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Chapter 5
1. A structured system of symbols used for creating meaning is known as a(n)
a. alphabet.
b. symbolic system.
c. language.
d. semantic triangle.
2. The use of a “thumbs-up” gesture to symbolize the statement “good luck”
a. illustrates that meaning can be conveyed without the use of words.
b. does not qualify as a form of language.
c. involves a specific meaning that is culturally understood.
d. All the answers are correct.
3. Which of the following terms is onomatopoetic?
a. good-natured
b. water
c. mumquall
d. splash
4. What type of language rule deals with the correct pronunciation of words?
a. phonological
b. syntactic
c. semantic
d. pragmatic
5. To an American, the phrase “How are you today?” sounds correct, whereas the phrase
“Today you are how?” sounds incorrect. The second phrase violates which rule of language?
a. phonological
b. syntactic
c. semantic
d. pragmatic
6. When Jesse first met Nicolette, he extended his hand and said warmly, “Nice to meet you.”
In response, Nicolette sighed, rolled her eyes, and simply said, “Yah,” in a very sarcastic
tone. Jesse inferred that Nicolette was not excited about meeting him, based on her reaction.
On which rule of language did Jesse likely base his decision?
a. phonological rule
b. syntactic rule
c. semantic rule
d. pragmatic rule
7. The literal, “dictionary” definition of a word is its ________ meaning.
a. denotative
b. connotative
c. abstract
d. referent
8. Words that evoke strongly positive or strongly negative connotations are known collectively
as
a. emotion language.
b. trigger words.
c. loaded language.
d. hot-button words.
9. The word set has nearly 200 discrete meanings in the English language. Imprecise use of set
illustrates which of the following statements about language?
a. Language is often confusing because of multiple connotations.
b. Language can be unclear because of multiple meanings for the same word.
c. Languages around the world do not have a clear definition of referents for words.
d. Language symbols are arbitrary and hard to define.
10. Which of the following statements about language and culture is true?
a. When people speak more than one language, their language use has no effect on their cultural
identity.
b. When people speak more than one language, their language use might have a small effect on
their cultural identity, but the result is too small to be noticed.
c. When people speak more than one language, their language use is often accompanied by a
shift in cultural values.
d. None of these statements is true.
11. Which of the following statements would be true according to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
a. If a culture does not have a word for an emotion, its members will not be able to experience
that emotion.
b. Regardless of the language that individuals from different cultures might speak, people see
the world in basically the same way.
c. The culture that you are raised in determines the languages you will speak in your lifetime.
d. The distinction between nouns and verbs does not exist in most languages.
12. Which of the following statements about smoking is the best example of an appeal to pathos?
a. When you add it all up, smoking costs a person almost $7,000 a year.
b. Smoking is the number one cause of emphysema.
c. Most employers can legally discriminate against smokers.
d. Think about how many lives you’re ruining by continuing to smoke.
13. Which of the following is NOT one of the criticisms that have been levied against the Sapir-
Whorf hypothesis?
a. It is unclear whether language produces thought or thought produces language.
b. Children who grow up in a bilingual family experience a great deal of cognitive dissonance
because of the conflicting languages.
c. Just because people in a culture don’t have a word to describe an experience doesn’t mean
they don’t have that experience.
d. People who have cognitive deficiencies for learning language can still engage in thought,
despite their language limitations.
14. According to research, women who take their husbands’ name when they marry differ in
some ways from women who keep their birth name. Which of the following statements is
true?
a. Name-keepers have higher self-esteem than name-changers.
b. Name-changers report having more power in their marriages than name-keepers.
c. Name-changers score higher than name-keepers on reports of feminist attitudes.
d. Name-keepers say their personal concerns are more important than their relationships.
15. Which persuasion strategy takes advantage of the speaker’s credibility?
a. appeal to logos
b. appeal to ethos
c. appeal to pathos
d. None of the answers is correct.
16. Which of the following linguistic features was NOT identified in the textbook as affecting a
speaker’s credibility?
a. use of clichés
b. a speaker’s dialect
c. incorrect diction
d. equivocal statements
17. The claim that “4 out of 5 doctors prefer” a certain medication for a headache is an example
of which kind of statement?
a. an equivocal statement
b. weasel words
c. a red herring
d. an allness claim
18. According to research, a joke must contain what in order to be considered funny?
a. a put-down
b. an expectancy violation
c. at least one funny-sounding word
d. All the answers are correct.
19. Saying that someone has been “let go” instead of “fired” is an example of which language
behavior?
a. hate speech
b. slang
c. euphemism
d. profanity
20. Which of the following phrases is an example of doublespeak?
a. sleep together
b. kick the bucket
c. jumbo shrimp
d. collateral damage
21. Which of the following statements about slang is FALSE?
a. Slang is closely related to jargon.
b. Slang can help people identify individuals that belong to their social network.
c. Slang is neither inherently good nor inherently bad.
d. Slang is an exception to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
22. Regarding defamation, which of the following is true?
a. Slander concerns statements made either aloud or in print.
b. Whether or not a statement is true is only relevant to slander, not libel.
c. Libel is more common than slander in interpersonal interaction.
d. Libel involves only statements made in print.
