What Is Linguistics

Question 1

Linguistics is the ____ study of language.

Answer 1

Scientific

Question 2

There is a difference between a __( who knows many languages) and a ___ ( who studies characters and behaviours of language with reference to one or more).

Answer 2

Polyglot, linguist

Question 3

In earlier times, study of language was only for classical ones like __. Today all langauges are considered fit to study.

Answer 3

Latin

Question 4

Science is used for?

Answer 4

Systematic study of phenomena

Question 5

Empirical science is done by__

Answer 5

Examining publically verifiable data obtained through observing phenomena

Question 6

Empirical science is consistent ie ? And economical ie?

Answer 6

Consistent - no contradiction of info/ economical- precise, short statement

Question 7

Langauge follows observation ie?

Answer 7

It can be felt with the senses(heard with the ear)

Question 8

In empirical sciences, observation and experimentation are inductive process - what is it? It is Western tradition

Answer 8

When a data is collected without any preconceived notion, observed and then a theory made

Question 9

What is rationalism or deductive process?

Answer 9

When a preconceived notion is proved by applying it to the data in observation.

Question 10

How to reconcile rationalism and empiricism for linguistic study?

Answer 10

There are aspects of language giving objective and verifiable data. We create a theory to explain this data ,which we modify as we move forward.

Question 11

Linguistics cannot always be treated objectively because it is a ____ with humans also linked.

Answer 11

Social behaviour

Question 12

Linguistics was only regarded as a seperate area of study in __ century. Before that it was part of studying history or philosophy of language.

Answer 12

20th

Question 13

Linguistics is a modern name for when we study language as a___& ___ system in its own right.

It was necessary at starting to set down its boundaries but now we recognise its scope overlaps.

Answer 13

Self enclosed, autonomous

Question 14

What is descriptive Linguistics?

Answer 14

Describes a language as used as speakers at a given time

Question 15

___ is the fundamental unit of modern linguistics which contrasts with ___ linguistics of early times

Answer 15

Description , prescriptive linguistics

Question 16

In descriptive linguistics, the language is systematically described at all levels ie phonology, semnatics. It is based on a ____approach

Answer 16

Structural

Question 17

What is Historical linguistics?

Answer 17

Studies how languages change from time periods and the causes, results of the changes.

Question 18

A ___ description is non historical and a ___ description traces historical development.

Answer 18

Synchronic, diachronic

Question 19

Compatitive linguistics compares 2 or more languages. When the history of these languages are compared to discover their relation it is called ___

Answer 19

comparative historical linguistics

Question 20

Comparative historical linguistics was dominant in__

Answer 20

19th century

Question 21

Modern language are said to descend from ancient ones (say L)– from which languages develop is a ___ or ___. Languages that develop from L (L1, L2 ETC) are ___. All these together form a ____.

Answer 21

Parent or proto langauge, sister languages, language family

Question 22

Proto Indo European is a langauge family consisting __

Answer 22

Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, German

Question 23

Proto langauges are reconstructed by linguists from material recovered. They make lists of words from different languages and study ___between them to build ___.

Answer 23

Sound correspondences, cognates

Question 24

A cognate is with Eg?(2 pts)

Answer 24

1) A word related genetically to other words forming a set.
2) However there is also sound change showing different languages.
Eg Frater, Bhrata, Brother- Latin, Sanskrit, English

Question 25

To study language we subdivide it into a ___ structure. This means it's made of units that subdivide into smallest unit finally, the phoneme.

Answer 25

Hierarchical

Question 26

Phonemes combine to form ___, which make words, and words make ____, which make a __.

Answer 26

Morphemes, sentences, Discourse

Question 27

At each level of linguistics there are certain rules allowing occurence of smaller units. Each level is a system in its own right so it can be analysed ___(dependently/independently)

Answer 27

Independently

Question 28

In earlier studies it was believed phonology and semantics had no linkage-- now we know there are complex linkages between levels (true/false)

Answer 28

True

Question 29

What is Phonetics?( 4 pts)

Answer 29

Studies langauges at the sound level, how they are articulated through speech, recieved by auditory mechanism, and distinguished

Question 30

What is phonology? (2 pts)

Answer 30

Studies combination of sounds into organised units of speech, classification is done based on distinctive contrasted unit-- the phoeneme

Question 31

What is Morphology?(3 pts)

Answer 31

Studies patterns of formation of words, by combining sounds into minimal units of meaning called morphemes, words can be made of single morphemes or many

Question 32

What is syntax? (2 pts)

Answer 32

Level of study where words form phrases;phrases clauses; clauses sentences, also involves rules of positioning in sentence.

Question 33

What is semantics?( 3pts)

Answer 33

Level of study dealing with structure of meaning in language, tries to show relations of meaning by making categories, analysing the abstract

Question 34

What is pragmatics?(3 pts)

Answer 34

Considers utterances, An extension of semantics, deals with context aspect of semantics in situations

Question 35

What is discourse? What is cohesion in discourse?

