Social class, ethnicity, and speech variation MCQs 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. What does speech variation often indicate in a society? (A) Uniformity in communication (B) Social identity and group belonging (C) Random language errors (D) Permanent language decay 2. The study of how language varies across social groups is called: (A) Phonology (B) Sociolinguistics (C) Syntax (D) Pragmatics 3. William Labov’s research on New York department stores showed: (A) All speakers used the same dialect (B) Pronunciation varied with social class (C) No difference in speech patterns (D) Only ethnicity influenced speech 4. Social class affects language through: (A) Prestige and access to education (B) Universal grammar only (C) Phonetics alone (D) Language extinction 5. What is an ethnolect? (A) A language used in the workplace (B) A dialect associated with a specific ethnic group (C) A standardized version of a language (D) A phonetic variation with no social meaning 6. Which sociolinguistic variable did Labov focus on in New York City? (A) Use of slang (B) Post-vocalic “r” pronunciation (C) Writing scripts (D) Sentence structure 7. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is an example of: (A) Standard English (B) Ethnolect (C) Phonetic transcription (D) Hypercorrection 8. Which factor often overlaps with ethnicity in shaping speech patterns? (A) Gender (B) Social class (C) Both A and B (D) None of the above 9. A prestige dialect is: (A) The least respected form of speech (B) A variety associated with high social status (C) A dialect used only in rural areas (D) A secret form of communication 10. What is covert prestige? (A) Respect for standard forms (B) Value attached to non-standard or group-specific forms (C) Global standardization of language (D) Government-controlled speech 11. Social stratification in language is most visible in: (A) Vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar (B) Only alphabet scripts (C) Universal phonetics (D) Random sound changes 12. What is linguistic profiling? (A) Identifying someone’s background based on their accent or speech (B) Measuring grammar rules (C) Counting syllables in speech (D) Writing language family trees 13. Which ethnic group’s English variety is commonly studied in the UK? (A) Cockney (B) British Asian English (C) Yorkshire dialect (D) Standard RP only 14. Speech accommodation refers to: (A) Ignoring differences between dialects (B) Adjusting speech to match or differ from the listener (C) Fixing grammar in conversations (D) Replacing old languages 15. Which theory explains why people shift between speech varieties in different settings? (A) Communication accommodation theory (B) Syntax adaptation theory (C) Phonetic shift theory (D) Morphological theory 16. Vernacular speech is typically: (A) Highly formal and standardized (B) Informal, everyday speech of a group (C) Artificially constructed (D) Only used in media 17. Hypercorrection is often linked to: (A) Lower-class speakers aiming for standard prestige (B) Upper-class speakers avoiding slang (C) Children learning their first language (D) Random errors in writing 18. Which social class is often associated with the use of Received Pronunciation (RP) in the UK? (A) Working class (B) Upper class (C) Rural communities (D) Migrant workers 19. Ethnic identity in speech is maintained through: (A) Dialect preservation (B) Code-switching (C) Borrowing and innovation (D) All of the above 20. Code-switching in multi-ethnic societies often reflects: (A) Random language mixing (B) Social context and group identity (C) Grammar errors (D) Loss of linguistic competence 21. Social networks influence language variation through: (A) Tight-knit or loose-knit community ties (B) National laws only (C) Random chance (D) Written scripts only 22. What is the main cause of ethnic speech variation? (A) Migration, community networks, and heritage languages (B) Only media exposure (C) Grammar textbooks (D) Phonetics alone 23. Which American city was central to Labov’s study of African American English? (A) Los Angeles (B) New York City (C) Chicago (D) Houston 24. Social mobility may lead to: (A) Permanent language death (B) Speech convergence toward prestigious forms (C) Loss of all dialects (D) Creation of new alphabets 25. An ethnic dialect that becomes standardized may turn into: (A) A new language variety (B) A non-verbal code (C) A forgotten slang (D) A phonetic script 26. Linguistic insecurity is often observed in: (A) Speakers who feel judged for their accent or dialect (B) People fluent in multiple languages (C) Native speakers of a prestige dialect (D) Rural monolingual communities 27. Which factor does not typically affect speech variation? (A) Social class (B) Ethnicity (C) Climate change (D) Education 28. Ethnolinguistic vitality measures: (A) A group’s ability to maintain its language (B) Grammar complexity (C) Vocabulary length (D) Accent clarity 29. Covert prestige is often seen in: (A) Upper-class formal speech (B) Working-class solidarity language (C) Academic writing (D) Standardized exams 30. Language variation by ethnicity may lead to: (A) Stereotyping and discrimination (B) Equal linguistic access (C) Elimination of dialects (D) Universal grammar application 31. Which concept refers to the dominance of one group’s language over others? (A) Multilingualism (B) Linguistic imperialism (C) Phonetic variation (D) Dialect leveling 32. Dialect leveling occurs when: (A) Distinct regional or ethnic dialects lose their unique features (B) New dialects are invented (C) Languages become extinct (D) Code-switching stops 33. What is an example of ethnicity affecting speech in the US? (A) Southern American English (B) African American Vernacular English (AAVE) (C) Midwestern accent (D) General American English 34. In multicultural cities, language contact often produces: (A) Pidgins, creoles, or new dialects (B) Language extinction (C) No change in language (D) Only phonetic shifts 35. Intersectionality in language studies considers: (A) Multiple factors like gender, class, and ethnicity (B) Only one dominant variable (C) Syntax rules only (D) Written scripts 36. Which type of speech is often stigmatized? (A) Standard dialects (B) Non-standard or minority group varieties (C) Official language forms (D) Bilingual code-switching 37. Social class influences children’s language through: (A) Parental speech, schooling, and exposure (B) Genetic inheritance only (C) Random vocabulary changes (D) Dialect replacement laws 38. Ethnic enclaves in cities often maintain: (A) Heritage languages and distinct speech patterns (B) Only standard language use (C) No linguistic identity (D) Universal pronunciation rules 39. The concept of “speech community” includes: (A) People sharing a common set of norms and language practices (B) All people speaking one language worldwide (C) Only educated speakers (D) Script-based communities 40. Who is considered a pioneer in studying social class and language variation? (A) Noam Chomsky (B) William Labov (C) Edward Sapir (D) Ferdinand de Saussure 41. Ethnic style-shifting means: (A) Switching between ethnic and mainstream varieties depending on context (B) Learning a new language (C) Translating scripts (D) Forgetting heritage terms 42. Which social factor often influences ethnic language retention? (A) Intermarriage rates (B) Community schools (C) Religious institutions (D) All of the above 43. Multicultural London English (MLE) is influenced by: (A) Caribbean, South Asian, and African English varieties (B) Only British rural dialects (C) French and German (D) Latin scripts 44. Accent discrimination is also known as: (A) Linguistic profiling (B) Syntax policing (C) Phonetic leveling (D) Dialect neutralization 45. Which factor promotes standard dialect adoption among minority groups? (A) Educational systems and media (B) Rural isolation (C) Random chance (D) Phonetic simplification 46. Working-class speech often gains prestige in: (A) Popular culture and music (B) Academic conferences (C) Government legislation (D) Classical literature 47. Language attitudes toward ethnic varieties can lead to: (A) Stigmatization or valorization (B) Permanent neutrality (C) Grammar reforms only (D) Dialect extinction 48. In multilingual societies, social class affects: (A) Access to official languages (B) Code-switching frequency (C) Accent acquisition (D) All of the above 49. Ethnic language loss in second-generation immigrants is often due to: (A) Assimilation and schooling in dominant languages (B) Genetic differences (C) Lack of phonetic ability (D) Writing system differences 50. Speech variation by social class and ethnicity ultimately reflects: (A) Social hierarchy, identity, and power relations (B) Random language changes (C) Only phonetic evolution (D) Linguistic isolation 1. Foundations of Linguistic Anthropology MCQsDefinition, scope, and history MCQsLanguage vs. communication MCQsHuman language vs. animal communication MCQsKey figures in linguistic anthropology MCQs2. Language Structure MCQsPhonetics and Phonology MCQsMorphology MCQsSyntax MCQsSemantics MCQsPragmatics MCQs3. 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