Language and Universals

Description: This quiz covers the topic of Language and Universals in linguistics. It explores the fundamental properties and characteristics that are common across various languages, providing insights into the underlying principles of human language.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: language universals linguistics comparative linguistics language acquisition
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Which of the following is NOT a universal feature of human language?

  1. Duality of patterning

  2. Recursion

  3. Arbitrariness of the sign

  4. Holographic principle


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The holographic principle is not a universal feature of human language. It is a concept from physics that suggests that the entire universe can be encoded in a two-dimensional boundary.

What is the term for the idea that all languages have certain fundamental properties in common?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language universals refer to the idea that all languages share certain fundamental properties, regardless of their geographical location or cultural context.

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

  1. The use of vowels and consonants

  2. The existence of nouns and verbs

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

  4. The use of a tonal system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of vowels and consonants is a universal feature of human language. All languages use these two types of sounds to create words.

What is the term for the idea that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis proposes that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world.

Which of the following is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

  1. The use of color terms

  2. The use of number systems

  3. The use of spatial terms

  4. The use of kinship terms


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of color terms is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Different languages categorize colors in different ways, which suggests that the structure of a language can influence the way its speakers perceive color.

What is the term for the idea that all languages are equally capable of expressing any thought or idea?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The principle of linguistic relativity suggests that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world, while the principle of linguistic universals suggests that all languages are equally capable of expressing any thought or idea.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal that supports the principle of linguistic universals?

  1. The use of color terms

  2. The use of number systems

  3. The use of spatial terms

  4. The use of kinship terms


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The use of number systems is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the principle of linguistic universals. All languages have a system for representing numbers, which suggests that all languages are equally capable of expressing mathematical concepts.

What is the term for the idea that certain linguistic features are found in all languages, regardless of their geographical location or cultural context?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language universals refer to the idea that certain linguistic features are found in all languages, regardless of their geographical location or cultural context.

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

  1. The use of vowels and consonants

  2. The existence of nouns and verbs

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

  4. The use of a tonal system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of vowels and consonants is a universal feature of human language. All languages use these two types of sounds to create words.

What is the term for the idea that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis proposes that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world.

Which of the following is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

  1. The use of color terms

  2. The use of number systems

  3. The use of spatial terms

  4. The use of kinship terms


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of color terms is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Different languages categorize colors in different ways, which suggests that the structure of a language can influence the way its speakers perceive color.

What is the term for the idea that all languages are equally capable of expressing any thought or idea?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The principle of linguistic relativity suggests that the structure of a language influences the way its speakers think and perceive the world, while the principle of linguistic universals suggests that all languages are equally capable of expressing any thought or idea.

Which of the following is an example of a language universal that supports the principle of linguistic universals?

  1. The use of color terms

  2. The use of number systems

  3. The use of spatial terms

  4. The use of kinship terms


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The use of number systems is an example of a linguistic universal that supports the principle of linguistic universals. All languages have a system for representing numbers, which suggests that all languages are equally capable of expressing mathematical concepts.

What is the term for the idea that certain linguistic features are found in all languages, regardless of their geographical location or cultural context?

  1. Language universals

  2. Language relativity

  3. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

  4. Linguistic determinism


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Language universals refer to the idea that certain linguistic features are found in all languages, regardless of their geographical location or cultural context.

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

  1. The use of vowels and consonants

  2. The existence of nouns and verbs

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

  4. The use of a tonal system


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The use of vowels and consonants is a universal feature of human language. All languages use these two types of sounds to create words.

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