1. A variety of language defined by both geographical factors and social
factors, such as class, religion, and ethnicity. The phonetic,
phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical variations in a person'
speech which distinguish him/her as speaking a certain version of the language.
Dialect or accent
2. Characteristics of pronunciation inherent in
everyone's speech.
Dialect or accent
3. Which of the following is not a dialect of American
English?
A. Southern Slang
B. Appalachian English
C. Boston Brahmin
D. African American English
E. Spanish Influenced English
4. A type of prestige that exists among members of
nonstandard-speaking communities that defines how people should speak in order
to be considered members of those particular communities.
A. Covert prestige
B. Overt prestige
C. Dialectical prestige
D. Familial prestige
E. "Peer" communal prestige
5. Associated w/ areas or groups of people within a country
(local)
A. Dialect
B. Language
6. The larger whole
A. Dialect
B. Language
7. One form of a language
A. Dialect
B. Language
8. May have negative connotations
A. Dialect
B. Language
9. We usually associate it with writing and
literary traditions.
A. Dialect
B. Language
10. It is only spoken and does not have literary
traditions.
A. Dialect
B. Language
11. Words or expressions used in informal settings, often to
indicate membership in a particular social group (the common versus the
in-group). Usually, this type of language use in non-generational, that is it is
not passed from one generation to another.
A. Slang
B. Dialect
12. Which of the answer choices does not
defend Appalachian English from a linguistic point of view?
A. Appalachian English is not an inherently deficient level of English. It is
merely a variation of the standard form of English.
B. Standard forms of many modern languages use double negatives as well as
older forms of English. In a similar fashion to many modern languages and
older forms of English, Appalachian English also uses double negatives.
C. Standard English also uses double negatives. "It is not
illegal." (negative + bound derivational morpheme+ root).
D. Ain’t was a prestige word in Southern England at the turn of the
century. So if it was "standard" then, there is nothing
inherently wrong about it being used now.
E. The a-prefix on progressive verbs has come full circle. It was
common in Middle English during the 12th to the 17th centuries. So here we are a-using
it again in Appalachian English.
F. Because of multiculturalism, many people's
"prescriptive" judgments toward this dialect are beginning to
change. Thus, Appalachian English is linguistically becoming more and more
of an accepted dialect.
13. Which reason doesn't defend African American English (AAE) from a linguistic point of view.
A. AAE is a systematic and rule governed dialect of English just like
other language varieties.
B. An understanding and appreciation of AAE can help students whose
home language is AAE acquire Standard American English more easily.
C. If other dialects, such as Boston Brahmin English, are not
stigmatized because of their linguistic varieties, then AAE should not be stigmatized
as being inferior.
D. AAE is not inferior because it is a creative, lacking
any clear grammatical rules, thus making it much easier to understand than
standard English.
14. A possible origin of AAE, the Dialectologist View states...
A. AAE traces its roots back to the varieties of English spoken in
the British Isles, just like other regional varieties of American English.
B. AAE developed out of a Creole language used during the times of
slavery, which ultimately traces its origins back to the various West
African languages of the slaves who were transported to the new World.
15. The Creolist View, a possible origin of
AAE, view states...
A. AAE traces its roots back to the varieties of English spoken in
the British Isles, just like other regional varieties of American English.
B. AAE developed out of a Creole language used during the times of
slavery, which ultimately traces its origins back to the various West
African languages of the slaves who were transported to the new World.
16. Should Black English be taught in the elementary and high schools? Give two
reasons for and against this proposition?
17. Name three linguistic features of Spanish Influenced English. Give
examples.