Question 1

Your new colleague from China does not have much to say during your business meeting. What is a culturally-appropriate explanation for his silence?
A) He did not prepare well for the meeting and is confused
B) His culture places less emphasis on words and relies more on nonverbal cues.
C) He is displeased with your proposal and hopes to quickly end the meeting.
D) His culture's ideas of politeness requires that he let you finish speaking first.

Accepted Answer

In Chinese culture, it is common for people to use fewer words and rely more on nonverbal cues to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Silence is often seen as a sign of respect and attentiveness, so it is possible that your new colleague is simply showing that he is listening carefully to what you have to say. It is important to recognize and respect these cultural differences in communication styles.

Question 2

Masculine and feminine nouns are generally considered inconsequential flukes of grammar. However, Boroditsky found that __________.
A) languages in which nouns have gender are associated with more egalitarian cultures
B) women use feminine gender forms more frequently and men use masculine forms more frequently
C) objects with masculine genders are considered more important than those with feminine gender markings
D) grammatical gender can influence how people think about inanimate objects

Accepted Answer

Boroditsky found that grammatical gender can influence how people think about inanimate objects.

Question 3

Of the several thousand known world languages, __________ are spoken by over 95% of the world's population.
A) more than 1,500
B) about 1,000
C) about 5,000
D) fewer than 100

Accepted Answer

Fewer than 100 languages are spoken by over 95% of the world's population, highlighting the concentration of linguistic diversity within a relatively small number of languages.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true of the English or Navajo languages?
A) Navajo have more grammatical distinctions.
B) English is a more precise language.
C) There are no adjectives in Navajo.
D) There is no future tense in English.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements is true...

Question 5

A U.S. coal company is beginning a new business partnership with mining operations in China. Which of the following individuals would likely be the most effective translator for a meeting?
A) an American translator who is experienced in the methods of coal mining
B) an American translator who formerly worked for the United Nations
C) a Chinese translator who is familiar with both American and Canadian English
D) a Chinese translator who understands American text messaging and slang

Accepted Answer

An American translator who is experienced in the methods of coal mining would be the most effective translator for a meeting between a U.S. coal company and mining operations in China because they would have the technical knowledge to accurately translate the discussions about coal mining.

Question 6

Which of these statements is true regarding gender differences in speech in the United States?
A) Men end their sentences with a rising intonation more often than women.
B) Men phrase more of their sentences as questions than women.
C) Women phrase more of their sentences as directives than men.
D) Women use qualifiers more frequently than men.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women use more qualifiers in their speech, such as "kind of," "sort of," and "maybe," than men do. This could be due to societal expectations of women being more tentative and unsure in their communication style. The other statements are not necessarily true across the board for all men and women in the United States.

Question 7

What percentage of U.S. citizens has a functional proficiency in a second language?
A) less than 10 percent
B) about 25 percent
C) about 50 percent
D) more than 75 percent

Accepted Answer

According to a report from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, only 10 percent of U.S. citizens have a functional proficiency in a second language, which indicates that the correct answer is A) less than 10 percent.

Question 8

Which of the following is the best way to reduce errors in translation?
A) translate the text word-for-word
B) translate the text using the most recent slang and colloquialisms
C) translate the text using very formal language
D) translate the translated message back into the original language

Accepted Answer

Translating the translated message back into the original language can help identify errors or misunderstandings in the first translation. This process, known as back translation, allows for discrepancies to be identified and corrected, leading to a more accurate translation. Option A may lead to literal translations that do not make sense in the target language. Option B may lead to translations that are outdated or inappropriate. Option C may not accurately reflect the tone or style of the original text.

Question 9

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that language is __________.
A) the shaper of ideas
B) determined by gender
C) molded by social class
D) independent of culture

Accepted Answer

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis proposes that the language we use shapes the way we think about the world and influences our perception of reality. This means that language is the shaper of ideas and can affect our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. The other options, such as gender, social class, and culture, may have some role in shaping language but do not capture the essence of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.

Question 10

At a planning session, your British colleagues decide to "table" an item on the agenda. This means you will __________.
A) postpone the item
B) pass the item on to a supervisor
C) give the item top priority
D) delete the item from your agenda

Accepted Answer

In British English, to "table" an item means to bring it up for discussion or give it priority, unlike in American English where it means to postpone.

Question 11

What nation has a national "language police" to protect their language from the influx of foreign words?
A) America
B) France
C) India
D) Japan

Accepted Answer

France has a national language police known as the Académie française that is responsible for preserving the French language and preventing the influx of foreign words. They even have the power to create new French words to replace foreign ones.

Question 12

What is suggested by speaking the local language?
A) social equality between the foreigner and locals
B) an interest in the people and their culture
C) higher intelligence of the bilingual person
D) higher status of the local culture

Accepted Answer

Speaking the local language suggests that a person has an interest in the people and their culture. This demonstrates respect for the local community and an effort to understand and connect with them.

