Language & Society
Practice Book
For
Third Year English Students
1. What is the primary focus of sociolinguistics?
A) The study of grammar
B) The study of language in social contexts
C) The study of language evolution
D) The study of ancient languages
2. Which sociolinguist is known for pioneering the study of social
stratification in language use in New York City?
A) Deborah Tannen
B) Noam Chomsky
C) William Labov
D) Robin Lakoff
3. Sociolinguistics often bridges which two academic fields?
A) Linguistics and Psychology
B) Linguistics and Sociology
C) Anthropology and History
D) Literature and Linguistics
4. The study of how social factors like class, ethnicity, and gender affect
language variation is known as:
A) Phonology
B) Syntax
C) Pragmatics
D) Sociolinguistics
5. What does the term "sociolect" refer to?
A) A language used for trade
B) A dialect associated with a particular social class
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C) The standard form of a language
D) A written form of a spoken language
Section 2: Language Variation and Social Factors
6. Which term describes language variation that is influenced by
regional differences?
A) Sociolect
B) Dialect
C) Register
D) Jargon
7. In Labov’s study, what was the social significance of pronouncing the
postvocalic "r" in words like "car"?
A) It indicated regional background
B) It was associated with higher social status
C) It marked a speaker as uneducated
D) It was an indicator of ethnic background
8. How does social class influence language use according to
sociolinguistic studies?
A) Higher classes use more informal language
B) All classes use the same language style
C) Different social classes have distinct speech patterns
D) Social class does not affect language
9. What is the primary function of code-switching in multilingual
communities?
A) To confuse listeners
B) To maintain grammatical accuracy
C) To navigate different social contexts
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D) To improve language proficiency
10. Which term refers to the mix of languages within a single
conversation?
A) Diglossia
B) Code-switching
C) Pidgin
D) Multilingualism
Section 3: Language and Gender
11. Who argued that language reflects gender roles and often positions
women in subordinate ways?
A) William Labov
B) Deborah Tannen
C) Robin Lakoff
D) Penelope Eckert
12. Which speech pattern is commonly associated with women according
to sociolinguistic studies?
A) Direct commands
B) Tag questions and hedges
C) Monotone speech
D) Aggressive interruptions
13. How do men typically use language according to Deborah Tannen?
A) To build connections
B) To assert status and independence
C) To express empathy
D) To avoid conflict
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14. Gendered language use can often be linked to:
A) Social expectations and norms
B) Biological differences
C) Educational background
D) Professional requirements
15. Which of the following best describes "gender performativity" in
language use?
A) Gender is biologically determined
B) Language use reflects a fixed gender identity
C) Gender is performed through language based on social norms
D) Language use has no impact on gender identity
Section 4: Multilingualism and Language Contact
16. What is the primary function of code-switching in bilingual
communities?
A) To confuse the listener
B) To maintain language purity
C) To express cultural identity and adapt to social contexts
D) To avoid using a native language
17. Which term describes the use of multiple languages by a single
person?
A) Monolingualism
B) Multilingualism
C) Diglossia
D) Polyglotism
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18. What cognitive benefit is often associated with bilingualism?
A) Enhanced executive function
B) Slower language processing
C) Reduced attention span
D) Limited vocabulary
19. The blending of Spanish and English in the United States is
commonly referred to as:
A) Chinglish
B) Hinglish
C) Spanglish
D) Franglais
20. Which form of language mixing often involves alternating languages
within the same sentence?
A) Code-switching
B) Language shift
C) Language convergence
D) Language preservation
Section 5: Language Change and Innovation
21. The Great Vowel Shift primarily affected which aspect of the
English language?
A) Vocabulary
B) Grammar
C) Pronunciation
D) Syntax
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22. Social factors that drive language change include:
A) Technological advances, migration, and social mobility
B) Biological evolution
C) Language isolation
D) Static cultural norms
23. Which phenomenon describes the borrowing of words from one
language to another?
