Exam 4: The Geography of Language: Locating the Spoken Word

Swahili is a member of the Niger-Congo language family.

A writing system in which characters represent blocks of word sounds is a(n) _____ writing system.

In what part of the United States are generic toponyms such as "Corners" or "Center" often found?

Languages that are related and share a common ancestor are said to be part of:

Which association is NOT correct?

In which region does the French language persist today as a result of colonialism?

The French language persists in all of the following areas EXCEPT:

The diffusion of Latin, English, and Russian occurred in conjunction with the spread of great political empires.

Which is NOT true of lingua francas?

During the Tang dynasty, China remained relatively isolationist.

The Uralic tongues include Hungarian and Finnish.

Vietnamese and Thai are:

One language becomes extinct, or dies out, approximately:

A culture that is technologically superior is likely to see its language become dominant.

The use of the words "fridge" and "icebox" instead of "refrigerator" show language shifts both over time and in different places.

The predecessor of a creole language is usually a pidgin language.

Historically speaking, most immigrants to the United States have refused to abandon their native languages.

No children today are learning any of California's native languages.

Which is NOT true of the physical habitat's influence on language?

In most cases, a community's livelihood is not dependent on the physical landscape.