Question 1

Worldwide, which language is most commonly spoken by native speakers today?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hindi 
B)  Chinese 
C)  Arabic 
D)  English 
A)  Hindi 
B)  Chinese 
C)  Arabic 
D)  English

Question 2

Many places in Madurai, India, have access to the Internet, but Internet cafes often have slow connections and must deal with regular power outages. What does this say about the digital divide?

Accepted Answer

A)  Access to technology is stratified across gender. 
B)  Younger people are more likely to access digital communication technologies. 
C)  Quality of connectivity limits quality of access. 
D)  More even distribution of computers and phones will bridge the divide. 
A)  Access to technology is stratified across gender. 
B)  Younger people are more likely to access digital communication technologies. 
C)  Quality of connectivity limits quality of access. 
D)  More even distribution of computers and phones will bridge the divide.

Question 3

What do linguistic anthropologists think about how women and men use language in different ways? What are the two models that explain why language is used in gendered ways, and what are examples that illustrate their hypotheses? Which one of these two models is more compelling to you, and why?

Accepted Answer

Students should thoroughly discuss the d

Question 4

Which component of any language refers to names, ideas, and events that offer a kind of catalogue of what is spoken and can be compiled into something accessible to others?

Accepted Answer

A)  dialect 
B)  grammar 
C)  lexicon 
D)  syntax 
A)  dialect 
B)  grammar 
C)  lexicon 
D)  syntax

Question 5

Why can we say the events that comprised the Arab Spring are in part a matter of language?

Accepted Answer

A)  The events were facilitated through the use of information technology and are seen as a kind of "digital activism." 
B)  The Arab Spring served to unify language use in the entire region. 
C)  In order to rebel, the rebels had to develop a new language that could not be understood by the authorities. 
D)  Use of cell phones led cell phone manufacturers to create native language apps. 
A)  The events were facilitated through the use of information technology and are seen as a kind of "digital activism." 
B)  The Arab Spring served to unify language use in the entire region. 
C)  In order to rebel, the rebels had to develop a new language that could not be understood by the authorities. 
D)  Use of cell phones led cell phone manufacturers to create native language apps.

Question 6

Anthropologists have shown that chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates are able to communicate about things not immediately present and events in the past or future. What aspect of human language does this describe?

Accepted Answer

A)  displacement 
B)  productivity 
C)  complexity 
D)  innovation 
A)  displacement 
B)  productivity 
C)  complexity 
D)  innovation

Question 7

Humpback whales have been shown to communicate with remarkable complexity, and have distinctly different types of tunes and accents that differ across different pods suggesting that whales may include what in their communications?

Accepted Answer

A)  symbols 
B)  paralanguage 
C)  body movements 
D)  grammar 
A)  symbols 
B)  paralanguage 
C)  body movements 
D)  grammar

Question 8

In 2009, newly elected president Barack Obama visited a famous eatery in Washington, D.C., and, after paying his tab, was asked by the cashier if he wanted his change. The president's reply was, "Nah, we straight." Which of the following was the president doing?

Accepted Answer

A)  speaking a dialect of English 
B)  using language as cultural capital 
C)  code switching 
D)  speaking standard English 
A)  speaking a dialect of English 
B)  using language as cultural capital 
C)  code switching 
D)  speaking standard English

Question 9

A historical linguist would be most likely to study:

Accepted Answer

A)  a nonstandard variation of a language that is particular to a specific region. 
B)  the development of language over time, including its changes and variations. 
C)  the way that linguistic variants alternate back and forth, depending on the context. 
D)  the way that variation in language appears gradually over distance between places. 
A)  a nonstandard variation of a language that is particular to a specific region. 
B)  the development of language over time, including its changes and variations. 
C)  the way that linguistic variants alternate back and forth, depending on the context. 
D)  the way that variation in language appears gradually over distance between places.

Question 10

The book mentions how recent uprisings like the Arab Spring relied on the proliferation of digital communication technologies. Based on what you read in the text, name and describe one opportunity and one challenge that innovations in communication technology might present for future social movements.

Accepted Answer

Students should generally engage with th

Question 11

What do John Palfrey and Urs Gasser call members of the generation who use the technology of the digital age, but have had to learn it as if encountering a new culture or learning a second language?