Answer 35

Study of language bigger than a single sentence, cohesion is the relation established in a sentence by reference to its predecessors and linkers

Question 36

What is Graphology? What is lexicology?

Answer 36

Study of writing system of a language, Study of how lexical items are grouped together in dictionaries

Question 37

Linguists differ on scope of analysis. Some consider only proper areas to be phonology, morphology, syntax- this is____. Others include other levels and more overlapping areas of human activity, this is ____.

Answer 37

Micro linguistic view, Macro linguistic view

Question 38

Like other sciences, Linguistics has a ___ aspect concerned with analysis and a ___ aspect concerned with application of that knowledge.

Answer 38

Pure/theoretical, applied aspect

Question 39

Linguistics is both related to ___ world of man's mind and ___ world of society.

Answer 39

Inner,outer

Question 40

( Psycholinguistics) Language is a inner, mental phenomenon. psycholingustics studies what?(3 pts)

Answer 40

Studies these mental processes; 1) thoughts 2) concept formation 3) articulation in langauge

Question 41

( psycholinguistics) What is cognitive psychology?(3 pts)

Answer 41

Area which explores how messages are decoded, understood, stored

Question 42

( psycholingustics) Our perception of speech sounds or writing symbols is influenced by our ____. For eg there is a mental disability where one letter is seen as another which is___.

Answer 42

Mental state, dyslexia

Question 43

( psycholinguistics) Is also about learning of languages at various stages; the process of ____. They attempt to answer questions like whether the brain has an inbuilt ability to learn language.

Answer 43

Language acquisition

Question 44

( psycholingustics) ( learning languages) These studies are very helpful for ___ because they help teachers understand differences among learners and make syllabus accordingly.

Answer 44

Langauge teaching

Question 45

( psycholing) a specialised area in psycholing is _____ that studies the ___ basis of language and disorders such as memory loss.

Answer 45

Neurolinguistics, physiological basis

Question 46

( Psycholing) Another relation of language and mind is to LOGIC. Some ancient philosophers held that since mind =___ than language is too while others has the opposite idea of inherent ____.

Answer 46

Rational, inherent irrationality

Question 47

( Psycholing) One of the problems discussed by philosophers is?

Answer 47

Whether langauge is adequate medium for philosophical inquiry

Question 48

( Socioling) What is socioling?

Answer 48

The branch of linguistics dealing with relations between language and society.

Question 49

( Socioling) Socioling is based on the fact that language is not a homogenous entity but has different forms_____ for Eg differences in gender

Answer 49

Situationally

Question 50

( Socioling) A particular group that speaks their own variety of a language becomes a ____

Answer 50

Speech community

Question 51

( Socioling) Give example of geographical variety within a country and between countries.

Answer 51

Scottish English in Britain, Indian English-British English

Question 52

( Socioling) studies langauge variations. Varieties of a language are formed in various geographical areas. These are called ___

Answer 52

Dialects

Question 53

( Socioling) if these changes are present in same geographical region but vary due to class eg Aristocracy and lower class dialect, these are___

Answer 53

Class dialects

Question 54

( socioling) the study of dialects and their boundaries in a region is called ____. The point at which a certain feature of a language ceases to be and gives way to another is called _____ or ____.

Answer 54

Dialectology, isogloss or dialect boundary

Question 55

( Socioling) Dialects may evolve into langauges if they are ___ ie standardised written, grammar and lexical forms. This usually happens when ___

Answer 55

Codified, when a Language is given social and political importance

Question 56

( Socioling) Langauge variations can also occur due to different areas of activity where they are used. Eg and name?

Answer 56

English in science field, variation of language according to activity is called Register

Question 57

( Socioling) includes studies of attitudes to language held by ____ ie some dialects may be considered less important. It includes planning of ___ and ___ policy.

Answer 57

Social groups, langauge teaching, language policy

Question 58

(Anthroling) What is anthroling?(2 pts)

Answer 58

The evolution of langauge in human culture, its role in forming culture

Question 59

( anthroling) the structure of langauge has social and cultural basis. Each culture_______, giving names to objects, suppressing some areas and uplifting others.

Answer 59

Organises the world in its own way

Question 60

( anthroling) the study of these specific cultural elements relating to language is ____. A specific way of communicating in a culture is thus studied as ____.

Answer 60

Ethnography, ethnography of communication

Question 61

( anthroling) who hypothesized that we dissect nature along the lines laid by native tongues( meaning we see the world according to terms of our language)?

Answer 61

Linguist BL Whorf

Question 62

( Stylistics) Stylistics has led to new ways of studying_____ texts.

Answer 62

Literary

Question 63

( Stylistics) Literary writers use langauge in their own way and create a ___. This is done by (3 pts)___.

Answer 63

Style, deviation; deliberate choice; repetiton

Question 64

( stylistics) In it we read the text closely and see how particular features such as grammar are used. We bring them all together in an ___ of the text. It also helps to understand how (2 eg) ___,__ operate in a text.

Answer 64

Interpretation , metaphor; irony