Chapter 04 How We Use Language Answer Key
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
Whether retailers such as Walmart and Target use the phrase “Merry Christmas” or “Happy
Holidays” is a decision about what form of communication?
A.
Nonverbal communication
B.
Symbolism
C.
Language
D.
Emotional communication
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language
2.
Using the right words in a job interview or a marriage proposal may determine failure or
success because being a competent communicator requires us to use ______ in a deliberate
and informed way.
A.
B.
nonverbal communication
C.
grammatical rules
D.
symbols
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language
3.
Which of the following could be described as a structured system of symbols used for
communicating meaning?
A.
Symbolic collection
B.
Nonverbal communication
C.
Metaphor
D.
Language
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language
4.
Language is characterized by the use of words, which represent ideas, observations, feelings,
and thoughts. In other words, words are a type of
A.
language.
B.
symbol.
C.
rule.
D.
idea.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language Characteristics
5.
The word
five
is a(n) ______ because it represents an idea of quantity but does not constitute
the quantity itself.
A.
idea
B.
number
C.
symbol
D.
rule
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language Characteristics
6.
Talking to her grandmother about her new computer, Reina uses such words as “web” and
“tweet.” Reina’s grandmother wonders what spiders and birds have to do with Reina’s
computer. Based on the grandmother’s confusion, what can we conclude about the nature of
language?
A.
Words are unstable.
B.
All language is symbolic.
C.
Computer language is static.
D.
Misunderstandings are humorous.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language Characteristics
7.
English speakers use the word
dog
, even though that word doesn’t actually look or sound like
a dog, because speakers of the language have agreed to give the word
dog
a particular
meaning, thus showing the ______ nature of language.
A.
static
B.
fixed
C.
rule-governed
D.
arbitrary
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-01 Define language and describe several of its characteristics.
Topic: Language Characteristics
8.
Which of the following is NOT a rule that governs language?
A.
Syntactic
B.
Symbolic
C.
Phonological
D.
Semantic
Type of question: Analyze
9.
The character of Yoda is a favorite of many
Star Wars
fans, both for his odd looks and his
unique use of the English language. Changing the conventional order of words in a sentence,
Yoda might say, “My friend he is” instead of “He is my friend.” The uniqueness of Yoda’s
speech is an example of what type of deviation from English language rules?
A.
Syntactic
B.
Phonological
C.
Semantic
D.
Symbolic
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-02 Identify four sets of rules that govern language use.
Topic: Rules of Language Use
10.
When you learn a new language, you must also learn new ______ rules so that you know the
correct pronunciation of words.
A.
B.
syntactic
C.
phonological
D.
pragmatic
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-02 Identify four sets of rules that govern language use.
Topic: Rules of Language Use
11.
When you hear the word
doctor
, you might think of either a physician or a person with a PhD.
Which linguistic rules pertain to the context by which
doctor
might be more precisely
understood?
A.
Syntactic
B.
Pragmatic
C.
Phonological
D.
Semantic
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-02 Identify four sets of rules that govern language use.
Topic: Rules of Language Use
12.
______ rules deal with the implications or interpretations of statements.
A.
Semantic
B.
Pragmatic
C.
Syntactic
D.
Phonological
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-02 Identify four sets of rules that govern language use.
Topic: Rules of Language Use
13.
In the hallway at school, Felipe’s girlfriend says to him, “I’d like to see you later.” Soon after,
Felipe’s economics professor also says, “I’d like to see you later.” Although Felipe is looking
forward to the meeting with his girlfriend, he is not as excited about the meeting with his
professor, in whose class he is struggling. Which rules allow Felipe to draw a conclusion about
the two different meanings of the same statement?
A.
Phonological
B.
Syntactic
C.
Pragmatic
D.
Semantic
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-02 Identify four sets of rules that govern language use.
Topic: Rules of Language Use
14.
Ross and Emma have been dating for a few months. One evening, Ross tells Emma he loves
her, by which he means that he likes spending time with her and enjoys her company. Emma
understands this word to mean that Ross is going to stay with her forever and that she can
plan on a long-term commitment. Which term refers to a difference in emotional meaning, as
in the case of the word
love
?
A.
Definition
B.
Arbitrariness
C.
Denotation
D.
Connotation
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
15.
The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
defines the word
persuasion
as “an opinion held with
complete assurance.” This definition is the ______ meaning of the word.
A.
arbitrary
B.
denotative
C.
connotative
D.
fixed
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
16.
Which of the following is NOT an element of the semantic triangle?
A.
Referent
B.
Symbol
C.
Word
D.
Reference
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
17.
Which statement does NOT apply to the semantic triangle?
A.
The semantic triangle illustrates the relationship between words and their denotative and
connotative meanings.
B.
If several listeners hear the same word, they might attribute the same denotative meaning
to it but attribute different connotative meanings.
C.
In its three corners, the semantic triangle portrays three necessary elements for identifying
the meaning in language.
D.
The differences in interpretation lie in a word’s denotative rather than connotative
meaning.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
18.
Marek tells his friend Alicia that his dog bit him over the weekend. Horrified, Alicia pictures a
large, aggressive dog. At the same time, she is surprised that Marek has no visible injuries.
Marek is amused by the misunderstanding, as he was referring to his three-pound
Pomeranian. According to the semantic triangle, which element led to the
miscommunication?
A.
Reference
B.
Referent
C.
Symbol
D.
Denotation
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
19.
Because of its negative historical connotation, the word
Nazi
is an example of which of the
following?
