Question 1

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that babies initially babble sounds that are used in many different languages, not just the language(s) they hear from their parents. As they develop and are exposed to more language input, they start to narrow down their babbling to the sounds of their native language.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Rules of syntax serve as the foundation for all language use, as they dictate the arrangement and organization of words in a sentence. This applies to all languages, regardless of the specific structure or grammar of the language. While children do eventually master syntax, it is not necessarily the first component of language they learn, as they also need to acquire vocabulary and basic grammatical structures first. Additionally, while speakers may be able to use a rule of syntax without being able to verbalize it, this does not mean they do not understand or follow the rule. Finally, while progress has been made in understanding how we learn syntax, it remains a complex process that is not yet fully understood by psycholinguists.

Question 3

At about what age do babies start babbling?

Accepted Answer

Babbling typically starts around 6 months of age. This is when babies begin to produce repetitive syllables, such as "ba-ba" or "da-da," which is a key developmental milestone in language acquisition.

Question 4

The sentence, "The nervous the stared thick at exam student" would be virtually impossible for an English speaker to understand. Which type of rule is being violated?

Accepted Answer

The sentence violates the rules of syntax, which dictate the proper order and arrangement of words in a sentence for it to be grammatically correct and understandable.

Question 5

What occurs when the word "able" is changed to the word "table"?

Accepted Answer

Changing "able" to "table" adds a phoneme (the sound /t/) without changing the morphemic structure; "able" and "table" both contain one morpheme, indicating the base meaning remains unchanged, but the sound structure is altered by adding a phoneme.

Question 6

A declarative sentence must have both a noun phrase and a verb phrase. Which type of rule is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of the rule of syntax, which states that in order for a sentence to be grammatically correct, it must include a subject (noun phrase) and a predicate (verb phrase).

Question 7

Which of the following words has the same number of morphemes as the word 'unbeliever'?

Accepted Answer

The word 'unbeliever' has three morphemes: 'un-', 'believe', and '-er'. The word 'resented' also has three morphemes: 're-', 'sent', and '-ed'.

Question 8

What is the function of the component of language called semantics?

Accepted Answer

The function of semantics in language is to understand the meaning of words and word combinations. It is concerned with the study of meaning and interpretation of words, phrases, sentences, and texts. Semantics is essential in understanding and using language effectively.

Question 9

What is the denotation of a word?

Accepted Answer

The denotation of a word is its dictionary definition, which makes B the best choice. Options A, C, and D may be related to different aspects of the word's meaning, but they are not direct definitions of denotation.

Question 10

How many morphemes are in the word "unchangeable"?

Accepted Answer

"Unchangeable" can be broken down into three morphemes:
- "Un" meaning not
- "Change" meaning to make or become different
- "Able" meaning capable of being done.

Question 11

Which component of language allows you to recognize that "give" and "take" have opposite meanings?

Accepted Answer

The component of language that allows us to recognize that "give" and "take" have opposite meanings is semantics. Semantics is the study of meaning in language and the relationships between words, phrases, and meanings. In this case, we understand that "give" and "take" are antonyms, or words with opposite meanings, based on our knowledge of their semantic relationship.

Question 12

Which of the following would change depending on whether you used a word in a literal sentence or a sarcastic sentence?

Accepted Answer

Connotation refers to the implied meaning or emotional association of a word, which can vary depending on the context in which it is used. In a literal sentence, a word may have its straightforward, dictionary definition or denotation. However, in a sarcastic sentence, the speaker's tone and intention can give the word a completely different connotation. Therefore, the connotation of a word would change depending on whether it is used in a literal or sarcastic sentence.

Question 13

You are at a daycare centre and you hear three 12-month-old babies babbling, each baby from a different racial/ethnic background (Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian). What should be true of the babbling of each of these infants?

Accepted Answer

According to research on babbling, infants tend to produce sounds that are specific to the language spoken around them. This means that infants from different racial/ethnic backgrounds are likely to produce babbling sounds that reflect the phonemes and intonation patterns of their respective native languages. So, the babbling of each infant is likely to be different from one another, and similar to the sounds of their parents' native language.

Question 14

What is the connotation of a word?

Accepted Answer

The connotation of a word refers to its emotional overtones and secondary implications, which may go beyond its dictionary definition.

Question 15

What is produced in "babbling"?

Accepted Answer

Babbling refers to the production of a wide variety of phonemes and consonant-vowel combinations as infants learn to control their vocalizations.

Question 16

What occurs when the word "jar" is changed to the word "jars"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What occurs when the word "jar" is...

Question 17

Last year, 5-year-old Alonda would say "No he coming" when explaining to her younger sister that their older brother would be staying home. Now Alonda will tell her sister "He's not coming." Which aspect of language does this example illustrate development in?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates development in syntax, which is the rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences. Alonda has progressed from a less grammatically correct phrase ("No he coming") to a more correct phrase ("He's not coming").

Question 18

What should you expect to find if you were to compare adult speech with the variety of noises made by infants under six months of age?

Accepted Answer

Infants have the ability to produce a wide range of phonemes from all languages, but as they grow, they specialize in the phonemes of their native language, reducing the variety they produce compared to adults.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is least accurate?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the sounds babbled by babies from different cultures are actually quite similar, indicating that they are influenced more by biology than culture. So, this statement is the least accurate.

Question 20

What type of rule does syntax refer to?

Accepted Answer

Syntax refers to the rules for arranging words into phrases and sentences in a grammatically correct manner. It includes rules for word order, punctuation, and sentence structure.

Quiz 8: A: Language and Thought

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

At about what age do babies start babbling?

The sentence, "The nervous the stared thick at exam student" would be virtually impossible for an English speaker to understand. Which type of rule is being violated?

What occurs when the word "able" is changed to the word "table"?

A declarative sentence must have both a noun phrase and a verb phrase. Which type of rule is this an example of?

Which of the following words has the same number of morphemes as the word 'unbeliever'?

What is the function of the component of language called semantics?

What is the denotation of a word?

How many morphemes are in the word "unchangeable"?

Which component of language allows you to recognize that "give" and "take" have opposite meanings?

Which of the following would change depending on whether you used a word in a literal sentence or a sarcastic sentence?

You are at a daycare centre and you hear three 12-month-old babies babbling, each baby from a different racial/ethnic background (Asian, Hispanic, and Caucasian) . What should be true of the babbling of each of these infants?

What is the connotation of a word?

What is produced in "babbling"?

What occurs when the word "jar" is changed to the word "jars"?

Last year, 5-year-old Alonda would say "No he coming" when explaining to her younger sister that their older brother would be staying home. Now Alonda will tell her sister "He's not coming." Which aspect of language does this example illustrate development in?

What should you expect to find if you were to compare adult speech with the variety of noises made by infants under six months of age?

Which of the following statements is least accurate?

What type of rule does syntax refer to?