Test 1

Question 1

How are languages classified?

Answer 1

In families

Question 2

Name the three subfamilies in the Indo-Iranian, European language family.

Answer 2

a. Slavic
b. Romance
c. Germanic

Question 3

3. Give an example of a language that fits each of the 3 subfamily groups
   Germanic Languages:
   Romantic Languages:
   Slavic Languages:

Answer 3

Germanic Languages: Swedish, Germany, and English
Romantic Languages: French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Portuguese
Slavic Languages: Polish, Czechoslovakian and Russian

Question 4

4. Which sub family does English fall under?

Answer 4

Germanic

Question 5

5. Latin was spoken by which group of people?

Answer 5

The Romans

Question 6

Latin is the basis for the Romantic Languages. What are the 5 Romantic languages?

Answer 6

Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian & French

Question 7

What do these 3 groups have in common to the English Language?

Answer 7

They brought new sounds and many new words.

Question 8

What impact did the printing of the King James’s Bible and Shakespeare have on the English language?

Answer 8

Once the Bible was printed, more people started to read. The Bible would bring about 6,500 new words to the English language. Shakespeare’s plays would bring over 10,000 new words to the English language.

Question 9

Stagnate means unchanging and not evolving. Are languages stagnate or do they change and evolve?

Answer 9

Languages are constantly changing. They are not stagnate

Question 10

Can languages become extinct? Explain?

Answer 10

Languages are very much like animal species. Sometimes they thrive and develop in an environment, but other times they can’t survive. Different countries come into powers, and others are invaded by other other countries. When invaded or when a great amount of other people come into the country, the language will change. Some do not survive.

Question 11

English can be broken down into 3 stages. What are they?

Answer 11

Old English, Middle English and Modern English

Question 12

Words have been bought back by other cultures. Name two words that have been imported into English.

Answer 12

Pajamas from India Canoe from Native American Indians Cookie from the Dutch Opera from Italy

Question 13

What does linguistics mean?

Answer 13

The study of language

Question 14

What is the difference between Cognates and False Cognates?

Answer 14

Answer: Cognates are words that come from a similar family tree branch. They look similar, sound similar, and have similar meanings.

Answer: False Cognates are words that look similar and sound similar, but they have different meanings.

Question 15

Match the English Stage (Old, Middle, and Modern/New English) with the work of Literature:
a. Romeo and Juliet

b. The Bible

c. The Canterbury Tales

d. Dictionary

e. Beowulf

Answer 15

a. Romeo and Juliet - New English

b. The Bible - New English

c. The Canterbury Tales - Middle English

d. Dictionary - New English

e. Beowulf - Old English