A.
Ambiguous language
B.
Loaded language
C.
Controversial language
D.
Provocative language
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
20.
Even if the denotative meanings of the words
family
and
values
are emotionally neutral, when
the terms are put together, the connotation of the phrase
family values
becomes ______ in
U.S. politics.
A.
symbolic
B.
ambiguous
C.
loaded language
D.
emotionally charged
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
21.
Kelly asks her mother for “some” money before she goes on a trip with friends. Kelly is
disappointed when her mother gives her twenty dollars because by “some” money Kelly was
expecting about one hundred dollars. Kelly’s language lacked clarity and was therefore
A.
ambiguous.
B.
concrete.
C.
loaded.
D.
semantic.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
22.
According to the English professor Samuel Hayakawa, words can be arrayed along a ladder of
______ that shows their progression from more abstract to more concrete.
A.
ambiguity
B.
semantics
C.
abstraction
D.
concreteness
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
23.
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If you can trace the progression of an idea from living creatures, to animals, to
mammals, to canines, to cocker spaniels, to your dog named Lucy, what are you
following?
A.
Semantics
B.
Ambiguity
C.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Learning Objective: 04-03 Describe the difference between denotative and connotative meaning and identify examples when
each is utilized.
Topic: Denotative and Connotative Meaning
24.
The Ashanti tribe in Africa has a proverb that says, “The poor man and the rich man do not
play together.” This proverb not only influences the ways tribal members see the world but
also reflects the attitudes and behaviors of the tribe’s people. This example illustrates what
concept?
A.
Ladder of abstraction
B.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
C.
Ambiguity of language
D.
Complexity of language
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-04 Explain and evaluate the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Topic: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
25.
Peter Gordon, a psycholinguist at Columbia University, studied Brazil’s Pirahas tribe and their
use of language. He found that they had very few words for time and no words for numbers or
numerical ideas. Gordon’s study, published in the journal
Science
, found that the Pirahas were
incapable of doing basic math, and in fact, they were incapable of learning even the concept
of numbers, despite eight months of tutoring. The fact that this tribe of people could not
conceive of something for which they had no vocabulary reflects what principle?
A.
Linguistic relativity
B.
Ambiguous language
C.
Ladder of abstraction
D.
Linguistic determinism
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-04 Explain and evaluate the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Topic: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
26.
Linguistic ______ suggests that because language determines our perceptions of reality,
people see the world differently depending on what language they speak.
A.
ambiguity
B.
abstraction
C.
relativity
D.
determinism
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-04 Explain and evaluate the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Topic: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
27.
You might think that Rocky is stronger than Percy simply based on his name because
A.
names can suggest information about disposition and a sense of self.
B.
a person’s name can suggest information about that person’s characteristics.
C.
a person’s name can reveal that person’s age group.
D.
names can provide clues about someone’s ethnicity.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Learning Objective: 04-04 Explain and evaluate the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Topic: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
28.
Although William’s parents name him William, he grows up being called Billy. When he goes
away to college, he introduces himself to his new friends as Will. He becomes frustrated
when, returning home for the holidays, his family continues to call him Billy. Which statement
about language best applies to his frustration?
A.
Language connects us to others.
B.
Language motivates action.
C.
Language expresses who we are.
D.
Language controls our relationships.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-05 Explain the reasons people use language.
Topic: The Power of Words
29.
______ is the extent to which others perceive us to be competent and trustworthy.
A.
Relativity
B.
Likability
C.
Ambiguity
D.
Credibility
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how language can enhance or diminish credibility.
Topic: Credibility
30.
“Money doesn’t grow on trees” is an example of what?
A.
Cliché
B.
Dialect
C.
Weasel words
D.
Equivocal language
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how language can enhance or diminish credibility.
Topic: Credibility
31.
Which of the following uses of language is LEAST likely to diminish your credibility?
A.
Clichés
B.
Concrete words
C.
Weasel words
D.
Equivocation
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how language can enhance or diminish credibility.
Topic: Credibility
32.
Marissa is from New York. She is sent to Georgia by her company to supervise a new division.
While there, Marissa notices a difference in the way language is used. For example, she uses
words like “schlep” when describing her commute, while the people from Georgia use “y’all”
frequently. Marissa tries to be friendly with her new employees and coworkers, but they seem
to question her credibility. What might be contributing to their lack of confidence in her?
A.
Her use of a different dialect
B.
Her New Yorker clichés
C.
Her use of weasel words
D.
Her frequent equivocation
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how language can enhance or diminish credibility.
Topic: Credibility
33.
If you speak in a dialect familiar to your audience because you know that doing so enhances
your credibility, you are practicing ______ theory.
A.
equivocation
B.
communication enactment
C.
enhancement
D.
communication accommodation
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 04-06 Describe how language can enhance or diminish credibility.
Topic: Credibility
34.
______ is language that disguises a speaker’s true intentions.
A.
Dialect
B.
Equivocation
C.
Accommodation
D.
Ambiguity
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 04-07 Define equivocation and explain how weasel words are related to it.
Topic: Equivocation
35.
Your mother asks you if she looks good in a particular outfit, and you feel that the dress does
not flatter her. You don’t want to hurt her feelings, so you use ______ by saying, “I like the cut
of the dress, but isn’t that a color you don’t like wearing?”
A.
weasel words
B.
ambiguous words
C.
equivocation
D.
equalization
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Accessibility
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 04-07 Define equivocation and explain how weasel words are related to it.
Topic: Equivocation