WorksheetsWhat is a Language?
Total questions: 10
Worksheet time: 5mins
What is a language?
A system of arbitrary conventionalized symbols
A system of random sounds combined together
A system of non-verbal gestures only
A system of written symbols only
Arbitrary means there is no relationship between the sound and the meaning of the word. The meaning is randomly assigned by speakers of the language.
True
False
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of knowing a language?
Knowing what sounds/ signs are in that language
Knowing how to produce new sentences
Knowing how to interpret sounds produced by others
Knowing how to speak multiple languages
What does the ability to produce new sentences never spoken before demonstrate?
Displacement
Discreteness
Creativity
Conventionality
Which of the following sequences of sounds are examples of knowing certain sequences signify certain concepts?
Toy, boy
Glucose, glory, globe
Glare, glint, gleam
None of the above
What is an example of a sentence that conforms to the English grammar rules for forming sentences?
She eats breakfast at the canteen.
She breakfast eats at the canteen.
At the canteen, she breakfast eats.
None of the above
Which property of language refers to the ability to refer to different times and places?
Discreteness
Creativity
Conventionality
Displacement
What does discreteness in language refer to?
Ability to refer to different times and places
Ability to form new sentences
Ability to break language into chunks
Ability to understand sounds and symbols of the language
Is sign language considered a fully developed language?
Yes, it has its own grammatical rules and mental lexicon.
No, it is not considered a language.
Yes, but it lacks grammatical rules.
No, it is only a form of communication.
What things do spoken language and sign language have in common?
Grammatical rules
Mental lexicons
Performance factors, e.g, nervousness
All of the above