A) Language shift
B) Language extinction
C) Language borrowing
D) Language isolation
24. Language change in social media contexts often leads to:
A) Language standardization
B) Increased formality
C) The creation of new slang and neologisms
D) Loss of linguistic creativity
25. What is a common characteristic of digital communication that
influences language change?
A) Strict adherence to grammar
B) Use of emojis and visual elements
C) Reduced vocabulary diversity
D) Formal and structured dialogue
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Section 6: Language and Power
26. How can language reinforce social hierarchies?
A) By ensuring equal representation of all dialects
B) Through the promotion of a standard language over regional dialects
C) By encouraging linguistic diversity
D) By prioritizing minority languages
27. What was the primary purpose of language suppression policies in
Native American boarding schools?
A) To promote cultural exchange
B) To preserve indigenous languages
C) To assimilate Native American children into English-speaking culture
D) To study bilingualism
28. The revival of Hebrew in Israel is an example of:
A) Language extinction
B) Language suppression
C) Language revitalization linked to nationalism
D) A natural language shift
29. Which language policy in Wales supports the Welsh language?
A) Suppressive language laws
B) The Welsh Language Act
C) The Language Unity Policy
D) The National English Act
30. What term describes negative attitudes toward speakers of non-
standard dialects or minority languages?
A) Linguistic nationalism
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B) Linguistic prejudice
C) Linguistic determinism
D) Linguistic relativism
Section 7: Language and Identity
31. How does language function in constructing social identities?
A) It provides a means to communicate basic needs only
B) It serves as a marker of cultural, ethnic, and social belonging
C) It has no role in identity construction
D) It is limited to formal social interactions
32. The use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the U.S.
is a prominent example of:
A) Language decline
B) Language suppression
C) Language as a marker of cultural identity
D) Standardization of English
33. The promotion of Catalan in Spain highlights:
A) The decline of minority languages
B) Nationalistic efforts to suppress regional languages
C) The use of language to assert regional identity and autonomy
D) A purely historical study with no contemporary relevance
34. Which language has been central to the Irish nationalist movement?
A) Welsh
B) Scottish Gaelic
C) Irish Gaelic
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D) Basque
35. What role do hashtags play in online communication?
A) They limit user engagement
B) They categorize content and create communities
C) They are irrelevant in modern communication
D) They are used only in professional contexts
Section 8: Language Perception and Discrimination
36. Which of the following describes linguistic discrimination?
A) Positive reinforcement of all dialects
B) Judging individuals based on their language or dialect
C) Promoting multilingualism in schools
D) Supporting language diversity in media
37. Speakers with accents that deviate from the standard often face:
A) Neutral treatment in professional settings
B) Positive discrimination in hiring
C) Bias and discrimination in social and professional contexts
D) Automatic acceptance and credibility
38. What is a common social perception of standard dialects?
A) They are seen as less credible.
B) They are associated with high education and authority.
C) They are viewed as informal and incorrect.
D) They are often misunderstood.
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39. How are ethnic dialects, like AAVE, often perceived in mainstream
society?
A) As linguistically inferior
B) As superior to other dialects
C) As the standard form of English
D) As dialects of higher education
40. What effect do language attitudes have on educational settings?
A) They lead to equal treatment of all dialects.
B) They cause biases against non-standard dialect speakers.
C) They do not affect educational outcomes.
D) They improve learning for all students.
41. Linguistic discrimination can reinforce which of the following?
A) Social mobility
B) Language preservation
C) Social hierarchies and inequalities
D) Cultural exchange
True or False Questions on Sociolinguistics
1. True or False: Sociolinguistics primarily focuses on the grammatical rules
of a language.
- False: Sociolinguistics focuses on how language is used in social contexts
and how social factors influence language.
2. True or False: William Labov is known for his work on language variation
and social stratification.
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- True: Labov’s work in New York City highlighted how pronunciation
and language use vary across social classes.
3. True or False: Code-switching is the practice of alternating between
languages within a single conversation.
- True: Code-switching is common in multilingual communities and
reflects social and cultural adaptation.
4. True or False: Gendered language use is biologically determined and
unrelated to social factors.
- False: Gendered language use is influenced by social norms,
expectations, and cultural roles.
