Introduction to Linguistics

What is the primary focus of linguistics?

• To prescribe rules for language use

• To scientifically study language

• To analyze literature

• To study the history of languages

Which of the following best describes a vowel?

• A sound produced by complete closure

• A sound that is always voiced

• A sound that restricts airflow

• A sound that needs an open air passage

What distinguishes phonetics from phonology?

• Phonetics studies speech sounds

• Phonology studies actual sounds

• Phonetics studies sound systems

• Phonology studies sound production

Which of the following is NOT a manner of articulation?

• Fricatives

• Affricates

• Plosives

• Consonants

What is the main goal of descriptive linguistics?

• To judge language use

• To teach language rules

• To describe how language works

• To create new languages

Which of the following is a characteristic of language?

• Language is always prescriptive

• Language is arbitrary and symbolic

• Language cannot change over time

• Language is only spoken

What does morphology study?

• The sounds of speech

• The meaning of words

• The formation of words

• The structure of sentences

Which of the following is a type of consonant?

• Vowel

• Affricate

• Morpheme

• Phoneme

What is the role of a linguist?

• To speak multiple languages fluently

• To teach language rules

• To write literature

• To analyze and explain linguistic phenomena

Which of the following is a feature of traditional grammar?

• Focus on spoken language

• Study of language systems

• Descriptive approach

• Prescriptive rules