Question 1

The English word "actress" is an unmarked form.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Ottenheimer used the tools of linguistic anthropology to reveal that Internet scammers were using

Accepted Answer

A) an emerging variety of English called "Globish." 
B) a "Mock African" language variety. 
C) prescriptive grammar to adhere to standard English. 
D) revitalized indigenous languages to communicate with one another. B

Question 3

Give an example of hidden bias in language, drawing on examples given in the course reading. Describe the bias inherent in the example you give.

Accepted Answer

An example of hidden bias in language can be found in the use of gendered pronouns. In the English language, the default pronoun for a person of unspecified gender is often "he" or "him." For example, the sentence "If a student wants to succeed, he must work hard" inherently assumes that the student being referred to is male. This bias reinforces traditional gender roles and can make non-male individuals feel excluded or overlooked.

This bias is inherent in the example given because it perpetuates the idea that men are the default or norm, while women and non-binary individuals are seen as exceptions. It also reinforces the stereotype that certain roles or behaviors are inherently masculine, which can limit opportunities for women and non-binary individuals. This hidden bias in language can have real-world consequences in terms of representation, opportunities, and societal expectations.

Question 4

Describe one way of "doing linguistic anthropology," which helps out in situations where people misunderstand one another. What sorts of difference can cause misunderstandings?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe one way of "doing linguistic anthropology,"...

Question 5

When there are no more speakers of a particular language, that language is said to be

Accepted Answer

A) marginalized. 
B) revitalized. 
C) endangered. 
D) extinct.

Question 6

There are a wide range of everyday applications for linguistic anthropology.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The term for efforts to maintain languages that are currently endangered is

Accepted Answer

A) language renaissance. 
B) language resuscitation. 
C) language aid. 
D) language revitalization.

Question 8

The term ___________ is an unmarked form in English.

Accepted Answer

A) actress 
B) nurse 
C) waitress 
D) bachelor

Question 9

Globish, a potential lingua franca of the twenty-first century, is

Accepted Answer

A) a Mock English, which indexes stereotypes of Anglophones. 
B) a simplified, idiom-free form of English. 
C) a form of language ideally suited to poetry and music lyrics. 
D) taught in many international business schools today.

Question 10

Linguistic indication of nonneutral forms of words is called

Accepted Answer

A) marking. 
B) painting. 
C) noting. 
D) switching.

Question 11

Linguistic anthropologists see language as a practice, something that human beings do rather than only a thing or an entity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The fact that most women who work in theater today refer to themselves as "actors"

Accepted Answer

A) is a sign of too much political correctness. 
B) just sounds silly, as if they were claiming to be men. 
C) is a successful effort to remove one case of gender bias in English. 
D) cannot have any impact on the way these women are perceived.

Question 13

In the earliest days of linguistic anthropology, the focus of the field was primarily on

Accepted Answer

A) collecting and cataloguing languages 
B) questions of identity and power 
C) analysis of speech events 
D) the role of language in human evolution

Question 14

Linguistic anthropology is interested primarily in the social and cultural contexts in which language is used and for the most part leaves study of the structure of language to structural linguists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Members of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

Accepted Answer

A) have engaged in concerted work to revitalize their language, Ná'isha̜. 
B) ceased speaking their language, Ná'isha̜ in the nineteenth century. 
C) have no interest in maintaining their language, Ná'isha̜. 
D) are almost all fluent or semi-fluent in their language, Ná'isha̜.

Question 16

Research into "African" scam letters reveals that most authors of such letters live in Nigeria.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The sentence "Anyone in Oklahoma can ask for an abortion if he wants one"

Accepted Answer

A) illustrates the fact that "anyone" in English is a marked form. 
B) shows that we can eliminate gender bias in language by using "he" to refer to both men and women. 
C) was a popular bumper sticker during the 2008 presidential campaign period. 
D) demonstrates the fact that "he" cannot be a gender neutral term.

Question 18

Describe the inherent sexist bias in language used to discuss the 2008 Democratic primary and the 2016 presidential election.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the inherent sexist bias in language...

Exam 10: Doing Linguistic Anthropology

The English word "actress" is an unmarked form.

Ottenheimer used the tools of linguistic anthropology to reveal that Internet scammers were using

Give an example of hidden bias in language, drawing on examples given in the course reading. Describe the bias inherent in the example you give.

Describe one way of "doing linguistic anthropology," which helps out in situations where people misunderstand one another. What sorts of difference can cause misunderstandings?

When there are no more speakers of a particular language, that language is said to be

There are a wide range of everyday applications for linguistic anthropology.

The term for efforts to maintain languages that are currently endangered is

The term ___________ is an unmarked form in English.

Globish, a potential lingua franca of the twenty-first century, is

Linguistic indication of nonneutral forms of words is called

Linguistic anthropologists see language as a practice, something that human beings do rather than only a thing or an entity.

The fact that most women who work in theater today refer to themselves as "actors"

In the earliest days of linguistic anthropology, the focus of the field was primarily on

Linguistic anthropology is interested primarily in the social and cultural contexts in which language is used and for the most part leaves study of the structure of language to structural linguists.

Members of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

Research into "African" scam letters reveals that most authors of such letters live in Nigeria.

The sentence "Anyone in Oklahoma can ask for an abortion if he wants one"

Describe the inherent sexist bias in language used to discuss the 2008 Democratic primary and the 2016 presidential election.