5. True or False: Multilingualism has no cognitive benefits compared to
monolingualism.
- False: Multilingualism is associated with enhanced cognitive functions,
such as improved executive control and delayed onset of dementia.
6. True or False: The Great Vowel Shift significantly affected English
pronunciation between the 15th and 18th centuries.
- True: This phonological change altered the pronunciation of long vowels,
contributing to the differences between Middle English and Modern English.
7. True or False: Standard language ideology often promotes the idea that
one dialect is superior to others.
- True: Standard language ideology privileges certain dialects, often
associated with higher social status and education.
8. True or False: Language policies can only suppress minority languages;
they do not support language revitalization.
- False: Language policies can both suppress and support minority
languages, as seen in cases like the revival of Welsh and Māori.
9. True or False: The revival of Hebrew was a key element in constructing
Israeli national identity.
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- True: The revival of Hebrew played a crucial role in unifying Jewish
people in Israel and fostering a shared national identity.
10. True or False: Social media platforms have no impact on language
change.
- False: Social media influences language change by promoting new slang,
abbreviations, and informal writing styles.
11. True or False: African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is often
unfairly stigmatized in mainstream society.
- True: AAVE speakers frequently face discrimination, reflecting broader
social biases against non-standard dialects.
12. True or False: Language use does not affect perceptions of intelligence or
competence in professional settings.
- False: Language use, including accents and dialects, often influences
social judgments about intelligence and competence.
13. True or False: Participant observation is a method where researchers
collect data without interacting with participants.
- False: Participant observation involves engaging with participants and
observing language use in natural settings.
14. True or False: Informed consent is not required when conducting
sociolinguistic research.
- False: Informed consent is an ethical requirement, ensuring participants
are aware of the study’s purpose and their rights.
15. True or False: Emojis and GIFs are examples of how visual elements
have become a part of digital language.
- True: Emojis and GIFs enhance online communication by adding
emotional and visual context to written language.
16. True or False: Covert observation is considered an ethical practice in all
sociolinguistic research settings.
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- False: Covert observation raises significant ethical concerns, particularly
regarding privacy and consent.
17. True or False: The use of hashtags on social media has no impact on
digital discourse.
- False: Hashtags organize content, facilitate participation in global
conversations, and can drive social movements.
18. True or False: The perception of a language or dialect does not impact its
speakers' social and economic opportunities.
- False: Language perceptions can influence access to education,
employment, and social mobility.
19. True or False: Internet slang and new digital terms often start on social
media and can spread into everyday language use.
- True: social media is a key driver of linguistic innovation, influencing
how people communicate both online and offline.
20. True or False: Linguistic discrimination can reinforce social inequalities
by marginalizing certain dialects or languages.
- True: Discrimination based on language use often reflects and
perpetuates existing social hierarchies.
21. True or False: Sociolinguistic research methods such as surveys are only
used for small-scale studies.
- False: Surveys can be used for large-scale studies, gathering data from
many participants efficiently.
22. True or False: Multilingualism often leads to confusion and
communication breakdowns in multilingual communities.
- False: Multilingualism enhances communication, allowing speakers to
navigate different social contexts more effectively.
23. True or False: Sociolinguistic interviews are always structured with no
flexibility in questioning.
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- False: Sociolinguistic interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or
unstructured, depending on the research design.
24. True or False: Standard dialects are universally seen as superior to non-
standard dialects across all cultures.
- False: Attitudes toward dialects vary across cultures, and not all societies
privilege a standard dialect.
25. True or False: The use of informal language and internet slang online has
no impact on how people write in formal settings.
- False: The blending of formal and informal language online can
influence how people communicate in other contexts, including formal
writing.
Here are additional True or False questions based on the sociolinguistics
topics covered in the previous articles:
26. True or False: Language ideologies often reflect and reinforce existing
power structures within society.
- True: Language ideologies can prioritize certain languages or dialects,
reinforcing social hierarchies.
27. True or False: Bilingual individuals often face cognitive disadvantages
compared to monolinguals.
