Word Classes
What makes up open word classes?
nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
Define the perfect aspect
indicates a completed state or a state that has led up to a specific moment
(i.e. you have driven the car)
What do modal adverbs indicate?
indicate degree of probability
(i.e. i'm POSSIBLY going to do my homework later)
Define language policy
influences what, where, and how languages are spoken
What is solidarity as a language variation?
think about, how well do you know the person you're talking to?
What is the difference between common and proper nouns?
Common nouns are general terms for people, place, things (should not be capitalized)
Proper nouns are unique people, places, things (should be capitalized)
Name at least two primary auxiliaries
be, have, do
what do degree adverbs indicate?
indicate degree, often modify adjectives
(i.e. it's SOMEWHAT hot in here)
Define the tolerance policy
the state choosing to not interfere with language minority communities by not offering resources to them but also not repressing them
What is formality as a language variation?
think about, how formal is the context?
What is a genitive?
nouns that take an 's or an ' to show relationships
Define imperative mood
Expresses a command (and is typically used without a subject)
(i.e. get some rest)
What does a central adverb do?
indicate time, place, or manner
(i.e. i ate QUICKLY because i was rushing)
Name the three types of policy
official, covert, implicit
Define "cisgender listening subject"
a "normative ideological position that expects and reinforces normative standards in judging whether a voice is gender-appropriate"
What is a noncount noun?
Words that cannot be expressed in plural form (i.e. sand, milk)
Name 5 modal auxiliaries
will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could, must
Give an example of a phrasal preposition
(i.e. according to, in spite of, in front of)
Explain a linguistic policy
official: documented policy that explicitly regulates language - laws, codes, etc
covert: a policy that appears to regulate something else but ends up regulating language as an effect
implicit: not a written policy, but a pervasive attitude about what language is acceptable that influences how language is used
What did Eckert's study look into?
jocks (more traditional) vs. burnouts (anti authoritarian)
Define Prototype Theory (& give an example)
mental representations that closely relate to the characters associated with a given concept
(i.e. a rose is prototype of a flower, a butterfly is a prototype of an insect)
Name the three aspects of verbs
progressive, perfect, perfect progressive
Adverbs can modify....
adjectives, adverbs, noun phrases or pronouns, an entire clause as an adverbial
Name the five types of policies
promotion, expediency, tolerance, restriction, repression
What do Labov's principles Ia and II mean?
Principle Ia:
When linguistic change happens below (or, in other words, there are below conscious levels of awareness like minor changes in grammar or pronunciations that people often are not even aware of), in which this principle says that women are able to adapt to these changes at higher rates than men. This meaning, whatever unconscious forms of language they are picking up (based on the community they are surrounded by), women tend to pick up these new ways of speaking before men do.
Principle II:
When there are clear, standard forms of language being followed, men tend to use less prestigious forms, while women tend to stick closer to socially accepted forms of language.