Linguistics 1 Spring 2017

Nina Hyams Homework #1 (due 4/13-14)

Your Knowledge of Language (100 points)

Part I (60 points total)

1. Consider these two statements: I learned a new word today. I learned a new sentence
today. Do you think the two statements are equally probable, and if not, why not? (10
points)

2. State some rule of grammar that you have learned is the correct way to say something, but
that you do not generally use in speaking. For example, you may have heard that Its me is
incorrect and that the correct form is Its I. Nevertheless, you always use me in such
sentences; your friends do too, and in fact Its I sounds odd to you. Try to think of examples
other than those given in class. (10 points)

3. Paraphrase each of the following sentences in two ways to show that you understand the
ambiguity involved: (25 points, 5 points each)

Example: Smoking grass can be nauseating.

i. Putting grass in a pipe and smoking it can make you sick.

ii. Fumes from smoldering grass can make you sick.
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Linguistics 1 Spring 2017
Nina Hyams Homework #1 (due 4/13-14)

a. Dick finally decided on the boat.

b. The design has big squares and circles.

c. That sheepdog is too hairy to eat.

d. Terry loves his wife and so do I.

e. They said she would go yesterday.

4. The following phrases and sentences illustrate various types of speech errors, a kind of
performance error. For each error, describe what has gone wrong, e.g. two sounds have
been transposed, wrong word choice, etc. Provide the correct phrase or sentence. (15
points, 3 each)

a. budbegs

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Linguistics 1 Spring 2017
Nina Hyams Homework #1 (due 4/13-14)

b. Stocks stay up. (describes an article of clothing)

c. nerve of vergous breakdown

d. The early worm catches the bird.

e. The legislature is in its final week of law-breaking.

Part 2 (40 points total)

The purpose of the questions in this section is to get you to reflect on your linguistic
knowledge by comparing your abilities in two languages. One of the languages will be
English. The other language will be a language that you have some personal experience
with. The second language could be any of the following:
Your native language, if you speak a language other than English as your
first language.
A language that you have studied in school, even if only two years in high
school.
A language in which you have some ability because of exposure to it
through relatives who speak it, having lived where it was spoken, or any
other circumstance.
If none of these scenarios seems to fit your situation, talk to your TA for
advice.

Very important: If one of your languages uses a different alphabet or characters,

please make sure to your answers are written using the English (Roman) alphabet.
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Linguistics 1 Spring 2017
Nina Hyams Homework #1 (due 4/13-14)

1. Comparison of sounds (10 points)

Select one point of comparison between sounds found in the two languages. Examples of
such comparison might be one of the following:

A sound that exists in one language but not the other. Describe the sound as best
you can by explaining how it is made by your vocal tract, e.g. my lips come
together, my tongue raises to the roof of my mouth, etc.
Sounds in the two languages that are very close but not identical. Describe the
sounds and how they differ.
A letter that is used in both languages but is pronounced differently in each
language. Describe the difference.
A sequence of sounds that is possible in one language but not the other. Give
sample words with that sound sequence.

2. Comparison of morphology (10 points)

Select one point of morphology (word building) where the two languages differ. For example a
difference in the kind of endings on verbs or nouns (e.g. gender marking on nouns in some
languages, lack of tense marking in some languages, how compound words are formed, etc.).
Describe the difference in the two languages.

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Linguistics 1 Spring 2017
Nina Hyams Homework #1 (due 4/13-14)

3. Comparison of syntax (10 points)

Select one point of syntax where the two languages differ, such as order of elements in a
sentence (e.g. SVO vs. SOV), order of elements in the NP, use of endings that mark words for
whether they are subject or object (case), rules for forming questions or some other
construction type, etc.)

4. Provide an illustration of linguistic creativity in each of your languages by showing one way
in which speakers can produce longer and more complex sentences. (10 points)