Question 1

People living in nations that are bilingual or multilingual are much more likely to engage in violent ethnic conflict than are people living in nations that are monolingual.

Accepted Answer

There is no clear evidence to suggest that bilingual or multilingual nations are more prone to violent ethnic conflict. In fact, many bilingual or multilingual nations have managed to maintain peace and harmony by promoting intercultural understanding and tolerance. Factors such as political instability, economic inequality, and historical grievances are more likely to contribute to violent ethnic conflict than language diversity.

Question 2

Sexist language and negative gender stereotypes expressed in language are only used by men.

Accepted Answer

Sexist language and negative gender stereotypes can be expressed by individuals of any gender, not just men. It is important to combat these harmful language practices and promote inclusive language for all genders.

Question 3

How is language linked to gender? Use examples from the text and add two different examples of your own.

Accepted Answer

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Question 4

Would it be accurate to claim language as a distinguishing feature of Homo sapiens? Why,or why not? What evidence exists for the uniqueness or non-uniqueness of human language?

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

Black English is not just some random form of "broken-down English," intrinsically inferior to Standard English,but rather is a speech variety with its own long history and grammatical rules.

Accepted Answer

Black English, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), is a legit dialect with its own structure and history. It is not a lesser version of Standard English.

Question 6

Today,visual anthropology provides opportunities for people who used to be the subject of films to use film media to present their world view in a form of ethnic self-assertion.

Accepted Answer

Visual anthropology has evolved to involve a more collaborative approach between the filmmaker and the subjects being filmed. This allows for a more equitable representation of different cultures and ways of life. As a result, people who were previously objects of study are now empowered to assert their own cultural identity and worldviews through filmmaking.

Question 7

The percentage of Canadian Aboriginal people living off-reserve who continue to use their Aboriginal languages is declining rapidly.

Accepted Answer

According to a report from Statistics Canada, the percentage of Canadian Aboriginal people living off-reserve who reported speaking an Aboriginal language at home has decreased from 18% in 2006 to 14% in 2016. This represents a decline of about 22% in the proportion of off-reserve Aboriginal people speaking an Aboriginal language at home. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 8

Discuss the consequences of efforts either to suppress or to preserve and encourage Canadian Aboriginal languages.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

The chimpanzee Washoe taught signing to Loulis,her adopted offspring.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Washoe was the first non-human to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and she later taught it to her adopted offspring, Loulis.

Question 10

There are many dialects of Mandarin spoken in China.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Mandarin is a spoken language in China, which has many dialects.

Question 11

Black English has discourse practices traceable to West African languages and a vibrant oral literature worthy of respect.

Accepted Answer

Black English, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), has linguistic features that can be traced back to West African languages such as Yoruba and Hausa. Additionally, African American oral literature has a long and rich history, including genres such as call and response, spirituals, blues, and hip hop. Both the linguistic and cultural aspects of Black English are deserving of respect and recognition.

Question 12

All children in modern mainland China learn to speak Mandarin in school,which means that they can be understood anywhere they go in China.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

What is linguistic nationalism? Should Canada do more to encourage and support the use of minority languages within its borders? Should Quebec continue to legislate protection for the French language? Give reasons for your answers.

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Ethnolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language and culture.

Accepted Answer

Ethnolinguistics is indeed the study of the relationship between language and culture.

Question 15

At the beginning of the 15th century,there were 15,000 languages spoken,but by the beginning of the 21st century,there were only 6,000 languages still being spoken

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The loss of languages over time is due to various factors such as globalization, colonization, and migration.

Question 16

Explain and critique the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

In the early 20th century,First Nations children attending residential schools were forbidden to speak their Aboriginal languages.

Accepted Answer

This is true. As part of the assimilation policies in Canada, Indigenous children attending residential schools were punished and often physically abused if caught speaking their Native languages. The objective was to force them to learn English and adopt Canadian culture. This policy had a devastating impact on Indigenous languages and cultures, as generations of children were separated from their families, communities and traditions.

Question 18

According to the hypothesis developed by Sapir and Whorf,if you had only one word to describe what English-speakers call "red" and "yellow," you would not be likely to perceive the shades of red and yellow in a sunset.

Accepted Answer

According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language influences thought and perception. If an individual only had one word to describe both red and yellow, they may not be able to differentiate between the two colors and therefore may not perceive the shades of red and yellow in a sunset.

Question 19

What problems have been encountered in attempting to understand the origins of language?

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Asen Balikci's Netsilik Inuit film series was removed from U.S.school curricula,because educators and the public failed to understand the educational value of the series.

Accepted Answer

Asen Balikci's Netsilik Inuit film series was indeed removed from U.S. school curricula, because educators and the public failed to understand the educational value of the series.

Quiz 4: Language and Communication