Q 01/05

What term refers to a variety of a language differing in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation from other varieties?

A) Accent

B) Dialect

C) Idiolect

D) Patois

Answer · why

B) Dialect

A dialect encompasses differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, distinguishing it more broadly than an accent, which primarily refers to ...

Q 02/05

Which name is given to the dialect and people of Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider Tyneside area?

A) Geordie

B) Scouse

C) Brummie

D) Mackem

Answer · why

A) Geordie

Geordie names both the Tyneside dialect and its speakers; use it of someone from Sunderland, down the road on Wearside, and you may cause offence, bec...

Q 03/05

What phenomenon describes the reduction of differences between dialects, often due to increased mobility?

A) Dialect leveling

B) Dialect divergence

C) Dialect contact

D) Dialect chain

Answer · why

A) Dialect leveling

Dialect leveling is the process by which distinct features of different dialects become less pronounced, leading to a more uniform speech pattern acro...

Q 04/05

What term is used for a language variety tied to class or occupation rather than place?

A) Sociolect

B) Ethnolect

C) Regiolect

D) Basilect

Answer · why

A) Sociolect

A sociolect marks class: in 1950s Britain the 'U and non-U' craze, set off by linguist Alan Ross and novelist Nancy Mitford, listed the words that tol...

Q 05/05

What is the smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning between words?

A) Allophone

B) Morpheme

C) Phoneme

D) Syllable

Answer · why

C) Phoneme

A phoneme is the basic unit of sound that, when changed, can alter the meaning of a word in a given language. For example, changing the /p/ in 'pat' t...