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Typology and Language Universals

Description: This quiz evaluates your knowledge of typology and language universals.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: typology language universals
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What is typology in linguistics?

  1. The study of language variation

  2. The study of language universals

  3. The study of language acquisition

  4. The study of language change

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Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Typology is the study of language variation, focusing on identifying and classifying different types of languages based on their structural features.

What is a language universal?

  1. A feature that is found in all human languages

  2. A feature that is found in most human languages

  3. A feature that is found in some human languages

  4. A feature that is not found in any human language

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Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A language universal is a feature that is found in all human languages, regardless of their geographical location, time period, or genetic affiliation.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal?

  1. The use of nouns and verbs

  2. The use of a subject-verb-object word order

  3. The use of a tonal system

  4. The use of a writing system

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of nouns and verbs is a language universal, as all human languages have words that refer to objects (nouns) and actions (verbs).

Which of the following is an example of a typological parameter?

  1. The number of vowels in a language

  2. The presence or absence of a tonal system

  3. The word order of a language

  4. The use of a writing system

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The word order of a language is a typological parameter, as languages can vary in the order in which they place their subject, verb, and object.

Which of the following is a typological classification of languages?

  1. Indo-European languages

  2. Semitic languages

  3. Austronesian languages

  4. Head-marking languages

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Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Head-marking languages are a typological classification of languages based on how they mark grammatical relations between words.

What is the Greenbergian approach to typology?

  1. It focuses on identifying language universals

  2. It focuses on classifying languages based on their structural features

  3. It focuses on studying the relationship between language and culture

  4. It focuses on studying the evolution of language

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Greenbergian approach to typology focuses on classifying languages based on their structural features, such as their word order, case marking, and verb agreement.

What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

  1. It states that language influences thought

  2. It states that thought influences language

  3. It states that language and thought are independent of each other

  4. It states that language and thought are the same thing

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think about the world.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to phonology?

  1. All languages have vowels and consonants

  2. All languages have a tonal system

  3. All languages have a writing system

  4. All languages have a fixed number of phonemes

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

All languages have vowels and consonants, which are the basic building blocks of spoken language.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to syntax?

  1. All languages have a subject-verb-object word order

  2. All languages have a verb-subject-object word order

  3. All languages have a subject-object-verb word order

  4. All languages have a free word order

Show answer
Correct Option:
Explanation:

There is no language universal related to word order, as languages can vary in the order in which they place their subject, verb, and object.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to semantics?

  1. All languages have words for 'mother' and 'father'

  2. All languages have words for 'dog' and 'cat'

  3. All languages have words for 'tree' and 'flower'

  4. All languages have words for 'love' and 'hate'

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

All languages have words for 'mother' and 'father', as these are basic kinship terms that are necessary for communication.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to pragmatics?

  1. All languages have rules for turn-taking in conversation

  2. All languages have rules for politeness

  3. All languages have rules for expressing emotions

  4. All languages have rules for telling jokes

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

All languages have rules for turn-taking in conversation, as this is necessary for effective communication.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to language acquisition?

  1. All children acquire their first language in the same way

  2. All children acquire their first language at the same rate

  3. All children acquire their first language without formal instruction

  4. All children acquire their first language by the age of 5

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Correct Option: C
Explanation:

All children acquire their first language without formal instruction, as they are able to learn it simply by being exposed to it.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to language change?

  1. All languages change over time

  2. All languages change at the same rate

  3. All languages change in the same way

  4. All languages eventually die out

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

All languages change over time, as they are constantly being influenced by factors such as contact with other languages, social change, and technological change.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to language diversity?

  1. There are over 6,000 languages spoken in the world

  2. All languages are equally complex

  3. All languages are equally useful

  4. All languages are equally endangered

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

There are over 6,000 languages spoken in the world, which demonstrates the immense diversity of human language.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal related to language endangerment?

  1. All languages are endangered

  2. Some languages are more endangered than others

  3. Endangered languages are only spoken by a small number of people

  4. Endangered languages are only spoken in remote areas

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Some languages are more endangered than others, as they may be spoken by a small number of people, be geographically isolated, or be subject to discrimination.

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