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Exercises
Chapter I
Invitations to Language
I.
Fill in the blanks.
1.
Language, broadly speaking, is a means of _______
communication.
2.
In
many
language
words
can
be
used
in
new
ways
to
mean
things
and
can
be
combined into innumerable
sentences based on limited rules. This feature is
usually
termed _____.
3.
Language
has
many
functions.
We
can
use
language
to
talk
about
itself.
This
function is _____.
4. Theory
that primitive man made involuntary vocal noises
while performing heavy
work has been
called the ________ theory.
5. The
theory that language arose from instinctive
emotional cries, expressive of pain
or
joy has been called the ________ theory.
6.
The
theory
that
language
arose
from
-human
beings
instinctive
need
for
contact
with his companion has been called the
_________ theory.
7. Linguistics is the
scientific study of _________.
8.
Modem
linguistic
is
________
in
the
sense
that
the
linguist
tries
to
discover
what language is rather than lay down
some rules for people to observe.
9.
One
general
principle
of
linguistic
analysis
is
the
primacy
of
_________
over
writing.
10. The description of a language as it
changes through time is a _______ study.
11.
Saussure
put
forward
two
important
concepts.
________
refers
to
the
abstract linguistic system shared by
all members of a speech community.
12.
Linguistic potential is similar to Saussure ' s
langue and Chomsky ' s ______.
13. language is a system of _____
______ symbols used for human communication.
14. Linguistics is generally defined as
the ______ study of ______.
15.
If
a
linguistic
study
describes
and
analyzes
the
language
people
actually
use,
it
is
said
to
be
______;
if
it
aims
to
lay
down
rules
for
behavior,
it
is
said to be
______.
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16.
In
modern
linguistics,
______
study
seems
to
enjoy
priority
over
______
study.
The
reason
is
that
successful
studies
of
various
states
of
a
language
would be the
foundations of a historical study.
17.
Langue
refers
to
the
______
linguistic
system
shared
by
all
the
members
of
a
speech community; and parole refers to
the ______ of langue in actual use.
18.
Chomsky
defines
competence
as
the
ideal
user's
______
of
the
rules
of
his
language,
and
performance,
the
actual
______
of
this
knowledge
in
linguistic
communication.
19.
rose
by
any
other
name
would
smell
as
sweet
This
famous
quotation
from
Shakespeare illustrates that language has the
design feature of ______.
20
The
property
of
______
of
language
provides
a
speaker
with
an
opportunity
to
talk
about
a
wide
range
of
things,
free
from
barriers
caused
by
separation
in
time and place.
21.
Language
is
a
system,
which
consists
of
two
sets
of
structures,
one
of
______,
and
the
other
of
______.
This
double
articulation
of
language
enables its
users to talk about anything within their
knowledge.
22.
An
English
speaker
and
a
Chinese
speaker
are
both
able
to
use
language,
but
they
are
not
mutually
intelligible,
which
shows
that
language
is
culturally ______.
II . Choose the best answer.
1. Language is a system of arbitrary
vocal symbols used for human ______
A. contact
B
.communication
C. relation
D.
community
2. Language is________.
A. instinctive
B. non-instinctive
C. static
D. genetically
transmitted
3. A linguist regards the
changes in language and languages use
A. unnatural
B.
something to be feared
C. natural
D.
abnormal
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4.
Which of the following words is entirely
arbitrary?
A. tree
B. crash
C. typewriter
D.
bang
5. The function of the sentence
A.
interrogative
B. directive
C. informative
D.
performative
6. ________ is a
grammatical description of a language specially
designed as
an
aid to
teaching that language to native or foreign
learners.
A. Descriptive
grammar
B. Prescriptive grammar
C. Pedagogical grammar
D. Universal grammar
7.
In
Chinese
when
someone
breaks
a
bowl
or
a
plate
the
host
or
the
people
present are likely to say sui sui ping
an ( every year be safe and happy) as a means
of
controlling
the
forces
which
the
believers
feel
might
affect
their
lives.
Which
functions does it
perform?
A.
interpersonal.
B. Emotive.
C.
Performative.
D. Recreational.
8.
Which
of
the
following
property
of
language
enables
language
users
to
overcome
the
barriers
caused
by
time
and
place,
due
to
this
feature
of
language,
speakers
of
a
language
are
free
to
talk
about
anything
in
any
situation?
A.
Transferability.
B.
Duality.
C.
Displacement.
D. Arbitrariness.
9.
Study
the
following
dialogue.
What
function
does
it
play
according
to
the
functions of language?
--A
nice day, isn't it?
--Right! I
really enjoy the sunlight.
A.
Emotive.
B. Phatic.
C.
Performative.
D. Interpersonal.
10.
Which
branch
of
linguistics
studies
the
similarities
and
differences
among
languages?
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