Question 13

Employees with multi- or bilingual skills are sometimes known as __________ for their ability to bring two groups together.
A) connecting bars
B) joining clasps
C) linking pins
D) tying links

Accepted Answer

The term "linking" suggests the act of connecting or bringing together, and "pins" refers to a small device that holds two things together, making "linking pins" the most appropriate choice. The other options are not commonly used phrases to describe employees with bilingual skills.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of situational language use?
A) A journalist proofreads his writing and corrects any errors.
B) A university student studies Spanish as part of her required coursework.
C) A first-generation immigrant speaks Hindi at home but English at work.
D) A receptionist enunciates carefully when speaking to clients on the telephone.

Accepted Answer

Situational language use refers to the way that one adapts their use of language based on the situation, environment, or context in which they find themselves. In this example, the first-generation immigrant speaks Hindi at home because it is their native language and speaks English at work because it is the language of communication in that context. The other answer choices do not demonstrate this concept.

Question 15

Which of the following languages has the greatest number of speakers worldwide?
A) Arabic
B) Chinese
C) English
D) Spanish

Accepted Answer

Chinese (Mandarin) has the greatest number of speakers worldwide, with over 1 billion people speaking it as their first language.

Question 16

What common argument is used to suggest that American businesspeople do not need to be bilingual?
A) English is becoming the international language of business.
B) English is the most widely-spoken language in the world.
C) Having employees speak a second language damages the dominant reputation of American business.
D) American employees are incapable of learning a second language as adults.

Accepted Answer

The argument is that English is becoming the international language of business, so there may not be a need for American businesspeople to be bilingual.

Question 17

The anthropological term worldview refers to a system of __________.
A) languages for communicating with others
B) categories for organizing the world
C) religious roles across the life stages
D) social sets within a single culture

Accepted Answer

The term worldview refers to a system of categories or beliefs that people use to organize and interpret their experiences and understand their place in the world. It includes concepts such as time, space, causality, and human nature, among others.

Question 18

You observe two people greeting each other. One says "Good morning, Mr. Smith"; the other replies "Good morning, Fred." Based on this simple exchange, what can you conclude about their relationship?
A) This is an informal relationship between people of comparable status.
B) This is an informal relationship between people of unequal status.
C) This is a formal relationship between people of comparable status.
D) This is a formal relationship between people of unequal status.

Accepted Answer

The use of a formal title "Mr. Smith" by one person and the use of a first name "Fred" by the other suggests a formal relationship with unequal status, where one person (likely Mr. Smith) holds a higher status or position of respect.

Question 19

Which of the following people would be likely to have more assertive and direct speech than a typical North American?
A) an Arab
B) a Chinese person
C) an English person
D) a Latin American

Accepted Answer

Arab culture tends to value directness and assertiveness in communication more than North American culture. This is reflected in their speech patterns.

Answer: D) a Latin American 
 In Latin American cultures, communication often involves more directness and assertiveness than in North American cultures, with a focus on clear and explicit expression of emotions and opinions.

Question 20

The important social distinction between uchi and soto, or __________, is also reflected in the Japanese language.
A) male and female
B) rich and poor
C) us and them
D) family and non-family

Accepted Answer

The terms uchi and soto refer to the distinction between "us and them," or insiders and outsiders. This social distinction is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture and is reflected in various aspects of daily life, including language use. The term uchi generally refers to one's in-group or family, while soto refers to outsiders or non-family members.

Quiz 4: Communicating Across Cultures: Language

Your new colleague from China does not have much to say during your business meeting. What is a culturally-appropriate explanation for his silence?

Masculine and feminine nouns are generally considered inconsequential flukes of grammar. However, Boroditsky found that __________.

Of the several thousand known world languages, __________ are spoken by over 95% of the world's population.

Which of the following statements is true of the English or Navajo languages?

A U.S. coal company is beginning a new business partnership with mining operations in China. Which of the following individuals would likely be the most effective translator for a meeting?

Which of these statements is true regarding gender differences in speech in the United States?

What percentage of U.S. citizens has a functional proficiency in a second language?

Which of the following is the best way to reduce errors in translation?

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that language is __________.

At a planning session, your British colleagues decide to "table" an item on the agenda. This means you will __________.

What nation has a national "language police" to protect their language from the influx of foreign words?

What is suggested by speaking the local language?

Employees with multi- or bilingual skills are sometimes known as __________ for their ability to bring two groups together.

Which of the following is an example of situational language use?

Which of the following languages has the greatest number of speakers worldwide?

What common argument is used to suggest that American businesspeople do not need to be bilingual?

The anthropological term worldview refers to a system of __________.

You observe two people greeting each other. One says "Good morning, Mr. Smith"; the other replies "Good morning, Fred." Based on this simple exchange, what can you conclude about their relationship?

Which of the following people would be likely to have more assertive and direct speech than a typical North American?

The important social distinction between uchi and soto, or __________, is also reflected in the Japanese language.