Exam 9: Language and Communication

Why should anthropologists study animal communication? What might we learn about ourselves from observing other animals? Consider non-human primates among your responses, specifically citing the work in Project Chantek.

The rules or principles of phrase and sentence-making in a language are called the:

The systematic identification and description of the distinctive sounds of a language is called _______________.

The collection of all observations of a language's morphemes and syntax is its _______________.

One difficulty in learning a second language is to know when to employ the use of euphemisms and why. Why might this be hard for a person learning a second language (and, by association, learning culture, too)?

The ability to comprehend two languages but express oneself in only one is known as _______________.

All human cultures require language.

The idea that distinctions encoded in one language are unique to that language is called linguistic nationalism.

A _______________ is a sound or gesture that has a natural or self-evident meaning.

During the past 500 years, approximately how many of the world's languages have become extinct due to warfare, epidemics, and colonialism?

All of the languages in Europe belong to the Indo-European family.

Changing speech patterns from one situation to another is called __________________________.

How do historical linguists determined the time of linguistic divergence within a language family?

What anatomically allows the characteristic human sound of speech?

Define "language."

Humans are biologically programmed for language.

A human being has about 50 facial muscles and can make about how many facial expressions?

Spoken languages are at least as old as _________________________.

Approximately how many people speak English as a foreign language?

What are the four primary ways by which humans effectively communicate?