Question 1

Explain how the field of historical linguistics traces cultural connections through related languages.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
1. Define protolanguage
2. Explain the use of cognates to trace related languages
3. Discuss the use of diversity of similar languages and dialects to pinpoint the original location of a protolanguage

Question 2

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  commonly have a larger overall vocabulary due to a greater number of technical specialties 
B)  commonly have fewer terms for basic colors 
C)  commonly have the same number of general terms for plants, but more terms for specific plants 
D)  usually have more names for specific animals, but the same number of general animal terms 
A)  commonly have a larger overall vocabulary due to a greater number of technical specialties 
B)  commonly have fewer terms for basic colors 
C)  commonly have the same number of general terms for plants, but more terms for specific plants 
D)  usually have more names for specific animals, but the same number of general animal terms A

Question 3

Why does the study of ape language capabilities advance the understanding of human language?

Accepted Answer

A)  Apes have at least some of the capabilities of language, which helps us better understand the evolution of human language. 
B)  Apes are capable of everything short of verbal language, which helps us improve communication with deaf people. 
C)  It is clear that apes can only mimic human sign language, which indicates that human language is truly unique to our lineage. 
D)  Ape language abilities are closer to humans than to other primates, which adds to our knowledge of the human family tree. 
A)  Apes have at least some of the capabilities of language, which helps us better understand the evolution of human language. 
B)  Apes are capable of everything short of verbal language, which helps us improve communication with deaf people. 
C)  It is clear that apes can only mimic human sign language, which indicates that human language is truly unique to our lineage. 
D)  Ape language abilities are closer to humans than to other primates, which adds to our knowledge of the human family tree. A

Question 4

By what age can you expect your little sister to understand the difference between "me eat cookie" and "cookie eat me"?

Accepted Answer

A)  18 to 24 months 
B)  16 months 
C)  12 to 18 months 
D)  10 months 
A)  18 to 24 months 
B)  16 months 
C)  12 to 18 months 
D)  10 months

Question 5

If a language has a basic color term for "yellow" it is most likely also to have a color term for __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  red 
B)  orange 
C)  brown 
D)  green 
A)  red 
B)  orange 
C)  brown 
D)  green

Question 6

Nonhuman vocal systems are often referred to as __________ systems, because they do not combine different calls to produce new meanings.

Accepted Answer

A)  closed 
B)  absolute 
C)  limited 
D)  restricted 
A)  closed 
B)  absolute 
C)  limited 
D)  restricted

Question 7

How many mutually unintelligible languages have been identified?

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 6,000 
B)  2,000 to 3,000 
C)  fewer than 1,000 
D)  4,000 to 5,000 
A)  more than 6,000 
B)  2,000 to 3,000 
C)  fewer than 1,000 
D)  4,000 to 5,000

Question 8

At birth, an infant can distinguish __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  between all the sounds of all the languages in the world 
B)  between all the sounds used in his or her parents' language 
C)  only the difference between male and female vocal registers 
D)  the sounds made only by his or her mother's voice 
A)  between all the sounds of all the languages in the world 
B)  between all the sounds used in his or her parents' language 
C)  only the difference between male and female vocal registers 
D)  the sounds made only by his or her mother's voice

Question 9

Why might someone code-switch between their own language and the language of a politically more powerful society?

Accepted Answer

A)  The dominant culture's language is seen as a symbol of high status and upward mobility. 
B)  It is inevitable that the dominant culture's language will soon be taught in schools, so it is easier to adopt it right away. 
C)  They do not fully understand the dominant language, and revert back to their native language as needed. 
D)  Only certain members of society are permitted to speak the dominant culture's language. 
A)  The dominant culture's language is seen as a symbol of high status and upward mobility. 
B)  It is inevitable that the dominant culture's language will soon be taught in schools, so it is easier to adopt it right away. 
C)  They do not fully understand the dominant language, and revert back to their native language as needed. 
D)  Only certain members of society are permitted to speak the dominant culture's language.

Question 10

Which of the following strongly predicts an immigrant group's likelihood of retaining their native language into the third generation?

Accepted Answer

A)  living in tightly knit communities 
B)  visiting relatives in their homeland 
C)  marriage within their cultural group 
D)  separate schools for their children 
A)  living in tightly knit communities 
B)  visiting relatives in their homeland 
C)  marriage within their cultural group 
D)  separate schools for their children

Question 11

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  commonly can give a larger number of general, or life-form, terms for plants and animals 
B)  commonly have fewer terms for plants but many for animals 
C)  commonly have the same number of general terms for plants, but more terms for specific plants 
D)  usually have more names for specific plants, but the same number of general plant terms 
A)  commonly can give a larger number of general, or life-form, terms for plants and animals 
B)  commonly have fewer terms for plants but many for animals 
C)  commonly have the same number of general terms for plants, but more terms for specific plants 
D)  usually have more names for specific plants, but the same number of general plant terms

Question 12

Research has shown that English people from higher-class backgrounds tend to have more __________ speech, conforming more to what is considered standard English.

Accepted Answer

A)  homogeneous 
B)  inductive 
C)  deductive 
D)  heterogeneous 
A)  homogeneous 
B)  inductive 
C)  deductive 
D)  heterogeneous

Question 13

Which is true of the core vocabularies of languages?

Accepted Answer

A)  All languages have core vocabularies of about the same size. 
B)  More ancient cultures have larger core vocabularies. 
C)  More socially diverse societies have larger core vocabularies. 
D)  More complex societies have larger core vocabularies. 
A)  All languages have core vocabularies of about the same size. 
B)  More ancient cultures have larger core vocabularies. 
C)  More socially diverse societies have larger core vocabularies. 
D)  More complex societies have larger core vocabularies.

