Descriptive linguistics

What is the main focus of descriptive linguistics?

• Prescribing language rules

• Describing how people use language

• Teaching grammar in schools

• Analyzing ancient languages

In descriptive linguistics, what is a "phoneme"?

• A written representation of a word

• A distinct sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word

• A type of sentence structure

• A synonym for a morpheme

Which branch of linguistics studies the structure of sentences and phrases?

• Pragmatics

• Phonetics

• Syntax

• Morphology

What does the term "synchronic linguistics" refer to?

• The study of how languages change over time

• The study of the sounds of language

• The study of language at a particular point in time

• The study of written language only

Which linguist is often considered the founder of modern descriptive linguistics?

• Noam Chomsky

• Ferdinand de Saussure

• Edward Sapir

• William Shakespeare