LIN 200 Mid Term All Answers Correct
3 basic notions to define a language ✅1. Tool of communication (represent the world and express ideas
about any topic)
2. Systems of linguistic units (organized collection of sounds/signs, structure, rules of combination)
3. Linguistic community (Identifies a group of people, defines a community)
Cognitive aspects of language ✅- structure of language
- idea of a system
social aspects of language ✅- use of language for communication
- self-identification as a member of a linguistic community
t/f Languages are arbitrary as words representing the world are part of a convention ✅true
t/f All natural languages are perfectly capable of expressing the same contents ✅True
syntax ✅part of linguistics that studies the structures of phrases and sentences
morphemes ✅The smallest units of meaning in a language, what composes words
morphology ✅part of linguistics related to the meaningful units in a language (morphemes)
phonology ✅part of linguistics related to sound
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) ✅an internationally recognized system of phonetic transcription,
establishes one unique symbol for each possible sound
t/f There were between 250-600 languages in North America at the time of European contact ✅true
, t/f 175 Native American languages are currently spoken in the U.S., but only about 30 are still spoken by
all generations ✅true
t/f Over 70% (~150 languages) of Native American languages are in "extreme danger" of language
extinction ✅true
Most commonly spoken Native American language ✅Navajo
Causes of language endangerment ✅1. physical danger of speakers of the language (genocide, war,
natural disasters, etc.)
2. social danger of the speakers of the language (marginalization, political repression, etc.)
Governmental suppression of Native Americans in the U.S. ✅1. After the Civil War, President Grant
appointed "Peace Commissioners" to bring an end to the Indian wars. The commission concluded that
language differences led to misunderstandings. Native American children were kidnapped and put into
boarding schools to be "civilized."
American policy towards Native Americans ✅- Kill
- Remove --> Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans from their ancestral homes
- Assimilate --> tens of thousands of Native children were abducted and sent to government-funded
boarding schools during the 19C and 20C
Extinct/dead language ✅a language with no native speakers that is not recoverable
sleeping language ✅a language that has no native speakers, but has
- documentation that makes a language recoverable
- people with strong heritage to the language although no substantial knowledge of it
language reclamation ✅puts emphasis on people with heritage to the language or even native speakers
3 basic notions to define a language ✅1. Tool of communication (represent the world and express ideas
about any topic)
2. Systems of linguistic units (organized collection of sounds/signs, structure, rules of combination)
3. Linguistic community (Identifies a group of people, defines a community)
Cognitive aspects of language ✅- structure of language
- idea of a system
social aspects of language ✅- use of language for communication
- self-identification as a member of a linguistic community
t/f Languages are arbitrary as words representing the world are part of a convention ✅true
t/f All natural languages are perfectly capable of expressing the same contents ✅True
syntax ✅part of linguistics that studies the structures of phrases and sentences
morphemes ✅The smallest units of meaning in a language, what composes words
morphology ✅part of linguistics related to the meaningful units in a language (morphemes)
phonology ✅part of linguistics related to sound
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) ✅an internationally recognized system of phonetic transcription,
establishes one unique symbol for each possible sound
t/f There were between 250-600 languages in North America at the time of European contact ✅true
, t/f 175 Native American languages are currently spoken in the U.S., but only about 30 are still spoken by
all generations ✅true
t/f Over 70% (~150 languages) of Native American languages are in "extreme danger" of language
extinction ✅true
Most commonly spoken Native American language ✅Navajo
Causes of language endangerment ✅1. physical danger of speakers of the language (genocide, war,
natural disasters, etc.)
2. social danger of the speakers of the language (marginalization, political repression, etc.)
Governmental suppression of Native Americans in the U.S. ✅1. After the Civil War, President Grant
appointed "Peace Commissioners" to bring an end to the Indian wars. The commission concluded that
language differences led to misunderstandings. Native American children were kidnapped and put into
boarding schools to be "civilized."
American policy towards Native Americans ✅- Kill
- Remove --> Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans from their ancestral homes
- Assimilate --> tens of thousands of Native children were abducted and sent to government-funded
boarding schools during the 19C and 20C
Extinct/dead language ✅a language with no native speakers that is not recoverable
sleeping language ✅a language that has no native speakers, but has
- documentation that makes a language recoverable
- people with strong heritage to the language although no substantial knowledge of it
language reclamation ✅puts emphasis on people with heritage to the language or even native speakers
