. 

    The words and categories a society uses to organize and talk about important aspects of their world is called:

    • A folk taxonomy

    • Cultural relativity

    • World view

    • Phonemic inventory

    Correct Answer
    A. A folk taxonomy
    Explanation
    A folk taxonomy refers to the words and categories that a society uses to organize and discuss important aspects of their world. It is a way for a society to classify and understand their environment, including plants, animals, and other cultural phenomena. This helps individuals within the society to communicate and make sense of their surroundings. Cultural relativity, world view, and phonemic inventory are not accurate terms to describe this concept.

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  • 9. 

    The "able" in "reasonable" is an example of a:

    • Phoneme

    • Morpheme

    • Prefix

    • Sound unit

    Correct Answer
    A. Morpheme
    Explanation
    In linguistics, a morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit of language. In the word "reasonable," the morpheme "able" is added to the root word "reason" to create the adjective form. Therefore, "able" in "reasonable" is an example of a morpheme.

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  • 10. 

    Which of the following is NOT used as evidence for the investigation of the time of emergence of human language?

    • Endocasts of fossil brains

    • Examination of the cells of ancient brains

    • Reconstruction of vocal apparatus

    • Logical guesses as to when a complex language was required

    Correct Answer
    A. Examination of the cells of ancient brains
    Explanation
    The examination of the cells of ancient brains is not used as evidence for the investigation of the time of emergence of human language. This is because cells do not provide direct evidence of language use or development. Instead, other methods such as studying endocasts of fossil brains, which can provide information about brain structure and potential language areas, or reconstructing the vocal apparatus, which can give insights into the physical ability for speech, are used to investigate the emergence of human language. Additionally, logical guesses as to when a complex language was required can also be used as evidence in this investigation.

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  • 11. 

    Human language seems to be best described as:

    • Entirely a cultural phenomenon

    • Largely biologically based

    • An interaction between biological potential and cultural input

    • A built-in instinctive set of responses set off by particular environmental stimuli

    Correct Answer
    A. An interaction between biological potential and cultural input
    Explanation
    Human language is best described as an interaction between biological potential and cultural input because it is influenced by both our innate biological abilities and the cultural environment in which we are raised. While humans have a natural capacity for language, the specific languages we learn and the way we use them are shaped by the cultural context in which we grow up. This interaction between biology and culture allows for the development and evolution of diverse languages and communication systems.

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  • 12. 

    The one feature shared by human language and the communication system of the bees is:

    • Displacement

    • Duality

    • Productivity

    • Arbitrariness

    Correct Answer
    A. Displacement
    Explanation
    Displacement refers to the ability to communicate about things that are not present in the immediate environment or time. Both human language and the communication system of bees possess this feature. Humans can talk about past or future events, as well as things that are not physically present. Similarly, bees can communicate the location of food sources that are far away from their current location. Therefore, displacement is the shared feature between human language and the communication system of bees.

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  • 13. 

    The fact that human language is made up of sounds that are combined into many units of meaning is called:

    • Displacement

    • Duality

    • Productivity

    • Arbitrariness

    Correct Answer
    A. Duality
    Explanation
    Duality refers to the property of human language where sounds are combined into units of meaning. This means that language has a dual nature, with both a sound component and a meaning component. This allows humans to express a wide range of ideas and concepts by combining different sounds in different ways.

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  • 14. 

    Vocal tract reconstructions show that the tract of the australopithecines was like that of:

    • Apes

    • Homo erectus

    • Modern human children

    • Modern human adults

    Correct Answer
    A. Apes
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "apes" because vocal tract reconstructions have indicated that the vocal tract of australopithecines was similar to that of apes. This suggests that their vocal capabilities were more similar to apes rather than modern humans or Homo erectus.

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  • 15. 

    The communication of chimpanzees is non-referential except with regard to:          

    • Sources of food

    • Sources of danger

    • Emotional states

    • Information dealing with sexual activity and reproduction

    Correct Answer
    A. Sources of danger
    Explanation
    Chimpanzees communicate non-referentially, meaning that their communication does not involve referring to specific objects or concepts. However, they do show referential communication when it comes to sources of danger. This means that they are able to communicate to others about potential threats or dangers in their environment. This is an important aspect of their communication as it helps them to warn and protect each other from potential harm.

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  • 16. 

    Cognates are words:

    • That are similar in different languages because of borrowing

    • That are similar in different languages because of coincidence

    • That are similar in different languages because of common descent

    • That differ among languages and so show those languages are not related

    Correct Answer
    A. That are similar in different languages because of common descent
    Explanation
    Cognates are words that are similar in different languages because of common descent. This means that these words share a common origin and have evolved over time in different languages. The similarity in these words can be traced back to a common ancestral language from which they have diverged. This concept is used in historical linguistics to study the relationships between different languages and to reconstruct the history of languages.

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  • 17. 

