Test on History of language 2

What is the main focus of the History of English?

• The history and development of England’s political system
  
  

• The development of English vocabulary, grammar, phonetics
  
  

• The study of Old English literature development

• The influence of Latin on English vocabulary

Why does modern English spelling contain silent letters (e.g., in “knight” and “daughter”)?

• These letters were never pronounced

• They were introduced by the printing press
  
  

• English pronunciation changed over time while spelling remained largely fixed
  
  

• English borrowed these words from Latin

Which discipline is closely related to the History of the English language?

• Theoretical grammar
  
  

• Theoretical phonetics

• Lexicology
  
  

• All of them

Which of the following is an example of extra-linguistic factors influencing language development?

• Sound shifts
  
  
  

• Grammatical changes

• Cultural contact, wars, and migrations

• Phoneme evolution

What is an example of an internal linguistic change?

• The borrowing of words from Latin
  
  

• The introduction of the printing press

• The phonetic shift in vowel pronunciation
  
  

• The Norman Conquest

What is the difference between diachronic and synchronic approaches in linguistic study?

• Diachronic examines historical development, while synchronic analyses a language at a fixed point in time
  
  

• Diachronic studies phonetics only, while synchronic studies grammar
  
  

• Diachronic examines foreign influences, while synchronic focuses on internal changes

• There is no difference between them

Which of the following is not a Germanic language?

• English
  
  
  

• Dutch

• Icelandic
  

• Greek

What branch of Germanic languages does English belong to?

• East Germanic
  

• North Germanic
  

• West Germanic
  

• Southern Germanic

What was the significance of Pytheas’s journey in the 4th century BC?

• He introduced Greek as an official language in Britain

• He provided early descriptions of Germanic tribes
  
  

• He conquered the British Isles
  
  

• He wrote the first English grammar book

What major event is linked to the transition from Middle English to New English?

• The Norman Conquest
  

• The introduction of printing

• The establishment of the Church of England
  

• The Industrial Revolution