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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the study of the English language considered to be?

2. What historical occurrence is explored in Chapter 6?

3. What type of languages are Chinese and Japanese

4. What is phonology?

5. For years, concern for spelling has been neglected over imposing what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what the author means by the creation of language areas.

2. Finally, what is the fourth method of explaining where words come from?

3. How does the author account for the changing pronunciation of English over time?

4. What measures can people take when exact pronunciations are critical?

5. How can spelling in English be perceived as both simple and difficult?

6. Explain the theories that languages are based in sound.

7. What event prompted the usage of standardized spelling in England?

8. What is a third method of explaining where words come from?

9. What does the author say is the reason some English words are created?

10. What is the frustration of attempting to organize information about English in North America?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain noted linguist Noam Chomsky's argument that children have inherent "ground rules" that help them learn their language. What other theories exist to explain how children learn to speak?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the challenges of publishing a dictionary. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages to hard copy and digital versions. Can you offer any alternative solutions?

Essay Topic 3

What is the archaeological evidence that points to the evolution of human speech?

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