23. Which of the following examples illustrates the idea of reclaiming a phrase?
a. politicians limiting their use of the word “poor” when describing citizens of lower economic
status
b. homosexual men referring to one another as “queer”
c. a white speaker using only the term “African American” when referring to black audience
members
d. the NAACP holding a ceremonial funeral for the “n-word”
24. Which of the following is true about I-statements?
a. They ignore the problem.
b. They allow us to shift the blame.
c. They allow us to claim ownership of our thoughts and feelings.
d. They shift responsibility for one’s own thoughts or feelings to the listener.
25. Technically speaking, which of the following is a factual claim?
a. “Candidate L is the best choice for our future.”
b. “Candidate C accepted illegal bribes.”
c. “Candidate C has impeccable morals.”
d. “Electing Candidate L would be a mistake.”
26. Verbal communication includes both spoken and written language.
27. All language is symbolic, and all symbolic systems constitute language.
28. Phonological rules deal with the correct pronunciation of words.
29. Using emotion to persuade is known as an appeal to ethos.
30. An allness claim is one in which the speaker intentionally misleads the hearer by arguing that
everyone else agrees with his or her position.
31. Pennebaker’s research shows that verbal communication has little ability to provide comfort
and healing.
32. Slang can serve an important social function by helping people distinguish between those
who do and do not belong to their social networks.
33. Profanity is highly context-specific.
34. Only false statements can ever qualify as libel.
35. An I-statement claims ownership of what one is feeling or thinking, whereas a you-statement
shifts that responsibility to the other person.
Answer: True
Bloom’s: Remember
Short-Answer Questions
(Answers will vary.)
36. Explain the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and give examples that illustrate its assertions.
Bloom’s: Understand
37. Identify and define each of the four types of language rules articulated in your text.
Bloom’s: Remember
38. What are the elements of the semantic triangle? Define each element, and provide an
example of how they work together.
Bloom’s: Understand
39. Describe how language is tied to issues of credibility, and provide examples of at least three
different factors that might affect one’s credibility.
Bloom’s: Understand
40. Explain the concept of hate speech. Compare and contrast it with both profanity and slang.
Bloom’s: Understand
41. Articulate how a factual claim differs from an opinion. Using concrete examples, be specific
about what each type of statement involves and what kind of evidence each statement
requires.
Bloom’s: Analyze
Essay Questions
(Answers will vary.)
42. People often use language that is intentionally vague or unclear. Create a situation in which
someone might use vague language intentionally to mislead someone. How might you
improve this situation? Finally, comment on the ethical considerations of intentionally using
language that is vague or misleading. Is it unethical to use language that is intentionally
vague in order to give someone the wrong impression? Are there situations in which
intentionally misleading someone is acceptable?
Bloom’s: Analyze
43. Do you agree with some of the criticisms scholars have offered against the Sapir-Whorf
hypothesis? How important is language in shaping our worldview? How important is our
worldview in shaping language development? Make a case either for or against the Sapir-
Whorf hypothesis.
Bloom’s: Analyze
44. What are some of the benefits of using language in positive ways that express affection,
intimacy, comfort, and support? Think about implications for the speaker, the hearer, and
their relationship. What are some of the different ways we can use language to express these
sentiments?
Bloom’s: Analyze
45. Research on humor has found that different cultures and societies have different ideas about
what makes a joke funny. Using what you know about humor, about culture, and about
language in general, explain why this should be the case. That is, why should cultures differ
from each other in their appreciation of humor? In your explanation, make explicit reference
to the principles of culture, language, and humor that support your argument.
Bloom’s: Analyze
46. Your text has made the suggestion that generally positive forms of language, like humor, can
sometimes have negative consequences, and that generally negative forms of language, like
profanity, can sometimes be positive. This point illustrates how much the effects of language
depend on the context in which it is used. In a short essay, explain this point by using
concrete examples of humor and profanity (as both positive and negative). Then, extend your
discussion to the other forms of speech discussed in the chapter, including euphemism, slang,
libel, slander, and hate speech. Is it true that each of these forms of language could have
either positive or negative effects, depending on the context?
Bloom’s: Analyze
47. How prevalent is hate speech in American culture today? What types of environments
promote or foster this type of language? What, if anything, should be done to eliminate hate
speech and/or protect the targets of hate speech? Finally, using some of the concepts from the
textbook and/or class, make some recommendations for ways that hate speech can be avoided
at your college or university.
Bloom’s: Analyze
