Question 1

___________are symbols that you create, learn, and use to express your thoughts and feelings.
A) Emotions
B) Words
C) Transitions
D) Factors

Accepted Answer

Words are the symbols that individuals create, learn, and use to express their thoughts and feelings.

Question 2

Saying that words are ___________ means that a word represents what it is referring to either by association, resemblance, or convention.
A) reactive
B) transitional
C) symbolic
D) literal

Accepted Answer

Words are considered symbolic because they represent ideas, objects, or relationships through convention, rather than by resembling them directly or being inherently connected to what they represent.

Question 3

Saying that words are ___________ means that the relationship between the word and what it stands for is random, subjective, or coincidental.
A) arbitrary
B) subjective
C) connotative
D) functional

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "arbitrary," which means that the relationship between words and their meanings is not fixed or necessary but rather random or based on convention.

Question 4

___________created the "triangle of meaning."
A) Aristotle
B) Plato
C) Edward Hall and John Oates
D) Charles Ogden and Ivor Richards

Accepted Answer

Charles Ogden and Ivor Richards created the "triangle of meaning" to illustrate the relationships between words, thoughts or references, and things.

Question 5

Which of the following is TRUE in regard to words and their meanings?
A) Words can have more than one denotative meaning.
B) Words can only have one connotative meaning.
C) Words are never arbitrary.
D) Audiences usually share the same connotative and denotative meanings for words as the speaker.

Accepted Answer

Words can indeed have more than one denotative meaning, which refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word. Different contexts or disciplines can assign different denotative meanings to the same word.

Question 6

The accepted meaning of a word, the one that is foundin the dictionary, is called its ___________ meaning.
A) connotative
B) denotative
C) symbolic
D) subjective

Accepted Answer

Denotative meaning is the accepted meaning of a word, the one that is found in the dictionary.

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE in regard to connotative meanings?
A) They are not found in the dictionary.
B) They are always arbitrary but never symbolic.
C) They are always symbolic but never arbitrary.
D) They are the same for every person.

Accepted Answer

Connotative meanings are the emotional or cultural associations beyond the literal meaning of a word, which are not typically found in the dictionary. These meanings can vary between different people or cultures, making them subjective rather than universally defined.

Question 8

When Ellen hears the word "hospital," she has an intense, negative reaction. She is experiencing the ___________meaning of the word.
A) standard
B) connotative
C) literal
D) objective

Accepted Answer

The connotative meaning of a word refers to the emotional or cultural association attached to it, beyond its literal definition. Ellen's intense, negative reaction to the word "hospital" is an example of a connotative meaning, as it goes beyond the word's standard, objective definition to evoke personal feelings.

Question 9

___________ is learned patterns of beliefs, values, attitudes, norms, practices, customs, and behaviors shared by a large group of people.
A) Ethnicity
B) Emotion
C) Culture
D) Character

Accepted Answer

Culture encompasses the learned patterns of beliefs, values, attitudes, norms, practices, customs, and behaviors shared by a large group of people, distinguishing it from ethnicity, emotion, and character.

Question 10

Culture includes all of the following EXCEPT
A) personality.
B) values.
C) attitudes.
D) customs.

Accepted Answer

Culture encompasses shared values, attitudes, customs, and social behaviors of a society but does not include individual personality traits, which are unique to each person.

Question 11

Which of the following is TRUE about culture?
A) It is shared through symbolic interaction.
B) It rarely changes.
C) Each person can only be part of one culture.
D) Language acts as an obstruction to the transmission of culture.

Accepted Answer

Culture is shared and transmitted through symbols, language, and interactions, making symbolic interaction a key component in the sharing and perpetuation of culture.

Question 12

Tessa spends most of her time in chat rooms and on social media connecting with others who share her interests. Tessa and her cyber-friends have a set of norms, customs, behavior, and language that they employ in their interactions. In this scenario, Tessa and her friends are members of a shared
A) ethnicity.
B) cult.
C) culture.
D) kinship group.

