quiz in linguistics

[soulo2009]

Exercises
1. Fill in the blanks with the most suitable words. Each blank represents ONE word.
1) Language is a system of ________ vocal symbols used for human communication.
2) F. de. Saussure looks at language more from a sociological point of view while Chomsky looks at it more from a ________ point of view.
3) A person who studies linguistics is usually referred to as a ________.
4) So far as function is concerned, language is for ________.
5) Charles Hockett’s term of the distinctive characteristics of language is ________ features.
6) We can produce and understand sentences that we have never heard before. This is meant by the ________ of
language.
7) Linguistics is the ________ study of language.
8) The study of language as a whole is called ________ linguistics.
9) ________ is the branch of linguistics which studies the meaning of language.
10) The description of a language as it changes through time is a ________ study.

2. Indicate the following statements true or false.
1) Any language is governed by some rules.
2) The written form and the spoken form of language came into being at the same time
3) All languages in the world have both spoken and written forms.
4) Animals are able to communicate with their own languages.
5) With the feature of arbitrariness of language, we may come to the conclusion that any language is completely arbitrary.
6) Different people look at language from different points of view and the definition of language is not yet perfect.
7) We can talk about things that happened before or in far-away places. This is what “productivity of language” means.
8) Historical linguistics studies those languages used in human history.
9) Most modern linguists believe that it is their duty to maintain the standard usage of language.
10) Modern linguists mainly take a synchronic approach in their study of language.

3. Define the following terms.
1) morphology
2) syntax
3) pragmatics
4) sociolinguistics
5) psycholinguistics

4. Mark the correct choice for each of the following statements:
1) Modern linguists give priority to speech because ________.
A. speech sounds are derived from writing systems
B. they can use recording devices
C. speech precedes writing everywhere in the world
D. writing precedes speech in English
2) Modern linguists regard the changes in language and language use as ________.
A. unnatural
B. natural
C. something to be feared
D. abnormal
3) The feature of arbitrariness of language means ________.
A. we can say whatever we want to say
B. we can talk about those things that are real or imagined
C. there is no necessary relation between symbol and meaning
D. we can understand any new sentences

4) Which of the following is NOT a design feature of language?
A. Cultural transmission
B. Displacement
C. Duality
D. Consistency
5) Which of the following is NOT a principle for linguistic study?
A. Productivity
B. Objectivity
C. Economy
D. Exhaustiveness
6) ________ is the branch of linguistics which studies language in actual use.
A. Syntax
B. Pragmatics
C. Morphology
D. Semantics
7) Which of the following words can prove that language is not completely arbitrary?
A. dog
B. black
C. board
D. blackboard
8) Linguistics is the study of ________.
A. the English language
B. the Chinese language
C. all languages
D. the linguist’s native language
9) As a principle for linguistic study, "economy" means that a linguist should ________.
A. use the shortest possible statements to fully explain all facts involved
B. spend little time in his study because language changes quickly
C. only study language as an abstract system
D. only study the spoken form of language
10)According to Chomsky, “competence” refers to ________.
A. the linguist’s ability to describe language rules
B. the linguist’s ability to analyze language data
C. the ideal language user’s knowledge of the rules of his language
D. the ideal language user’s ability to use his language

5. What is mean by “duality”?

6. What makes linguistics a science?

7. What is the difference between langue and parole?

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