- False: Bilingualism is associated with cognitive advantages, such as
better multitasking and problem-solving skills.
28. True or False: The promotion of a single national language can
contribute to the suppression of regional and minority languages.
- True: National language policies can marginalize minority languages, as
seen in cases like France and Spain.
29. True or False: Linguistic xenophobia refers to positive attitudes towards
foreign languages and their speakers.
- False: Linguistic xenophobia involves negative attitudes and
discrimination against foreign languages and their speakers.
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30. True or False: Accent bias is a form of linguistic discrimination that can
impact employment and social opportunities.
- True: People with non-standard or foreign accents often face bias,
affecting their professional and social prospects.
31. True or False: Social media communication is strictly formal and adheres
to standard language rules.
- False: Social media encourages informal communication, often breaking
traditional language rules.
32. True or False: Memes are static and unchanging forms of digital
communication.
- False: Memes are dynamic, evolving rapidly as they are shared and
adapted across digital platforms.
33. True or False: The use of slang in online communication can influence
how language evolves over time.
- True: Online slang and new terms frequently emerge on social media,
contributing to ongoing language change.
34. True or False: Language change in digital communication is a slow
process with minimal impact on spoken language.
- False: Language change online can happen rapidly, influencing both
written and spoken forms of language.
35. True or False: Hashtags on social media serve only to make posts look
more appealing and do not impact content organization.
- False: Hashtags are used to categorize posts, facilitate conversations, and
connect users around shared topics.
36. True or False: Gender differences in language use are solely due to
genetic differences between men and women.
- False: Gender differences in language are influenced by social and
cultural factors, not genetic determinism.
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37. True or False: Sociolinguistic research can reveal how language reflects
societal changes and evolving social norms.
- True: Sociolinguistic studies track language variation and change in
response to societal shifts.
38. True or False: Social judgments based on language use are always
rational and unbiased.
- False: Social judgments about language are often based on stereotypes
and biases, not rational evaluation.
39. True or False: The blending of languages in multilingual communities
always leads to language loss.
- False: While blending can influence language structure, it does not
necessarily lead to language loss; it can also enrich linguistic diversity.
40. True or False: Digital communication has introduced new ways of
expressing sarcasm and humor through textual forms.
- True: Emojis, memes, and specific punctuation patterns are commonly
used to convey sarcasm and humor online.
41. True or False: The stigma associated with certain dialects can contribute
to language shift among speakers.
- True: Negative social perceptions can pressure speakers to abandon their
native dialects in favor of more socially accepted ones.
42. True or False: All linguistic communities experience the same level of
representation on social media platforms.
- False: Some languages and dialects are underrepresented online,
reflecting broader societal biases.
43. True or False: Linguistic revitalization efforts are unnecessary because
language change is a natural process.
- False: Revitalization is crucial for preserving endangered languages and
maintaining cultural heritage.
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44. True or False: Standard language ideologies often overlook the validity
and richness of non-standard dialects.
- True: These ideologies can marginalize diverse linguistic expressions,
favoring only standardized forms.
45. True or False: Language use does not affect how individuals are
perceived in social interactions.
- False: Language use significantly influences social perceptions,
including judgments about intelligence, competence, and trustworthiness.
46. True or False: Sociolinguistic research is always free of ethical concerns.
- False: Ethical considerations are vital in sociolinguistic research,
especially regarding informed consent, privacy, and respectful
representation.
47. True or False: Online communication has had no impact on the evolution
of traditional written language styles.
- False: Digital communication has influenced writing styles, making them
more informal and conversational.
48. True or False: The rise of global communication has led to a greater
homogenization of language use across the world.
- False: While there are global influences, language diversity continues to
thrive, with local dialects and slang maintaining their unique character.
49. True or False: Sociolinguistic interviews can capture both quantitative
and qualitative data about language use.
- True: Depending on their structure, interviews can gather rich, detailed
information as well as statistical data.
50. True or False: Hashtags are purely a stylistic feature with no functional
purpose on social media.
- False: Hashtags are functional tools that help organize content and
facilitate discussions on social media platforms.
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