Accepted Answer

Tessa and her friends share a culture, as indicated by their common norms, customs, behavior, and language within their online community. This aligns with the definition of culture, which encompasses the shared practices, values, and beliefs of a group.

Question 13

Which of the following is an ethical guideline for using language?
A) use appropriate language
B) use emotionally rich language
C) connotative meanings of words are rarely offensive
D) denotative meanings of words are often offensive

Accepted Answer

Using appropriate language is an ethical guideline because it ensures communication is respectful, clear, and suitable for the audience and context, avoiding harm or misunderstanding.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the power of language is NOT true?
A) The power of language is always used in a positive manner.
B) Language can help create equality.
C) Language has the ability to disempower.
D) The power of language can be used on both a conscious and unconscious level.

Accepted Answer

The power of language is not always used in a positive manner; it can be used negatively to harm, manipulate, or disempower individuals or groups.

Question 15

In his speech about computer programming, Jeremiah used highly technical language, known as ___________ , which confused his audience.
A) hyperbole
B) malapropism
C) jargon
D) cliché

Accepted Answer

Jargon refers to specialized language used in a particular profession or field that may not be understood by outsiders, which fits the context of using highly technical language in a speech about computer programming that confused the audience.

Question 16

Keeping your language clear and familiar is highly contingent on
A) performing thorough research.
B) knowing your speaking venue.
C) knowing your audience.
D) the time of day you are speaking.

Accepted Answer

Knowing your audience is crucial for keeping your language clear and familiar, as it allows you to tailor your language and examples to their level of understanding and interests.

Question 17

Using the word "bro" for brother is an example of the use of a(n)
A) abbreviation.
B) acronym.
C) synonym.
D) malapropism.

Accepted Answer

"Bro" is an abbreviation of the word "brother," where a part of the word is used to represent the whole word.

Question 18

A word formed from the initials or other parts of several words is called a(n)
A) synonym.
B) acronym.
C) malapropism.
D) hyperbole.

Accepted Answer

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word. Examples include NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus).

Question 19

When you refer to the National Communication Association as the "NCA," you are using a(n)
A) synonym.
B) antonym.
C) analogy.
D) acronym.

Accepted Answer

The National Communication Association is abbreviated as "NCA," which makes "NCA" an acronym. An acronym is a type of abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.

Question 20

"GDP" is a(n) ___________ for Gross Domestic Product.
A) acronym
B) abbreviation
C) malapropism
D) antonym

Accepted Answer

GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product, making it an acronym where each letter represents a word in the term it stands for.

Quiz 9: Using Language Successfully

___________are symbols that you create, learn, and use to express your thoughts and feelings.

Saying that words are ___________ means that a word represents what it is referring to either by association, resemblance, or convention.

Saying that words are ___________ means that the relationship between the word and what it stands for is random, subjective, or coincidental.

___________created the "triangle of meaning."

Which of the following is TRUE in regard to words and their meanings?

The accepted meaning of a word, the one that is foundin the dictionary, is called its ___________ meaning.

Which of the following is TRUE in regard to connotative meanings?

When Ellen hears the word "hospital," she has an intense, negative reaction. She is experiencing the ___________meaning of the word.

___________ is learned patterns of beliefs, values, attitudes, norms, practices, customs, and behaviors shared by a large group of people.

Culture includes all of the following EXCEPT

Which of the following is TRUE about culture?

Tessa spends most of her time in chat rooms and on social media connecting with others who share her interests. Tessa and her cyber-friends have a set of norms, customs, behavior, and language that they employ in their interactions. In this scenario, Tessa and her friends are members of a shared

Which of the following is an ethical guideline for using language?

Which of the following statements about the power of language is NOT true?

In his speech about computer programming, Jeremiah used highly technical language, known as ___________ , which confused his audience.

Keeping your language clear and familiar is highly contingent on

Using the word "bro" for brother is an example of the use of a(n)

A word formed from the initials or other parts of several words is called a(n)

When you refer to the National Communication Association as the "NCA," you are using a(n)

"GDP" is a(n) ___________ for Gross Domestic Product.