    The features of a society's language are most directly related to:

    • The natural environment in which they live

    • How far they have progressed evolutionarily

    • Their natural environment and cultural history in interaction

    • The structures of their brains and sense organs

    Correct Answer
    A. Their natural environment and cultural history in interaction
    Explanation
    The features of a society's language are most directly related to their natural environment and cultural history in interaction. This means that the language of a society is influenced by both the natural environment in which they live and their cultural history. The natural environment can shape the vocabulary and grammar of a language, as well as the ways in which it is used to communicate about the environment. Cultural history, on the other hand, can influence the development of language through the transmission of knowledge, beliefs, and practices from one generation to another. Therefore, the features of a society's language are a result of the interaction between their natural environment and cultural history.

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  • 18. 

    Why do Eskimo languages have so many more specific words for types of snow than does English?

    • They have more scientific knowledge about snow

    • There are more kinds of snow in the Arctic

    • Snow is more important to them

    • They have slightly a different visual perception of their world

    Correct Answer
    A. Snow is more important to them
    Explanation
    Eskimo languages have more specific words for types of snow because snow is more important to them. This could be due to their environment and lifestyle, where snow plays a significant role in their daily activities such as hunting, transportation, and survival. Having a wider range of words allows them to accurately describe and communicate the different characteristics and qualities of snow, which is crucial for their way of life.

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  • 19. 

    The fact that human language can generate a virtually infinite number of combinations of units of meaning is called:

    • Displacement

    • Duality

    • Productivity

    • Arbitrariness

    Correct Answer
    A. Productivity
    Explanation
    Productivity refers to the ability of human language to generate an almost unlimited number of meaningful combinations. Unlike other forms of communication, human language is not limited to a fixed set of signals or meanings. Instead, it allows for the creation of new words, phrases, and sentences, enabling speakers to express an infinite range of ideas and concepts. This flexibility and generative capacity of language is what sets it apart from other communication systems and is a key characteristic of human language.

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  • 20. 

    So far, some substitute for spoken human language has been taught to all but:

    • Chimpanzees

    • Bonobos

    • Baboons

    • Orangutans

    Correct Answer
    A. Baboons
    Explanation
    The given options list different species of primates. The question asks which species has not been taught a substitute for spoken human language. Since the other three species (chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans) have been taught some form of substitute for spoken human language, the correct answer is baboons.

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  • 21. 

    The study of cultural categories and word meanings is called:

    • Folk taxonomy

    • Ethnography

    • Ethnosemantics

    • Descriptive linguistics

    Correct Answer
    A. Ethnosemantics
    Explanation
    Ethnosemantics is the study of cultural categories and word meanings, focusing on how different cultures categorize and interpret the world. It examines how language and culture shape the way people understand and classify objects, events, and ideas. This field of study explores the relationship between language, culture, and cognition, providing insights into how different societies perceive and conceptualize the world around them.

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  • 22. 

    When we say human language is arbitrary we mean:

    • It is actually without much meaning

    • We make up the rules of language as we go along

    • A language has no relationship to the culture that uses it

    • It uses symbolic representations of meanings

    Correct Answer
    A. It uses symbolic representations of meanings
    Explanation
    Human language is considered arbitrary because it uses symbolic representations of meanings. This means that the words and sounds used in a language do not inherently have any connection to the objects or concepts they represent. Instead, the meanings are assigned to these symbols by convention and agreement within a particular language community. This allows for flexibility and creativity in language use, as new words and meanings can be created and understood by speakers.

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  • 23. 

    Which of the following is NOT an established reason for the failure of attempts to teach chimpanzees to speak a human language?

    • Differences in their vocal tracts

    • Differences in their facial muscles

    • Differences in the basic structure of their brains

    • Differences in their tongue muscles

    Correct Answer
    A. Differences in the basic structure of their brains
    Explanation
    Chimpanzees have been unable to learn to speak a human language due to differences in their vocal tracts, facial muscles, and tongue muscles. However, the basic structure of their brains is not an established reason for their failure in language acquisition.

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  • 24. 

    Which of the following language features has been shown to be directly related to the cultural system that uses the language?

    • Phonemes

    • Morphemes

    • Rules of grammar

    • Word meanings and categories

    Correct Answer
    A. Word meanings and categories
    Explanation
    Word meanings and categories have been shown to be directly related to the cultural system that uses the language. Different cultures have different concepts and ways of categorizing the world, and these cultural differences are reflected in the meanings and categories of words in their language. For example, some languages have specific words for concepts that do not exist in other languages, indicating cultural differences in how they perceive and categorize the world. Therefore, word meanings and categories can provide insights into the cultural system of a language.

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  • 25. 

    The communication systems of nonhuman species consist of a finite number of signals for a finite number of specific meanings.  Such systems are said to be:

    • Open

    • Arbitrary

    • Symbolic

    • Closed

    Correct Answer
    A. Closed
    Explanation
    The communication systems of nonhuman species consist of a finite number of signals for a finite number of specific meanings, indicating that their systems are limited and restricted. This suggests that their communication systems are "closed" because they do not have the flexibility or openness to convey new or abstract meanings.

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  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 04, 2011
    Quiz Created by
    Demo_student
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