Quiz on Semantics

What is semantics?

• The study of grammar

• The study of meaning in language

• The study of sentence structure

• The study of phonetics

Which of the following is TRUE about semantic meaning?

• It is always context-dependent

• It is different from pragmatic meaning, which is context-free

• It is context-free, while pragmatic meaning depends on context

• It is not related to pragmatics

Which of the following is an example of a pragmatic meaning rather than a semantic meaning?

• "I am on a diet" meaning "I want to lose weight"

• "I am on a diet" meaning "I don’t want to eat cake"

• "I am reading a book" meaning "I am holding a book"

• "Water is wet" meaning "Water has a wet nature"

Which of the following is an example of a pragmatic meaning rather than a semantic meaning?

• "I am on a diet" meaning "I want to lose weight"

• "I am on a diet" meaning "I don’t want to eat cake"

• "I am reading a book" meaning "I am holding a book"

• "Water is wet" meaning "Water has a wet nature"

What is an utterance?

• A grammatically correct sequence of words

• A linguistic unit used in a specific occasion

• A sentence with a clear meaning

• A proposition describing an action

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an utterance?

• It is a physical event

• It always follows grammatical rules

• It can be a single word or phrase

• It is tied to a specific context

Which sentence expresses the same proposition as "Harry took out the garbage"?

• "Harry removed the garbage"

• "Harry took the garbage out"

• "The garbage was taken out by Tom"

• "Harry dislikes garbage"

Which is the correct distinction between a sentence and an utterance?

• A sentence is spoken, an utterance is written

• A sentence is an abstract unit, an utterance is its physical realization

• A sentence depends on context, an utterance does not

• A sentence is a linguistic event, an utterance is grammatical

What are semantic features?

• The study of syntax

• The smallest units of meaning in a word

• The way words are pronounced

• The rules of forming sentences

Which of the following words shares the same semantic feature [+female]?

• Mother, father, son, brother

• Aunt, widow, actress, hen

• Dog, cat, fish, tiger

• Professor, doctor, engineer, pilot