Geography A – Chapter 5 Study Guide – Language

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ): Terms and Ideas to Know

Name _
Date ___

Geography A – Chapter 5 Study Guide – Language

KEY ISSUE 1: 5.1

• Languages and Forces:

  • Note: Languages and centripetal and centrifugal forces will be covered in FRQ #1.

• Institutional Language:

  • Definition: A language used in education, government, and mass media.

• Official Language:

  • Definition: A language that is designated by law to be used in official government functions.

• Differences Between Language Organizations:

  • Language Family:

  • Definition: A group of languages descended from a common ancestor language.

  • Language Branch:

  • Definition: A sub-group within a language family, representing a closer genetic relationship among languages.

  • Language Group:

  • Definition: A collection of languages within a branch that share a more recent common origin.

• Most Used Language Families:

  • The two most widely used language families in the world are:

  • Indo-European

  • Sino-Tibetan

KEY ISSUE 2: 5.2

• Language Family in the Western Hemisphere:

  • According to Figure 5.2.1 on pg 116, the language family that covers almost the entire Western Hemisphere is:

  • Indo-European

• Primary Writing Systems of Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa:

  • According to Figure 5.2.3 on page 116, the three primary writing systems are:

  • Latin alphabet

  • Arabic script

  • Cyrillic script

• Isolated Language:

  • Definition: A language that is not related to any other languages and has no known relatives.

  • Examples given in the book on page 117:

  • Basque

  • Georgian

KEY ISSUE 3: 5.3

• Widely Used Indo-European Branches in Europe:

  • The three most widely used branches are:

  • Germanic

  • Romance

  • Slavic

• Origins of Romance Languages:

  • Romance languages originated in:

  • The Roman Empire in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea during the 5th century AD.

• Completion of the Sentence:

  • Finish this sentence from the book on pg 119:

  • “English belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.”

KEY ISSUE 4: 5.4

• Continent of Language Origin:

  • According to biologist Quentin Atkinson, language originated on the continent of:

  • Africa

• Nomadic Warrior Theory vs. Sedentary Farmer Theory:

  • Nomadic Warrior Theory:

  • Suggests that the Indo-European languages spread through the conquest and migration of nomadic peoples.

  • Sedentary Farmer Theory:

  • Proposes that the spread of Indo-European languages occurred through agricultural expansion and the diffusion of sedentary farming communities.

• Main Methods of Spread:

  • According to the book, Indo-European languages mainly spread through:

  • Migration and trade.

KEY ISSUE 5: 5.5

• English and the Internet:

  • Although English is the primary language of the Internet, the number of its users on the Internet is:

  • Declining relative to users of other languages as internet access expands globally.

KEY ISSUE 6: 5.6

• Dialect:

  • Definition: A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.

• Differences Between American and British English:

  • Variations include differences in vocabulary (e.g. "lift" vs. "elevator"), spelling (e.g. "colour" vs. "color"), and pronunciation (e.g. accent differences).

• Isogloss:

  • Definition: The geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs.

• Dialects in the U.S.:

  • There are numerous dialects in the U.S., often categorized by regions (e.g. Northern, Southern, and Western dialects); they have spread through processes of migration and settlement patterns.

KEY ISSUE 7: 5.7

• Creole Language:

  • Definition: A stable, fully developed language that arises from the mixing of two or more languages.

• Primary Example of a Creole Language:

  • The primary example used in class was:

  • Haitian Creole

• Asian Countries with 20% of World’s Languages:

  • Twenty percent of the world’s languages are found in:

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Indonesia

KEY ISSUE 8: 5.8

• Note: Most of this section will be covered in the Maps portion of the test.

FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS (FRQ) (YOU MUST ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS!!)

KEY ISSUE 9: 5.9

• Endangered Language:

  • The United Nations defines an endangered language as:

  • A language that is at risk of falling out of use, typically due to a decline in the number of speakers.

• Extinct Language:

  • Definition: A language that no longer has any speakers or is no longer in use.

• Reflection on Loss of Languages:

  • According to the book on page 131, the loss of languages reflects:

  • The loss of cultural identity and heritage.

KEY ISSUE 10: 5.10

• Examples of Gaelic Languages:

  • The book provides examples such as:

  • Irish Gaelic

  • Scottish Gaelic

  • Manx

• Hebrew as an Official Language:

  • Hebrew was chosen as an official language when Israel was founded in 1948 due to:

  • Its historical significance to the Jewish people and its role in the revival of Jewish culture and identity.

MAPS/COUNTRIES

• Gaelic Language Regions:

  • Gaelic is spoken in regions such as:

  • Ireland

  • Scotland

  • Isle of Man

• Countries with Multiple Languages Mentioned:

  • The countries/regions with multiple languages mentioned in 5.8/Key Issue 3 are:

  • Switzerland

  • Canada

  • India

• Language of Catalan:

  • The language of Catalan is spoken primarily in:

  • Catalonia (Spain)

  • Andorra

  • Parts of France and Italy

Introducing Languages (5.1, pg 114-115, 5.8 pg 128-129)

• Define Language:

  • Definition: A system of communication that involves the use of sounds, symbols, gestures, or written forms to convey meaning.

• Define Centripetal Force:

  • Definition: A force or phenomenon that acts to unify a group or promote stability within a state.

• Centripetal Force Example:

  • Identify a country where language has been a centripetal force:

  • France: The use of French as a national language promotes unity across diverse regions.

  • Brief explanation:

  • Language serves to bring together various cultural and regional identities under a common national language, fostering a sense of shared identity.

• Define Centrifugal Force:

  • Definition: A force or phenomenon that promotes division or destabilization within a state.

• Centrifugal Force Example:

  • Identify a country where language has been a centrifugal force:

  • Canada: The presence of both English and French can lead to divisions.

  • Brief explanation:

  • The linguistic diversity can create cultural and political divisions, with tensions arising between English and French-speaking populations.

Diffusion of English (b can be found on 5.3, pg 119, everything else is in 5.5, pg 122-123)

• Origins of the English Language:

  • Brief explanation: The English language originated from the Germanic tribes that invaded England around the 5th century AD, evolving through influences from Latin, Norse, and Norman French to become the modern English language we know today.

• Language Branch of English:

  • English belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family.

• Countries Where English Has Diffused:

  • Three countries to which English has diffused include:

  • Australia

  • India

  • South Africa

• Primary Methods of Diffusion:

  • English has diffused primarily through:

  • Colonization, trade, and globalization, as well as the influence of media and the internet.

• Define Lingua Franca:

  • Definition: A language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different, often used for trade or diplomatic purposes.

• Define Pidgin Language:

  • Definition: A simplified language that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different native languages, often incorporating elements from multiple languages.

• Example of English as a Lingua Franca:

  • In many global business scenarios, English serves as a lingua franca to facilitate communication among international partners.