0

Cross-Linguistic Patterns in Language and Science

Description: This quiz covers cross-linguistic patterns in language and science, exploring the relationship between language and scientific thought.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: cross-linguistic patterns language and science linguistics cognitive science
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Which of the following is a cross-linguistic pattern observed in the way languages encode spatial relations?

  1. Nouns for objects that are higher in space are typically marked with a grammatical case that indicates elevation.

  2. Verbs of motion typically encode the direction of motion relative to the speaker's perspective.

  3. Adjectives describing spatial relationships typically use absolute rather than relative terms.

  4. Prepositions that indicate location typically mark the object being located rather than the reference point.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In many languages, nouns for objects that are higher in space are marked with a grammatical case that indicates elevation, such as the ablative case in Latin or the locative case in Finnish.

What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

  1. The hypothesis that language determines thought and perception.

  2. The hypothesis that thought and perception determine language.

  3. The hypothesis that language and thought are independent of each other.

  4. The hypothesis that language and thought are partially determined by each other.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, also known as the linguistic relativity hypothesis, proposes that language and thought are partially determined by each other, meaning that the structure of a language can influence the way its speakers think and perceive the world.

Which of the following is an example of a linguistic category that is not found in all languages?

  1. Nouns

  2. Verbs

  3. Adjectives

  4. Determiners


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Determiners, such as articles and demonstratives, are a linguistic category that is not found in all languages. Some languages, like Japanese, do not have articles, while others, like English, have both definite and indefinite articles.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which the meaning of a word changes depending on the context in which it is used?

  1. Polysemy

  2. Homonymy

  3. Synonymy

  4. Antonymy


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Polysemy is the phenomenon in which a word has multiple related meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. For example, the word "bank" can refer to a financial institution, the side of a river, or a long seat.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a complex system of evidentiality?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Yucatec Maya


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Yucatec Maya is a Mayan language spoken in Mexico and Belize. It has a complex system of evidentiality, which is a grammatical system that encodes the speaker's source of information. For example, Yucatec Maya has different verb forms to indicate whether the speaker witnessed an event, heard about it from someone else, or inferred it based on evidence.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world?

  1. Linguistic determinism

  2. Linguistic relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Whorfian hypothesis


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Linguistic relativity, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or the Whorfian hypothesis, is the phenomenon in which the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a grammatical gender system?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Japanese


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Spanish is a Romance language that has a grammatical gender system, meaning that nouns are assigned a gender, either masculine or feminine. This gender assignment can affect the way that nouns are used in sentences, such as in the choice of adjectives and articles.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which a language has a limited number of sounds that can be used to form words?

  1. Phonological inventory

  2. Phonotactics

  3. Prosody

  4. Articulatory phonetics


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Phonological inventory refers to the limited number of sounds that a language has available to form words. This inventory includes both consonants and vowels, and it can vary significantly from language to language.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a tonal language system?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Japanese


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch of a syllable can change its meaning. There are four main tones in Mandarin Chinese: the first tone is high and level, the second tone rises, the third tone falls and then rises, and the fourth tone falls.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which a language has a system of grammatical cases that mark the different roles that nouns can play in a sentence?

  1. Case system

  2. Number system

  3. Gender system

  4. Tense system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A case system is a grammatical system that marks the different roles that nouns can play in a sentence. For example, in Latin, nouns can be marked with different cases to indicate their role as subject, object, indirect object, or possessive.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a system of grammatical number?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Japanese


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

English has a system of grammatical number, meaning that nouns can be marked to indicate whether they are singular or plural. This is done using different suffixes, such as "-s" for plural nouns.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which a language has a system of grammatical tense that marks the time of an event or state?

  1. Tense system

  2. Aspect system

  3. Mood system

  4. Voice system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A tense system is a grammatical system that marks the time of an event or state. For example, in English, verbs can be marked to indicate whether an event happened in the past, present, or future.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a system of grammatical aspect?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Japanese


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Spanish has a system of grammatical aspect, meaning that verbs can be marked to indicate whether an event is completed, ongoing, or habitual. This is done using different verb forms, such as the preterite and imperfect tenses.

What is the term for the phenomenon in which a language has a system of grammatical mood that marks the speaker's attitude towards the proposition expressed by the sentence?

  1. Mood system

  2. Voice system

  3. Tense system

  4. Aspect system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A mood system is a grammatical system that marks the speaker's attitude towards the proposition expressed by the sentence. For example, in English, verbs can be marked to indicate whether the speaker is making a statement, asking a question, or expressing a wish.

Which of the following is an example of a language that has a system of grammatical voice?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. Mandarin Chinese

  4. Japanese


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

English has a system of grammatical voice, meaning that verbs can be marked to indicate whether the subject of the sentence is the actor or the recipient of the action. This is done using different verb forms, such as the active and passive voices.

- Hide questions