Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true regarding language and Native Americans?

Accepted Answer

"Native American English" refers specifically to the English dialects spoken by Native Americans, rather than any dialect created on American soil.

Question 2

Thinking of the diversity of languages and dialects in the U.S., which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

"Yellow English" is not a dialect spoken by Asian immigrants, but rather a derogatory term sometimes used to describe the speech of Asian Americans.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a lingua franca?

Accepted Answer

A lingua franca is a third language used by people who speak different languages to communicate with each other. It is not the dominant language of any group in a language contact situation, but rather a mutually understood language used for practical purposes.

Question 4

Arabic is diglossic because:

Accepted Answer

Arabic is diglossic because there are two separate forms of the language used for different functions and purposes. Standard Arabic is generally used for religious or formal writing while regional or national dialects are used for everyday speech. This division of the language has been recognized for centuries and persists in contemporary Arabic-speaking societies.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true regarding heritage languages?

Accepted Answer

The statement that "the term is only applied to minority languages with significant numbers of speakers that have dominance within particular communities" is incorrect. Heritage languages can refer to any language that is learned at home or from the community that is different from the language(s) spoken by the majority in the society or country. It does not necessarily depend on the number of speakers or dominance within a particular community.

Question 6

Which of the following describes "Yellow English?"

Accepted Answer

"Yellow English" refers to the negative stereotypes and images of Asian English that are perpetuated by popular culture, often portraying it in a derogatory or mocking manner.

Question 7

Which of the following was the primary language of Sephardic Jews when they first immigrated to North America?

Accepted Answer

Dzhudezmo, also known as Judeo-Spanish or Ladino, was the primary language of Sephardic Jews when they first immigrated to North America. It is a language similar to medieval Spanish with Hebrew and Turkish influences.

Question 8

Which of the following statements in NOT true of Asian immigration?

Accepted Answer

The number of Asian immigrants to the United States has actually increased over the last few decades, not decreased.

Question 9

Which of the following languages has been spoken for the longest time in the geographical area that is present-day United States?

Accepted Answer

Spanish was spoken in parts of what is now the United States (such as Florida and the Southwest) before English, with Spanish explorers and settlers arriving in the 16th century, earlier than the English colonization efforts.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT true of the history of German language and its speakers in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

While there has been a resurgence of interest in heritage German classes in recent years, German speakers in the U.S. have not been able to resist the shift towards monolingual English. The use of German declined drastically during and after WWI, and today English is the dominant language in the U.S. with only a small percentage of the population speaking German at home.

Question 11

Which of the following statements in NOT true of Chinese heritage speakers and their history in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

The number of Chinese immigrants to the United States has actually increased over the last few decades, not decreased.

Question 12

Choose two of the immigrant groups that we have discussed this semester, then compare and contrast their language use, disuse, and maintenance in terms of their community histories and contemporary situations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose two of the immigrant groups that...

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT considered a reason for the continued maintenance of Spanish in the US?

Accepted Answer

The increased prestige of the language through the use of Mock Spanish is not a valid reason for the maintenance of Spanish in the US. In fact, the use of Mock Spanish is often considered derogatory and disrespectful to the Spanish language and its speakers. The other options provide valid reasons for the continued maintenance of Spanish in the US.

Question 14

A family that consists of parents who are first-generation immigrants from Mexico and their US-born children have designated Tuesday nights as "Spanish-only" nights in their household. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of language maintenance because the family is intentionally enforcing the use of their heritage language (Spanish) in their home to ensure that it is passed down to future generations.

Question 15

Define the terms "Mock Spanish" and "Spanglish" and discuss what each reveals about the connection between language and identity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the terms "Mock Spanish" and "Spanglish"...

Quiz 7: Native American Languages; Other Heritage Languages; Spanish As a Heritage Language