Accepted Answer

A)  cyber parents 
B)  digital immigrants 
C)  Generation X 
D)  digital natives 
A)  cyber parents 
B)  digital immigrants 
C)  Generation X 
D)  digital natives

Question 12

According to your textbook, a particular language variation is associated with wealth, success, education, and power. These language variations with elevated status are known as prestige languages. Using the concepts of cultural capital and prestige language, discuss two examples of how nonstandard variations of languages can be linked to particular positions with a culture. How are linguistic standards established or reinforced? Explain why it has been said that a dialect is a language without a navy or an army.

Accepted Answer

Students should explain the concept of a

Question 13

What can linguistic anthropologists learn from studying the focal vocabulary of a social group? Why would words that show a particular sophistication and that describe unique cultural realities of a group of people be useful to investigate? Discuss one example of how the focal vocabulary of a language has changed or may change in the future, and discuss how men and women may have different vocabularies on particular topics.

Accepted Answer

The focal vocabulary is composed of word

Question 14

Why do linguistic anthropologists study the patterns and important sounds spoken by a group of people?

Accepted Answer

A)  to decipher meaning 
B)  to identify how emotions are conveyed through nonverbal communication 
C)  to determine how long a specific language has existed 
D)  to understand the elements and rules of a particular language 
A)  to decipher meaning 
B)  to identify how emotions are conveyed through nonverbal communication 
C)  to determine how long a specific language has existed 
D)  to understand the elements and rules of a particular language

Question 15

Since almost 95 percent of the world's population has access to a cell phone, how can we say that there is a digital divide?

Accepted Answer

A)  Access to computers and other technology is not as widespread. 
B)  Scholars have concluded that the digital divide does not exist. 
C)  Most cell phones do not allow access to the Internet. 
D)  Even people who use a cell phone do not know how to surf the Internet. 
A)  Access to computers and other technology is not as widespread. 
B)  Scholars have concluded that the digital divide does not exist. 
C)  Most cell phones do not allow access to the Internet. 
D)  Even people who use a cell phone do not know how to surf the Internet.

Question 16

What types of evidence have anthropologists drawn on to approximate when humans first began to use language? Using examples, analyze how genetic and archaeological information has been used to determine when the human capacity for speech evolved. How did language enhance the ability of humans to survive and adapt to inhospitable environments?

Accepted Answer

Students may discuss the cognitive and a

Question 17

What do we call the system of human communication based on a set of symbols and signs with learned and shared meanings?

Accepted Answer

A)  grammar 
B)  paralanguage 
C)  phonology 
D)  language 
A)  grammar 
B)  paralanguage 
C)  phonology 
D)  language

Question 18

How might a sociolinguist explain "mock Spanish" terms such as el cheapo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mock Spanish makes fun of Spanish speakers while enhancing the status of English speakers. 
B)  The use of these terms is completely acceptable among the ethnic groups from which the terms are drawn. 
C)  It reflects the celebration of a specific cultural heritage. 
D)  Linguistic boundaries should remain sharp and language use should be neatly ordered. 
A)  Mock Spanish makes fun of Spanish speakers while enhancing the status of English speakers. 
B)  The use of these terms is completely acceptable among the ethnic groups from which the terms are drawn. 
C)  It reflects the celebration of a specific cultural heritage. 
D)  Linguistic boundaries should remain sharp and language use should be neatly ordered.

Question 19

Both efforts to enforce and efforts to deviate from standard English in a school setting frequently evoke controversy. What did the introduction of Ebonics in Oakland, California, schools seek to accomplish?

Accepted Answer

A)  to help African American children succeed in school 
B)  to introduce a new federal policy that allowed the teaching of nonstandard English 
C)  to replace standard English with black English in the school district 
D)  to certify teachers as proficient in black English 
A)  to help African American children succeed in school 
B)  to introduce a new federal policy that allowed the teaching of nonstandard English 
C)  to replace standard English with black English in the school district 
D)  to certify teachers as proficient in black English

Question 20

What do anthropologists call a nonstandard variation of a language?

