Language Change

Description: Language Change Quiz
Number of Questions: 18
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Tags: language change historical linguistics linguistics
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What is the term for the process by which languages change over time?

  1. Language Drift

  2. Language Evolution

  3. Language Mutation

  4. Language Shift


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Language change is the term used to describe the process by which languages change over time.

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of language change?

  1. Contact with other languages

  2. Internal changes in the language

  3. Changes in the environment

  4. Changes in the culture of the speakers


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Changes in the environment are not a common cause of language change.

What is the term for the process by which one language replaces another?

  1. Language Shift

  2. Language Death

  3. Language Contact

  4. Language Revival


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language shift is the term used to describe the process by which one language replaces another.

Which of the following is NOT a common type of language change?

  1. Sound changes

  2. Grammatical changes

  3. Semantic changes

  4. Lexical changes


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Semantic changes are not a common type of language change.

What is the term for the process by which new words are created?

  1. Neologism

  2. Borrowing

  3. Calque

  4. Blending


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Neologism is the term used to describe the process by which new words are created.

Which of the following is NOT a common type of neologism?

  1. Coinages

  2. Acronyms

  3. Initialisms

  4. Eponyms


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Eponyms are not a common type of neologism.

What is the term for the process by which words change their meaning over time?

  1. Semantic Change

  2. Lexical Change

  3. Grammatical Change

  4. Sound Change


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Semantic change is the term used to describe the process by which words change their meaning over time.

Which of the following is NOT a common type of semantic change?

  1. Broadening

  2. Narrowing

  3. Figurative Extension

  4. Euphemism


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Euphemism is not a common type of semantic change.

What is the term for the process by which languages borrow words from other languages?

  1. Borrowing

  2. Calque

  3. Blending

  4. Neologism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Borrowing is the term used to describe the process by which languages borrow words from other languages.

Which of the following is NOT a common type of borrowing?

  1. Loanwords

  2. Calques

  3. Blends

  4. Cognates


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Cognates are not a common type of borrowing.

What is the term for the process by which two languages influence each other?

  1. Language Contact

  2. Language Shift

  3. Language Death

  4. Language Revival


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language contact is the term used to describe the process by which two languages influence each other.

Which of the following is NOT a common type of language contact?

  1. Borrowing

  2. Calquing

  3. Code-switching

  4. Pidginization


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Pidginization is not a common type of language contact.

What is the term for a language that has developed from a pidgin?

  1. Creole

  2. Pidgin

  3. Dialect

  4. Standard Language


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Creole is the term used to describe a language that has developed from a pidgin.

Which of the following is NOT a common characteristic of creoles?

  1. They are spoken as a native language.

  2. They have a simplified grammar.

  3. They have a limited vocabulary.

  4. They are used for communication between people from different language backgrounds.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Creoles do not typically have a limited vocabulary.

What is the term for the process by which a language dies out?

  1. Language Death

  2. Language Shift

  3. Language Contact

  4. Language Revival


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language death is the term used to describe the process by which a language dies out.

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of language death?

  1. Assimilation

  2. Conquest

  3. Migration

  4. Natural Disasters


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Natural disasters are not a common cause of language death.

What is the term for the process by which a language is revived?

  1. Language Revival

  2. Language Shift

  3. Language Contact

  4. Language Death


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language revival is the term used to describe the process by which a language is revived.

Which of the following is NOT a common method of language revival?

  1. Teaching the language in schools

  2. Encouraging its use in the media

  3. Creating dictionaries and grammars

  4. Forcing people to speak the language


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Forcing people to speak the language is not a common method of language revival.

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