Question 1

Derek was unable to go to work as he had a fever.He informed his boss over a call and his boss asked him to take the day off.This scenario reflects _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario reflects a speech act, which is the act of using language in a specific way to achieve a communicative goal, in this case, Derek informing his boss that he is unable to come to work.

Question 2

A(n) _____ is a person's own personal symbol system that includes his or her active vocabularies and his or her unique pronunciations, grammar, and syntax.

Accepted Answer

An idiolect consists of a person's own personal symbol system that includes his or her active vocabularies and his or her unique pronunciations, grammar, and syntax. A register is a variety of language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting. An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, typically associated with a particular country, area, or social group. A dialect is a form of a language that is specific to a particular region or social group.

Question 3

Which of the following best defines the term phonology?

Accepted Answer

Phonology is the study of the sounds used to pronounce words, including the way they are organized and combined in language.

Question 4

Laura said to Adam, "I need a few suggestions regarding work." Then, she added, "I need suggestions on how to compute a quarterly report of the new sales team." In this scenario, Laura uses _____.

Accepted Answer

Laura uses specific language by mentioning the particular task for which she needs suggestions, i.e. computing a quarterly report of the new sales team.

Question 5

A(n) _____ is a complete unit of talk bounded by a speaker's silence.

Accepted Answer

An utterance is a complete unit of speech or writing, bounded by a speaker's silence or a writer's punctuation. It is a coherent and complete expression of thought or idea. Therefore, the best choice for this question is option A) utterance. The other options - B) syllable, C) letter, and D) morpheme - do not capture the meaning of a complete unit of talk the way utterance does.

Question 6

Linguistic sensitivity is achieved:

Accepted Answer

Linguistic sensitivity is achieved when words that indicate racial distinctions are avoided. This means avoiding language that may be offensive or hurtful to certain groups of people based on their race, ethnicity, or cultural background. Using inclusive language that is mindful of diverse perspectives and experiences is key to achieving linguistic sensitivity. Avoiding racial distinctions is particularly important because it can help to promote greater unity, understanding, and respect among people from different backgrounds.

Question 7

In which of the following situations will the usage of slang or jargon improve semantics?

Accepted Answer

The usage of slang or jargon can improve semantics when the meaning of the slang or jargon is already defined. This means that the audience is familiar with the words being used and they are being used correctly in context, which can enhance understanding and communication. In other situations (such as A and B), the use of slang or jargon may actually hinder communication because not everyone may understand the meaning behind the words being used.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of direct verbal style?

Accepted Answer

Direct verbal style openly states a speaker's intention without being indirect, thus making it clear and straightforward.

Question 9

A(n) _____ is the utterance of a verbal message and what it implies about how the listener should respon d.

Accepted Answer

A speech act is a type of language behavior that expresses an intention or meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves. It includes both the words spoken (verbal message) and the implied action or response that the listener should take. Examples of speech acts include making promises, giving orders, asking questions, and making apologies.

Question 10

_____ does not use words that apply only to one sex, race, or other group as though they represent everyone.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____ does not use words that apply...

Question 11

George is an octogenarian.Every time he visits his granddaughter, he finds that she uses strange and new words like YOLO and tweeting.Likewise, his granddaughter misinterprets some of his vocabulary, and both of them end up explaining their vocabulary to each other.Which of the following characteristics of language is indicated in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The scenario indicates that language is constantly changing, as new words and meanings are introduced and old ones become obsolete. This is evident in the way George's granddaughter uses new words like YOLO and tweeting, which are likely unfamiliar to him due to their recent emergence in popular culture. Likewise, George's own vocabulary may contain words or phrases that his granddaughter finds unfamiliar or outdated. This dynamic suggests that language is not a fixed or static system, but rather one that is constantly evolving over time.

Question 12

For a word to have meaning, it must:

Accepted Answer

For a word to have meaning, it must stand for a particular object, idea, or feeling. Without this connection, the word is meaningless. The other choices are not necessary for a word to have meaning.

Question 13

_____ is the implicit additional meaning we associate with a wor d.

Accepted Answer

Connotation refers to the implied or suggested meaning of a word, beyond its literal or denotative meaning. It is often influenced by cultural, social, or emotional associations connected to the word.

Question 14

Unlike semantic meaning, pragmatic meaning:

Accepted Answer

Pragmatic meaning refers to how language is used in a particular context and can vary depending on the speaker, the audience, and the situation. It goes beyond the denotative (literal) meaning of words and considers the social, cultural, and contextual factors that influence communication. It is, therefore, not limited to a particular culture or language and can change within a single language or community.

Question 15

_____ varies according to the norms of a particular culture or co-culture.

Accepted Answer

Sociolinguistic meaning refers to the social and cultural context in which language is used, and therefore varies according to the norms of a particular culture or co-culture.

Question 16

Which of the following is true of a speech community?

Accepted Answer

A speech community is a group of people who share a common language or dialect. It can be large or small, and can encompass people in a particular region, social group, or even profession. However, it is not necessarily limited to a single neighborhood, nor is it a melting pot for language. Option A is incorrect since it doesn't define the size of a speech community.

Question 17

A(n) _____ is a unique form of a more general language spoken by a specific culture or co-culture.

Accepted Answer

Dialect refers to a unique form of a more general language spoken by a specific culture or co-culture. An accent refers to the way a person pronounces words specific to their region or language. Syntax refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. An idiolect refers to an individual's unique way of speaking or writing.

Question 18

Which of the following is true of a language community?

Accepted Answer

A language community consists of individuals who share a common language or dialect, and therefore members of the community use different dialects of the same language. Option B is incorrect because if the members spoke different languages, they would not be considered a language community. Option C is incorrect because a language community may span across different countries. Option D is incorrect because sign language is a separate language and not a dialect of a spoken language.

Question 19

Madison looks up the dictionary to find the meaning of the word "restitution." In this case, she is looking for the _____ of the wor d.

Accepted Answer

Madison is looking for the literal or primary meaning of the word "restitution," which is the denotative meaning.

Question 20

Thomas is a senior sales manager at Rue and West Bros., a furniture company.The company received a series of complaints regarding the last few batches of delivery.The CEO of Rue and West Bros.sent an e-mail to Thomas asking him to take care of the complaints immediately.In this scenario, which of the following replies would be considered an idiom?

Accepted Answer

"I'll sort the complaints at the drop of a hat" is an idiom meaning that Thomas will handle the complaints quickly and without hesitation. The other options are not idioms.

Quiz 4: Verbal Messages