Linguistics
34 important questions on Linguistics
Which is an example of a minimal pair?
- gnome-game
- neat-name
- null-pool
- great-greet
- so-sew
All of the following are minimal pairs EXCEPT:
1. rich-ridge
2. nap-mat
3. eyes-ice
4. write-light
5. phone-foam
What is a morpheme?
- Smallest unit of language that has its own meaning in a language.
- e.g. ’rewrite’ (2 morphemes) or ‘cats’ (2)
- Morphemes ≠ syllables!
- A syllable is the “beat” created by a vowel sound
- Morphemes can be one, two or multiple syllables:
- e.g. elephant (3 syllables, but 1 morpheme)
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Free v. Bound morphemes
- Free morphemes can stand alone: ◦ cat, elephant, drink, might, to, when, so
- Bound morphemes must be bound to a free morpheme:
Identifying morphemes in English
How many morphemes are in each word?
Which ones are bound and which are free?
a)cats
b)catsup
c) thickeners
d) nationalization
e) Massachusetts
f) helped
1. cat/s (2) free/bound
2. catsup (1) free
3. thick/en/er/s (4) free/b/b/b
4. nation/al/iz/ation (4) free/b/b/b
5. Massachusetts (1) free
6. help/ed (2) free/b
Pay attention to morpheme meaning
- Identify morphemes by what they mean, not by sound or spelling.
- E.g. different morphemes might share the same sound and spelling:
◦ Frank’s
◦ walks
- plural, possessive, 3rd person singular
- These 3 morphemes sound the same: [s]
- On the other hand, the same morpheme can be pronounced differently, depending on the conditioning environment.
What are these variations of morpheme pronunciation called?
allomorphs
Words are formed in patterned ways, and native speakers learn them ________________.
The pronunciation of the letter "t" in the word nation would be classified as which of the following:
a. stop b. affricate c. fricative d. glide
Which of the following is a minimal pair?
a. Max-packs
b. food-good
c. patch-hitch
d. pried-pride
All of the following are minimal pairs
EXCEPT
a. trap-trip b hold-bold
c. sew-go d. beat-seen
Which one of the following words in English would typically contain the allophone [ph]?
a. picture b. spoke c. topic d. tape
Different predictable pronunciations of the same phoneme in a given language (usually heard by listeners as the same sound) is the definition of which?
a. script b. allomorph
c. allophone d. morpheme
Which sub area of linguistics is concerned with sound systems, within and/or across languages?
a. phonetics b. syntax
c. phonology d. morphology
Which word contains the allomorph of the morpheme '-ed' that is usually pronounced [d]?
a. ended b. preceded
c. lived d. shipped
Which word contains the allomorph of the plural '-s' pronounced [əz]?
a. peaches b. loaves
c. tips d. bookends
Which of the following words contains no bound morphemes?
a. lids b. interest
c. ferocious d. highest
Which of the following words does not contain an affix?
a. creation b. incorrect
c. bookcase d. quickly
The morpheme "home" in the word homework is what kind of morpheme?
a. free b. suffix
c. bound d. allophone
How many morphemes are there in the word destabilization?
a.l b.2 c.3 d.4
21. Which word below has a different morphological structure from the other three?
a. photographer b. sooner
c. singer d. teacher
English relies heavily on which of the following?
a. VSO b. SVO c. VOS d. SOV
By the time they enter school, native speakers usually have strong intuitive knowledge about most aspects of the following with one exception. Which is the exception?
a. phonology b. morphology
c. syntax d. pragmatics
A prescriptive approach to grammar usually does NOT rely on:
a. current theories on how language functions
b. history and social norms
c. personal preferences in language usage
d. rules about correct usage
"My favorite thing to do is go movies."
Which of the following occurs in this speech sample?
a. improper tense b. misuse of adjectives
c. lack of coordination d. missing preposition
"Where is Suzanne? I looking for her and not seen her."
The error in the speakers statement involves which of the following?
a. subject/verb agreement b. question formation
c. verb tense d. subject/pronoun agreement
In the following writing sample, the students most prevalent errors involve
which two of the following?
l. Use of pronouns II. Plurals
III. Verb tense IV. Use of adjectives
"I go to beach last summer with lot of friend."
a. l and II b. [I and [V c. l and III d. II and III
In linguistics, register can be defined as which of the following?
a. presuppositions
b. Grices maxim of truthfulness
c. Variations in language use (especially
level of formality) depending on context
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
c. Variations in language use (especially
level of formality) depending on context
Which of the following are considered discourse in linguistics?
a. written instructions
b. essays
c.movie reviews
d. discussions
e. all of the above
f. none of the above
In linguistics, script refers to
a. code-switching
b. conventional knowledge about a situation
c. hierarchal relationships
d. verbal and nonverbal actions used in a context
Which approach goes with which metaphor?
- The ‘hypothesis testing’ metaphor
- The ‘copy’ metaphor
- The ‘trigger’ metaphor
- The ‘hypothesis testing’ metaphor = Cognitive/Interactional/Developmental
- The ‘copy’ metaphor = Behaviorist
- The ‘trigger’ metaphor = Innatist/Mentalist
Order of apparent morpheme acquisition
- present progressive –ing (Mommy running)
- plural –s (two books)
- irregular past forms (baby went – not ‘goed’)
- possessive -’s (Daddy’s hat)
- copula (Annie is happy – ‘to be’ as main verb)
- articles the & a
- regular past –ed (She walked)
- 3rd person singular simple present –s (She runs)
- auxiliary be (He is coming)
L1 v. L2 acquisition/learning
- VERY different learning contexts and learner characteristics
- Theories to explain the learning are largely similar, though
Typical L2 acquisition order
- -ing forms “going, sitting”
- plural marking –s dog/dogs
- copula ‘be’ “He is home”
- auxiliary ‘be’“He is sitting”
- articles “ A neighbor is at the door”
- irregular past forms “She ate crackers”
- regular past forms “She pushed the door”
- 3rd person singular “He understands”
- possessive –s “ The man’s hat”
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