Key Concepts in Linguistics and Language Acquisition

I. Key Linguistic Terms and Concepts

Linguistic Terms Glossary

1. Corpus Linguistics
2. Lingua Franca
3. ESL (English as a Second Language)
4. Language Function
5. Dialect
6. Caregiver Speech
7. Holophrastic Speech
8. Translation
9. Telegraphic Speech
10. Babbling
11. Clinical Linguistics
12. EFL (English as a Foreign Language)
13. Lexicography
14. Interpretation
15. Language Testing
16. Chomsky (Noam Chomsky)

Matching Definitions Exercise

Match the following definitions to the terms listed above:

1. (ESL) English plays a major role in a country's communication.
2. (Language Testing) The assessment and evaluation of language progress.
3. (Interpretation) The activity of changing oral texts from one language to another.
4. (EFL) English as a school subject.
5. (Lingua Franca) A language used for communication among people who speak different native languages.
6. (Clinical Linguistics) The study and treatment of speech impairment.
7. (Lexicography) Advanced Cambridge Dictionary is a good example of this field.
8. (Corpus Linguistics) The use of databases to investigate actual language use.
9. (Dialect) Variation of the standard form, usually associated with social class or region.
10. (Telegraphic Speech) Characterized by a string of words in phrases or sentences, often omitting function words.
11. (Babbling) Combinations of vowels and consonants children produce before forming words.
12. (Caregiver Speech) Simplified talk used to address young children.
13. (Holophrastic Speech) An utterance that functions as both a phrase and a complete sentence.
14. (Translation) The activity of changing written texts from one language to another.

II. True or False Statements

1. T
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. F
6. F
7. F
8. F
9. T
10. T
11. F
12. T

III. Core Concepts in Linguistics: Multiple Choice Questions

1. Chomsky's Revolution in Linguistic Theory

   Chomsky revolutionized linguistic theory because:
   (b) His ideas challenged the theory of how language was acquired, which was behaviorism.

2. Applied Linguistics: A Scientific Discipline

   Applied Linguistics is a scientific discipline that is:
   (b) Multidisciplinary, research-based, and problem-oriented.

3. Language and Cognition: The Core Relationship

   Language and cognition, in very broad terms, refers to:
   (a) The relationship between language and what mental processes are involved.

4. Lowth's Grammar: Its Enduring Influence

   Robert Lowth's Short Introduction to English Grammar in 1762 was influential because:
   (b) Many grammar rules still exist today in the English language.

5. Hymes's Communicative Competence Shift

   Hymes's 1972 theory of communicative competence switched the focus of attention:
   (c) From grammatical correctness to the appropriate use of language in context.

6. The Recursive Feature of Language

   The recursive feature of language refers to:
   (b) The linguistic capacity to produce an infinite number of sentences.

7. Adult Feedback in Child Language Acquisition

   Feedback from adults generally points to:
   (c) The truth of their children's utterances rather than their grammaticality.

8. Krashen's Theory of Language Learning

   Krashen's theory of learning had to do with:
   (a) The importance of comprehensible input.

IV. Essential Linguistic Concepts: Definitions and Examples

Critical Period

The first few years of life constitute the time during which language develops readily, and after which (sometime between age 5 and puberty) language acquisition is much more difficult and ultimately less successful.

First Language Education

[Definition and example needed]

Landmark Contribution to the Study of Applied Linguistics

[Definition and example needed]

Applied Linguistics Fundamental Principles

[Definition and example needed]