Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
Test Bank
Chapter 7: The Verbal Code
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following statements best characterizes the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?
a. A person’s race and language are inherently linked.
b. The language of a particular culture is innately “hard-wired” in the people.
c. The way one thinks is determined by the language one speaks.
d. Language is inherently symbolic.
2. Which of the following is the best definition of a symbol?
a. an arbitrarily selected and learned stimulus representing something else
b. an arbitrary stimulus naturally connected to its referent
c. an arbitrarily selected and learned phoneme that represents a morpheme
d. an arbitrarily selected and learned morpheme that represents a phoneme
3. The rules and/or grammar of a language are called its ______.
a. phonemes
b. morphemes
c. symbols
d. syntax
4. Which of the following statements best characterizes the concept of generative
grammar?
a. From a finite set of sounds and rules, speakers of any language can create an infinite
number of sentences.
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
b. From an infinite set of sounds and rules, speakers of any language can create a finite
number of sentences.
c. From a finite set of sounds and rules, speakers of any language can create a finite
number of sentences.
d. From an infinite set of sounds and rules, speakers of any language can create an
infinite number of sentences.
5. Which of the following statements best describes a restricted code?
a. a code wherein the options are limited as to what a speaker can say or do verbally
b. a code wherein the options are unlimited as to what a speaker can say or do verbally
c. a code wherein speakers can choose from among a variety of linguistic options to
communicate
d. a code wherein the symbol system is not generative
6. Which of the following statements best describes an elaborated code?
a. a code wherein the options are limited as to what a speaker can say or do verbally
b. a code wherein the options are unlimited as to what a speaker can say or do verbally
c. a code wherein speakers can choose from among a variety of linguistic options to
communicate
d. a code wherein the symbol system is not generative
7. When using a direct style of communication, ______.
a. people communicate overt expressions of intention
b. people only hint at their intentions
c. true understanding is implicit and nonverbal
d. people generate more sentences
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
8. Cultures that favor a succinct style of communication ______.
a. prefer personalized and often exaggerated speech
b. say no more or less than is needed
c. value the use of concise talk and silence
d. are usually individualistic and high context
9. Cultures that favor an exacting style of communication ______.
a. prefer personalized and often exaggerated speech
b. say no more or less than is needed
c. value the use of concise talk and silence
d. are usually individualistic and high context
10. A contextual style of communication tends to ______.
a. amplify the individual identity of the speaker
b. accentuate and highlight one’s role identity and status
c. be very direct and precise
d. include the use of personal pronouns
11. Which of the following statements best describes an instrumental style of
communication?
a. a style where the quantity of talk is not emphasized
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
b. a style where the quantity of talk is accented
c. a style where messages are constructed to influence others and maintain one’s face
d. a style where messages are receiver and process oriented
12. Which of the following statements best describes an affective style of
communication?
a. a style where the quantity of talk is not emphasized
b. a style where the quantity of talk is accented
c. a style where messages are constructed to influence others and maintain one’s face
d. a style where messages are receiver and process oriented
13. High context collectivistic cultures generally prefer which type of communication
styles?
a. direct and instrumental
b. direct and affective
c. indirect and instrumental
d. indirect and affective
14. Linguists believe that the 4,000 to 5,000 languages spoken across the planet are
more alike than they are different. This is because all languages consist of a ______.
a. systematic set of sounds
b. consistent set of meanings
c. unique set of similar sounds
d. common system of shared script
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
15. Jeremy is trying to teach their grandparent how to use a cell phone. Jeremy says
“You can preprogram all our cells into the electronic directory and ask Alexa to call or
text any contact whenever you want.” Their grandparent looked at Jeremy and said “I
don’t understand what you said.” According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, the
grandparent is unable to communicate based on the principle of linguistic ______.
a. relativity
b. reflection
c. determinism
d. differentiation
16. Jean-Pierre was raised in France. French is a language with grammatical gendered
language. According to research, because of his language system, he is likely to
express ______
a. less-sexist attitudes than people raised speaking English
b. more-sexist attitudes than people raised speaking English
c. less sexist attitudes than people raised in cultures with non-grammatical gendered
languages
d. no measurable difference in sexist attitudes than people raised speaking English
17. The syntactic features of a language influence how speakers ______.
a. verbally organize their worlds
b. grammatically structure their messages
c. fifferentiate between verb tenses
d. categorize and mentally organize their worlds
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
18. Chinese children and Norwegian children learn language at the same time in their
development. Deaf and blind children learn language at the same time and rate as
children with normal hearing and sight. By the age of 5 or so, children in normal learning
settings begin to use complex sentences. The principle that explains this is ______
a. universality of language
b. developmental linguistic theory
c. linguistic cultural development
d. similarity of language acquisition
19. Immigrants who move to the U.S. often take English classes/lessons to help adapt
and adjust. It is not unusual for new dialects of English to appear in immigrant
communities. Which of the following is an example of this phenomena?
a. Spanglish
b. Ebonics
c. Chicano English
d. Hispanic English
20. Most linguists agree that there are different varieties of Standard English. We hear
different accents and dialects in different parts of the country. We also hear different
slang. These differences are often referred to language ______.
a. differences
b. categories
c. techniques
d. variety
21. Someone using the phrase “I was a–slippin’ and a–slidin’ on the ice” or “The man
went a-sailin’” is speaking ______ English.
a. Cajun
b. California
c. Appalachian
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
d. Texas
Multiple Select
1. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. According to Salzmann, the uniquely human way of
communicating via speech shares several universal features, regardless of culture,
race, and particular lexicon. Which of the following are shared features?
a. Human speech is transmitted via a verbal-kinesthetic channel.
b. Human speech is transmitted via a vocal-auditory channel.
c. Speech sounds are heard within a limited range and only during production
d. Speech is not interchangeable.
2. SELECT ALL THAT APPLY. The function of human language goes beyond
communicating information. In addition to communicating the content of the message,
one’s language can also communicate social ______:
a. status
b. identity
c. adaptation
True/False
1. Culture, race, and language are historically distinct. A person’s race does not
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
2. The principle of linguistic determinism posits that the way one thinks is determined by
the language one speaks.
3. All languages consist of a systematic set of morphemes, combined with a set of
codes, for the purpose of creating meaningful phonemes.
4. The letters of a language’s alphabet are symbols representing sounds, called
phonemes. Phonemes are the smallest unit of sound in a language.
5. Chomsky argues that all human languages share a universal grammar that is innate
in the human species and culturally invariant.
6. Generative grammar is the idea that from a finite set of sounds and a finite set of
rules, speakers of any language can create an infinite number of sentences.
7. A direct verbal style, often seen in high-context and collectivistic cultures, is one
where the speaker’s intentions are hidden or only hinted at during interaction.
8. In cultures that employ a personal style, the social context dictates word choice,
especially personal pronouns.
9. An instrumental style of communication is receiver and process oriented.
10. To be able to read a Japanese newspaper, one would need to know and understand
at least 2,000 basic characters.
11. Some research has shown that countries where gendered languages are spoken
evidence less gender equality compared to countries with other grammatical gender
systems.
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
Essay/Short Answer
1. What is the fundamental tenet of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and how have
contemporary linguists reacted to it?
2. Compare and contrast elaborated and restricted codes.
Instructor Resource
Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 8e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
3. Compare and contrast direct and indirect styles of communication.
4. Select two U.S. dialects and explain their differences in pronunciation, grammatical
structures, vocabulary, and pitch.