2. What is the term for a variety of language specific to a particular region or social group?

A. Syntax
B. Dialect
C. Phonology
D. Semantics

Answer: B

3. The concept of ‘linguistic relativity’ suggests that:

A. All languages have the same structure
B. Language influences thought and perception
C. Language does not change over time
D. Language is purely for communication

Answer: B

4. Which of the following is an example of code-switching?

A. Learning a new language
B. Switching between two languages in a conversation
C. Using technical jargon
D. Writing in a formal style

Answer: B

5. A ‘speech community’ is defined as:

A. A group of people who share the same first language
B. A group of people who use language in a similar way
C. A group of people living in the same area
D. A group of people with the same dialect

Answer: B

6. The term ‘sociolect’ refers to:

A. The official language of a country
B. A language used for trade and business
C. The language used by a particular social group
D. The language of the media

Answer: C

7. Which of the following best describes ‘language maintenance’?

A. Learning a new language
B. Preserving and continuing to use a language
C. Abandoning a language for another
D. Mixing two languages

Answer: B

8. A ‘pidgin’ language typically arises in situations of:

A. High literacy
B. Multilingual contact with no common language
C. Isolation
D. Formal education

Answer: B

9. ‘Language shift’ occurs when:

A. A new language is created
B. A community adopts a different language over time
C. Language rules are simplified
D. A dialect becomes a standard language

Answer: B

10. The phenomenon where speakers of a language adapt their speech to be more like the speech of others in a social interaction is called:

A. Divergence
B. Convergence
C. Code-switching
D. Diglossia

Answer: B

11. A bilingual individual:

A. Speaks one language fluently
B. Understands but does not speak a second language
C. Speaks two languages fluently
D. Uses sign language

Answer: C

12. ‘Diglossia’ refers to:

A. The coexistence of two dialects in one language
B. The use of two languages in a community for different functions
C. The decline of a language
D. Learning a foreign language

Answer: B

13. What is the primary role of language in the formation of identity?

A. Communicating basic needs
B. Establishing social relationships and expressing group membership
C. Passing time
D. Avoiding conflict

Answer: B

14. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is associated with:

A. Linguistic determinism and linguistic relativity
B. Syntax and morphology
C. Phonetics and phonology
D. Semantics and pragmatics

Answer: A

15. In sociolinguistics, ‘register’ refers to:

A. A list of vocabulary words
B. A variety of language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting
C. The official record of language use
D. The written form of a language

Answer: B

16. ‘Acculturation’ is:

A. The process of adopting another culture’s traits
B. Learning to write
C. Creating a new language
D. Maintaining one’s own culture without change

Answer: A

17. The use of ‘slang’ typically serves to:

A. Clarify communication
B. Formalize language
C. Establish or reinforce group identity
D. Confuse listeners

Answer: C

18. The ‘official language’ of a country is:

A. The most spoken language
B. The language used by the government for official business
C. The language used in schools
D. The language of the original inhabitants

Answer: B

19. The ‘ethnolinguistic vitality’ of a language community refers to:

A. The number of dialects it has
B. Its likelihood of survival and prosperity
C. The complexity of its grammar
D. Its historical significance

Answer: B

20. Language ‘standardization’ involves:

A. Making a language simpler
B. Establishing norms of usage for a language
C. Abandoning a language
D. Mixing multiple languages

Answer: B

21. Which term describes the adoption of elements of one language into another?

A. Creolization
B. Loanword
C. Morphology
D. Syntax

Answer: B

22. A ‘creole’ language is:

A. A pidgin language that has become fully developed and natively spoken
B. A regional dialect
C. An ancient language
D. A formal written language

Answer: A

23. ‘Language planning’ is:

A. The development and implementation of policies to regulate language use
B. Learning a new language
C. Writing a grammar book
D. Teaching a language

Answer: A

24. ‘Ethnolinguistics’ is the study of:

A. The evolution of language
B. Language and its relation to culture and ethnicity
C. The mechanics of speech production
D. The structure of languages

Answer: B

25. A ‘lingua franca’ is:

A. The official language of a country
B. A common language used among speakers of different native languages
C. A dead language
D. A regional dialect

Answer: B

26. The term ‘language ideology’ refers to:

A. The study of language families
B. Beliefs and attitudes about language and its use
C. The grammar rules of a language
D. The written form of a language

Answer: B

27. ‘Heritage language’ is:

A. A language that is no longer spoken
B. A language learned at home that is different from the dominant language of the community
C. The official language of a country
D. The language of ancient texts

Answer: B

28. In linguistics, ‘politeness strategies’ are used to:

A. Simplify language
B. Convey respect and avoid offense
C. Teach language
D. Write formal documents

Answer: B

29. The term ‘multilingualism’ refers to:

A. The ability to speak one language
B. The ability to speak multiple languages
C. The ability to write
D. The ability to read

Answer: B

30. Which of the following is an example of linguistic discrimination?

A. Teaching a new language
B. Judging someone based on their accent
C. Learning multiple languages
D. Using technical jargon

Answer: B

31. ‘Language revitalization’ refers to efforts to:

A. Create a new language
B. Prevent a language from dying out
C. Simplify language rules
D. Learn a foreign language

Answer: B

32. ‘Code-mixing’ occurs when:

A. Two languages are mixed within a sentence or discourse
B. A new language is created
C. A language is simplified
D. Two dialects are used interchangeably

Answer: A

33. Which of the following best describes a ‘vernacular’ language?

A. The language used in formal settings
B. The everyday spoken language of ordinary people
C. An ancient language
D. A constructed language

Answer: B

34. ‘Language attrition’ is:

A. The process of learning a new language
B. The gradual loss of a language by its speakers
C. The evolution of language
D. The creation of a new language

Answer: B

35. A ‘monolingual’ person is someone who:

A. Speaks multiple languages
B. Speaks only one language
C. Understands but does not speak a language
D. Uses sign language

Answer: B

36. ‘Prestige’ in sociolinguistics refers to:

A. The complexity of a language
B. The social value attached to a particular language or dialect
C. The number of speakers of a language
D. The difficulty of learning a language

Answer: B

37. ‘Bilingual education’ involves:

A. Teaching two languages separately
B. Teaching academic content in two languages
C. Learning one language at a time
D. Using a single language in education

Answer: B

38. Which of the following best describes ‘linguistic anthropology’?

A. The study of ancient languages
B. The study of language in its social and cultural context
C. The study of language structure
D. The study of language development in children

Answer: B

39. ‘Ethnography of communication’ focuses on:

A. The grammatical structure of languages
B. How language is used in everyday life within different cultures
C. The historical development of languages
D. Language acquisition in children

Answer: B

40. ‘Language contact’ refers to:

A. The mixing of two or more languages due to social interaction
B. The evolution of a language over time
C. The preservation of a language
D. The development of dialects

Answer: A

More Anthropology MCQs