语言学练习题(附答案)-Chapter-1--Language

Chapter One Language

1. Define the following terms

1) discreteness2) design features

3) arbitrariness 4) duality

5) displacement 6) cultural transmission

7) the imaginative function of language8) the personal function

of language

9) the heuristic function of language10) language

2. Multiple Choice

Directions: In each question there are four choices. Decide which one would be the best answer to the question or to complete the

sentence best.

1) Which of the following words is entirely arbitrary?

A. tree

B. crash

C. typewriter

D. bang

2)The function of the sentence “Water boils at 100 degrees Centigrade” is ________.

A. interrogative

B. directive

C. informative

D.

performative

3) In Chinese when someone breaks a bowl or a plate the

host or the people present are likely to say sui sui ping an (every

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable words.

1)Design features, a framework proposed by the American linguist Charles Hockett, refer to the ________ properties of human language that distinguishes it from any animal system of communication.

2)________ refers to the phenomenon that the sounds in a language are meaningfully distinct. For instance, the difference between the sounds /p/ and /b/ is not actually very great, but when these sounds are part of a language like English, they are used in such a way that the occurrence of one rather than the other is meaningful.

3)In any language words can be used in new ways to mean new things and can be combined into innumerable sentences based on limited rules. This feature is usually termed p_______ or c________.

4)Language has many functions. We can use language to talk about language itself. This function is m________ function.

5)Cultural transmission refers to the fact that language is c________ transmitted. It is passed on from one generation to the next through teaching and learning, rather than by i_________.

5) ( ) Language change is universal,ongoing and arbitrary.

6) ( ) Language is a system of arbitrary, written signs which permit all the people in a given culture, or other people who have learned the system of that culture, to communicate or interact.

7)( ) In theory, the length of sentences is limited.

8)( ) The relationship between the sounds and their meaning is arbitrary.

9)( ) Linguistic symbols are a kind of visual symbols, which include vocal symbols.

10)( ) Linguistic symbols are produced by human speech organs.

11)( ) Every language has two levels: grammatically — meaningless and sound — meaningful.

12)( ) Such features of language as being creative, vocal, and arbitrary can differentiate human languages from animal communicative systems.

13)( ) Duality is one of the characteristics of human language. It refers to the fact that language has two levels of