Language and Change

Description: This quiz is designed to assess your knowledge of language and change.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: language change linguistics
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What is the term for the process by which languages change over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Language evolution


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Language change is the process by which languages change over time. This can include changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

What are the three main types of language change?

  1. Sound change, grammatical change, and lexical change

  2. Semantic change, syntactic change, and pragmatic change

  3. Morphological change, phonological change, and syntactic change

  4. Lexical change, semantic change, and pragmatic change


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The three main types of language change are sound change, grammatical change, and lexical change. Sound change is the change in the way words are pronounced, grammatical change is the change in the way words are used in sentences, and lexical change is the change in the meaning of words.

What is the term for the process by which a language becomes extinct?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Language evolution


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Language death is the process by which a language becomes extinct. This can happen when a language is no longer spoken by any native speakers, or when it is replaced by another language.

What are some of the factors that can contribute to language change?

  1. Contact with other languages

  2. Social and cultural changes

  3. Technological changes

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

All of the above factors can contribute to language change. Contact with other languages can lead to the borrowing of words and phrases, social and cultural changes can lead to changes in the way language is used, and technological changes can lead to the development of new words and phrases.

What is the term for the process by which a language borrows words and phrases from another language?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Language borrowing


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Language borrowing is the process by which a language borrows words and phrases from another language. This can happen when two languages come into contact with each other, or when a language is influenced by another language through media or other forms of communication.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in meaning over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Semantic change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Semantic change is the process by which a language changes in meaning over time. This can happen when a word or phrase takes on a new meaning, or when the meaning of a word or phrase changes over time.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in grammar over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Grammatical change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Grammatical change is the process by which a language changes in grammar over time. This can happen when the rules of grammar change, or when the way words are used in sentences changes.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in pronunciation over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Sound change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Sound change is the process by which a language changes in pronunciation over time. This can happen when the way words are pronounced changes, or when the sounds of a language change.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in vocabulary over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Lexical change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Lexical change is the process by which a language changes in vocabulary over time. This can happen when new words are added to a language, or when the meaning of words changes over time.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in usage over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Pragmatic change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Pragmatic change is the process by which a language changes in usage over time. This can happen when the way words are used in different contexts changes, or when the rules of politeness change.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in structure over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Syntactic change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Syntactic change is the process by which a language changes in structure over time. This can happen when the way words are arranged in sentences changes, or when the rules of grammar change.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in meaning over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Semantic change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Semantic change is the process by which a language changes in meaning over time. This can happen when a word or phrase takes on a new meaning, or when the meaning of a word or phrase changes over time.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in grammar over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Grammatical change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Grammatical change is the process by which a language changes in grammar over time. This can happen when the rules of grammar change, or when the way words are used in sentences changes.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in pronunciation over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Sound change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Sound change is the process by which a language changes in pronunciation over time. This can happen when the way words are pronounced changes, or when the sounds of a language change.

What is the term for the process by which a language changes in vocabulary over time?

  1. Language shift

  2. Language death

  3. Language change

  4. Lexical change


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Lexical change is the process by which a language changes in vocabulary over time. This can happen when new words are added to a language, or when the meaning of words changes over time.

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