Danish & The Languages Of The World

12 Questions | Attempts: 119
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Danish & The Languages Of The World - Quiz

A brief revision of our first classes


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 
    What is linguistic relativity?
    • A. 

      The idea that all languages are linguistically related

    • B. 

      The idea that our language defines the way we think

    • C. 

      The idea that the way we think is independent of our language

  • 2. 
    If a language has only 3 basic colour terms, these are likely to be: red, blue and yellow. This statement is
    • A. 

      A linguistic universal

    • B. 

      Not true

    • C. 

      A fact based on the neurophysiology of colour

  • 3. 
    In connection with mixed languages, the term SUBSTRATUM sometimes appears. This means
    • A. 

      The language which results from language contact

    • B. 

      A language from which vocabulary is taken

    • C. 

      A language which serves as a structural basis for the mixed language

  • 4. 
    When a mixed language develops a grammar and is acquired by children as their mother tongue, we call it a _________ language
  • 5. 
    If I am a Watam-speaking boy, I call my sister and female cousin by the name mbi. I call my older brother yakai and my younger brother yap. If I am a Watam-speaking girl, I call my brother and male cousin by the name ondan. I call my older sister yakai and my younger sister yap. What is the correct description of this system in comparison to Danish?
    • A. 

      The distinctive features of this system are referent sex (like in Danish) and relative age (unlike in Danish)

    • B. 

      The distinctive features of this system are parallel sex and relative age (unlike in Danish). Referent sex is irrelevant.

    • C. 

      The distinctive features are parallel sex and age (unlike in Danish), relative age for same-sex referents, and sex for cross-sex referents.

    • D. 

      The distictive features of this system are referent sex and generation (like in Danish)

  • 6. 
    What was the first language spoken by mankind?
    • A. 

      Hebrew

    • B. 

      Sanskrit

    • C. 

      Proto-Indo-European

    • D. 

      Unknown

  • 7. 
    When Sanskrit was first studied by European grammarians, this caused great upheaval. Why?
    • A. 

      Finally, the origins of language had been found.

    • B. 

      Europeans were amazed to discover the Classic Indian texts.

    • C. 

      Sanskrit was the missing link enabling linguists to reconstruct a family tree of most European languages.

  • 8. 
    Two languages can be said to be related if:
    • A. 

      They have many words on the Swadesh list in common

    • B. 

      They share typological features like word order, agglutination or vowel harmony

    • C. 

      They have many cognate forms

  • 9. 
    Choose the feature MOST likely to be borrowed from one language into another
    • A. 

      Vocabulary relating to a specific subject matter, like medical terminology

    • B. 

      Basic vocabulary

    • C. 

      Typological features like word order

    • D. 

      Bound morphemes

  • 10. 
    Choose the feature LEAST likely to be borrowed from one language into another.
    • A. 

      Vocabulary relating to specific subject matter, like medical vocabulary

    • B. 

      Basic vocabulary

    • C. 

      Typological features like word order

    • D. 

      Bound morphemes

  • 11. 
    When can a language be considered to be threatened?
    • A. 

      When its speakers begin to use English terms in their everyday language

    • B. 

      When none of its speakers are monoligual

    • C. 

      When cross-generational transmitting of the language stops

  • 12. 
    The concept of a 'Universal Grammar' was conceived by Noam Chomsky. His reasons for proposing the existence of the UG were:
    • A. 

      That all languages are so alike that grammar must be innate

    • B. 

      That children learn language so fast they must be born with a special capability

    • C. 

      That the grammar of any language can easily be reduced to a few simple, universal rules

    • D. 

      That only humans are able to speak, and so language must be related to the genetics of the human race.

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