Question 14

How does language reflect social status? Give three specific examples in which members of different social positions use different forms of language.

Accepted Answer

The ideal answer should include:
1. Exam

Question 15

What is a protolanguage?

Accepted Answer

A)  spoken reconstructed language from which modern languages derived 
B)  the simplest form of language known, with no tenses or number terms 
C)  the language that early Homo sapiens is believed to have spoken 
D)  the rudimentary language used by the apes and monkeys 
A)  spoken reconstructed language from which modern languages derived 
B)  the simplest form of language known, with no tenses or number terms 
C)  the language that early Homo sapiens is believed to have spoken 
D)  the rudimentary language used by the apes and monkeys

Question 16

What do linguists mean when they refer to grammar?

Accepted Answer

A)  unconscious principles that predict how most people talk 
B)  prescriptive rules that people are supposed to follow when speaking 
C)  geographical variation within a single language 
D)  traits in a person's speech that serve as clues to their education and status 
A)  unconscious principles that predict how most people talk 
B)  prescriptive rules that people are supposed to follow when speaking 
C)  geographical variation within a single language 
D)  traits in a person's speech that serve as clues to their education and status

Question 17

In Robert Schrauf's comparative study, which group was used to represent immigrants with the greatest retention of their native language?

Accepted Answer

A)  third-generation immigrants 
B)  second-generation immigrants 
C)  first-generation immigrants 
D)  fourth-generation immigrants 
A)  third-generation immigrants 
B)  second-generation immigrants 
C)  first-generation immigrants 
D)  fourth-generation immigrants

Question 18

In addition to geographical separation, how do different dialects become completely different languages?

Accepted Answer

A)  social restrictions preventing regular communication between the two groups 
B)  intentional distinction by the speakers of the two groups 
C)  educational differences between speakers of the two dialects 
D)  religious beliefs restricting the use of one of the dialects 
A)  social restrictions preventing regular communication between the two groups 
B)  intentional distinction by the speakers of the two groups 
C)  educational differences between speakers of the two dialects 
D)  religious beliefs restricting the use of one of the dialects

Question 19

It is estimated that __________ percent of the world's languages are endangered.

Accepted Answer

A)  50 to 90 
B)  30 to 50 
C)  90 to 95 
D)  15 to 25 
A)  50 to 90 
B)  30 to 50 
C)  90 to 95 
D)  15 to 25

Question 20

The earliest writing systems are about __________ years old.

Accepted Answer

A)  6,000 
B)  2,000 
C)  3,000 
D)  10,000 
A)  6,000 
B)  2,000 
C)  3,000 
D)  10,000

Explain how the field of historical linguistics traces cultural connections through related languages.

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Why does the study of ape language capabilities advance the understanding of human language?

By what age can you expect your little sister to understand the difference between "me eat cookie" and "cookie eat me"?

If a language has a basic color term for "yellow" it is most likely also to have a color term for __________.

Nonhuman vocal systems are often referred to as __________ systems, because they do not combine different calls to produce new meanings.

How many mutually unintelligible languages have been identified?

At birth, an infant can distinguish __________.

Why might someone code-switch between their own language and the language of a politically more powerful society?

Which of the following strongly predicts an immigrant group's likelihood of retaining their native language into the third generation?

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Research has shown that English people from higher-class backgrounds tend to have more __________ speech, conforming more to what is considered standard English.

Which is true of the core vocabularies of languages?

How does language reflect social status? Give three specific examples in which members of different social positions use different forms of language.

What is a protolanguage?

What do linguists mean when they refer to grammar?

In Robert Schrauf's comparative study, which group was used to represent immigrants with the greatest retention of their native language?

In addition to geographical separation, how do different dialects become completely different languages?

It is estimated that __________ percent of the world's languages are endangered.

The earliest writing systems are about __________ years old.

What Is Anthropology

Culture and Culture Change

Culture and the Individual

Understanding and Explaining Culture

Getting Food

Economic Systems

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage and the Family

Marital Residence and Kinship

Associations and Interest Groups

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

Health and Illness

Global Problems

Filters

Exam 5: Communication and Language

Explain how the field of historical linguistics traces cultural connections through related languages.

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Why does the study of ape language capabilities advance the understanding of human language?

By what age can you expect your little sister to understand the difference between "me eat cookie" and "cookie eat me"?

If a language has a basic color term for "yellow" it is most likely also to have a color term for __________.

Nonhuman vocal systems are often referred to as __________ systems, because they do not combine different calls to produce new meanings.

How many mutually unintelligible languages have been identified?

At birth, an infant can distinguish __________.

Why might someone code-switch between their own language and the language of a politically more powerful society?

Which of the following strongly predicts an immigrant group's likelihood of retaining their native language into the third generation?

Compared to people in simpler societies, people in complex societies __________.

Research has shown that English people from higher-class backgrounds tend to have more __________ speech, conforming more to what is considered standard English.

Which is true of the core vocabularies of languages?

How does language reflect social status? Give three specific examples in which members of different social positions use different forms of language.

What is a protolanguage?

What do linguists mean when they refer to grammar?

In Robert Schrauf's comparative study, which group was used to represent immigrants with the greatest retention of their native language?

In addition to geographical separation, how do different dialects become completely different languages?

It is estimated that __________ percent of the world's languages are endangered.

The earliest writing systems are about __________ years old.

What Is Anthropology

Culture and Culture Change

Culture and the Individual

Understanding and Explaining Culture

Getting Food

Economic Systems

Social Stratification: Class, Ethnicity, and Racism

Sex and Gender

Marriage and the Family

Marital Residence and Kinship

Associations and Interest Groups

Political Life: Social Order and Disorder

Religion and Magic

The Arts

Practicing and Applying Anthropology

Health and Illness

Global Problems

Filters