Linguistics Quiz

According to Ferdinand de Saussure, what should linguistics recognize?

• Laws applicable only to ancient languages

• Laws operating universally in language

• Laws restricted to one branch of languages

• Laws specific to English language

What is linguistic competence primarily concerned with?

• Knowledge of mathematics

• Knowledge of history and geography

• Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary

• Knowledge of music theory

What does Noam Chomsky refer to as the 'human essence'?

• Distinctive qualities of machines

• Distinctive qualities of animals

• Distinctive qualities of mind unique to man

• Distinctive qualities of plants

What is linguistic performance in relation to linguistic competence?

• Use of linguistic competence in language production and comprehension

• Use of linguistic competence in cooking

• Use of linguistic competence in art

• Use of linguistic competence in sports

Which of the following is NOT a sub-discipline of linguistics?

• Phonetics

• Syntax

• Biology

• Semantics

What is the basic building block of a language according to the text?

• Punctuation marks

• Spelling rules

• Capitalization rules

• Grammar and vocabulary

What does mental grammar represent?

• The externalized grammar accounting for linguistic ability

• The internalized grammar accounting for linguistic ability

• The externalized grammar accounting for mathematical ability

• The internalized grammar accounting for musical ability

What does linguistic competence allow in terms of sentence length?

• Ten-word sentences

• One-hundred-word sentences

• One-thousand-word sentences

• One-million-word sentences

What is the relationship between competence and performance?

• Competence is knowledge, performance is behavior

• Competence is behavior, performance is knowledge

• Competence is knowledge, performance is art

• Competence is knowledge, performance is cooking

Which of the following is a sub-field of linguistics?

• Morphology

• Painting

• Sculpture

• Dance