Accepted Answer

A)  prestige language 
B)  type of displacement 
C)  dialect 
D)  morpheme 
A)  prestige language 
B)  type of displacement 
C)  dialect 
D)  morpheme

Worldwide, which language is most commonly spoken by native speakers today?

Many places in Madurai, India, have access to the Internet, but Internet cafes often have slow connections and must deal with regular power outages. What does this say about the digital divide?

What do linguistic anthropologists think about how women and men use language in different ways? What are the two models that explain why language is used in gendered ways, and what are examples that illustrate their hypotheses? Which one of these two models is more compelling to you, and why?

Which component of any language refers to names, ideas, and events that offer a kind of catalogue of what is spoken and can be compiled into something accessible to others?

Why can we say the events that comprised the Arab Spring are in part a matter of language?

Anthropologists have shown that chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates are able to communicate about things not immediately present and events in the past or future. What aspect of human language does this describe?

Humpback whales have been shown to communicate with remarkable complexity, and have distinctly different types of tunes and accents that differ across different pods suggesting that whales may include what in their communications?

In 2009, newly elected president Barack Obama visited a famous eatery in Washington, D.C., and, after paying his tab, was asked by the cashier if he wanted his change. The president's reply was, "Nah, we straight." Which of the following was the president doing?

A historical linguist would be most likely to study:

What do John Palfrey and Urs Gasser call members of the generation who use the technology of the digital age, but have had to learn it as if encountering a new culture or learning a second language?

Why do linguistic anthropologists study the patterns and important sounds spoken by a group of people?

Since almost 95 percent of the world's population has access to a cell phone, how can we say that there is a digital divide?

What do we call the system of human communication based on a set of symbols and signs with learned and shared meanings?

How might a sociolinguist explain "mock Spanish" terms such as el cheapo?

Both efforts to enforce and efforts to deviate from standard English in a school setting frequently evoke controversy. What did the introduction of Ebonics in Oakland, California, schools seek to accomplish?

What do anthropologists call a nonstandard variation of a language?

Anthropology in a Global Age

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Race and Racism

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Exam 4: Language

Worldwide, which language is most commonly spoken by native speakers today?

Many places in Madurai, India, have access to the Internet, but Internet cafes often have slow connections and must deal with regular power outages. What does this say about the digital divide?

What do linguistic anthropologists think about how women and men use language in different ways? What are the two models that explain why language is used in gendered ways, and what are examples that illustrate their hypotheses? Which one of these two models is more compelling to you, and why?

Which component of any language refers to names, ideas, and events that offer a kind of catalogue of what is spoken and can be compiled into something accessible to others?

Why can we say the events that comprised the Arab Spring are in part a matter of language?

Anthropologists have shown that chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates are able to communicate about things not immediately present and events in the past or future. What aspect of human language does this describe?

Humpback whales have been shown to communicate with remarkable complexity, and have distinctly different types of tunes and accents that differ across different pods suggesting that whales may include what in their communications?

In 2009, newly elected president Barack Obama visited a famous eatery in Washington, D.C., and, after paying his tab, was asked by the cashier if he wanted his change. The president's reply was, "Nah, we straight." Which of the following was the president doing?

A historical linguist would be most likely to study:

What do John Palfrey and Urs Gasser call members of the generation who use the technology of the digital age, but have had to learn it as if encountering a new culture or learning a second language?

Why do linguistic anthropologists study the patterns and important sounds spoken by a group of people?

Since almost 95 percent of the world's population has access to a cell phone, how can we say that there is a digital divide?

What do we call the system of human communication based on a set of symbols and signs with learned and shared meanings?

How might a sociolinguist explain "mock Spanish" terms such as el cheapo?

Both efforts to enforce and efforts to deviate from standard English in a school setting frequently evoke controversy. What did the introduction of Ebonics in Oakland, California, schools seek to accomplish?

What do anthropologists call a nonstandard variation of a language?

Anthropology in a Global Age

Culture

Fieldwork and Ethnography

Human Origins

Race and Racism

Ethnicity and Nationalism

Gender

Sexuality

Kinship, Family, and Marriage

Class and Inequality

The Global Economy

Migration

Politics and Power

Religion

Health, Illness, and the Body

Art and Media

Filters