Practice Test: What Is Language?
Practice questions based only on [What Is Language? — Chapter 1](material:63).
12 questions · pass mark 70% · try 5 free
1 What is linguistics?
- The scientific study of language
- The study of literature only
- The teaching of writing systems
- The history of dictionaries
The chapter defines linguistics as the scientific study of language.
2 Languages depend on writing systems in order to exist.
- True
- False
The chapter explicitly states that languages exist independently of writing systems.
3 Which question best reflects the central concern of linguistics in this chapter?
- What do we know about language?
- Which language is the oldest?
- Which alphabet is best?
- How many words are in English?
The chapter contrasts asking what a language is with asking what we know about language, and treats the latter as central to linguistics.
4 How does the chapter characterize our knowledge of linguistic rules?
- Mostly unconscious
- Fully conscious and explicit
- Written down before use
- Limited to vocabulary
Speakers are described as having unconscious knowledge of a linguistic rule system.
5 Body language has the same structure and features as spoken or signed language.
- True
- False
The chapter says nonverbal behavior is expressive but does not have the same structure or features as spoken or signed languages.
7 more questions in this test
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