MCQs On Difference Between Animal Language And Human Language
1. Which of the following is a unique feature of human language that animal communication lacks?
A. Fixed
signals
B. Syntax (Correct Answer)
C. Instinctual behaviors
D. Territory marking
Explanation: Human language is characterized by
syntax, which allows for the organization of words into sentences with
structure and meaning. Animals do not exhibit such complex syntactical
structures in their communication.
2. What
does the term 'displacement' mean in human language?
A. The
ability to communicate about things in the past or future (Correct Answer)
B. The ability to make different types of sounds
C. The use of fixed signals for communication
D. The ability to use gestures
Explanation: Displacement refers to the ability
of humans to talk about events or concepts that are not currently present, like
discussing past or future events. Animal communication is generally tied to the
present situation.
3. Which
of the following best describes the concept of arbitrariness in human language?
A. Words
have inherent meanings
B. The meaning of words is not tied to the actual thing they represent (Correct
Answer)
C. Words are fixed and unchangeable
D. Words represent sounds only
Explanation: In human language, the
relationship between words and their meanings is arbitrary, meaning there is no
inherent connection between the word "dog" and the animal itself.
Animals, however, do not have arbitrary symbols.
4. Which
of these features is NOT characteristic of animal communication?
A.
Instinctual behavior
B. Fixed set of signals
C. Creativity (Correct Answer)
D. Limited range of topics
Explanation: Animal communication is often
instinctual and involves a limited set of signals with little room for
creativity. Humans, on the other hand, can create infinite sentences with a
combination of words.
5. Which
of the following is a feature of human language that allows people to create
new expressions?
A.
Arbitrariness
B. Creativity (Correct Answer)
C. Fixed signals
D. Territory marking
Explanation: Creativity in human language
allows the formation of new ideas and expressions, unlike animal communication,
which has a limited set of pre-programmed signals.
6. What
does 'semanticity' in human language refer to?
A. The
ability to use sounds in combination to create words
B. The use of symbols to represent meanings (Correct Answer)
C. The transmission of language through generations
D. The instinctual nature of communication
Explanation: Semanticity refers to the ability
of human language to use symbols (such as words) to represent specific meanings
or concepts, unlike animal signals, which do not typically convey abstract
meanings.
7. Which
of the following is NOT a characteristic of animal communication?
A.
Displacement (Correct Answer)
B. Fixed communication signals
C. Limited to the present
D. Territory-related signals
Explanation: Animal communication generally
focuses on the present and does not involve the ability to communicate about
distant events, which is known as displacement in human language.
8. What is
the primary difference between how humans and animals transmit language?
A. Humans
use gestures only
B. Animals do not have language
C. Humans pass language through cultural transmission (Correct Answer)
D. Animals rely on sounds exclusively
Explanation: Human language is culturally
transmitted, meaning it is learned and passed down through generations, while
animal communication is typically genetically inherited.
9. Which
of the following is a limitation of animal communication compared to human
language?
A. Ability
to use symbols
B. The use of an infinite number of words
C. The lack of abstract concepts (Correct Answer)
D. Complexity in syntax
Explanation: Animals generally lack the ability
to communicate about abstract concepts, which is a feature of human language.
This is one of the key differences that limits the complexity of animal
communication.
10. Which
characteristic of human language allows it to be open-ended?
A.
Displacement
B. Creativity (Correct Answer)
C. Fixed signals
D. Cultural transmission
Explanation: The creativity of human language allows for the production of an infinite number of new utterances. Animal communication does not have the same flexibility and is limited to a small set of signals.
12. How
does the creativity of human language differ from animal communication?
A. Humans
can only use predefined signals
B. Animals create new words regularly
C. Humans can generate an infinite variety of sentences (Correct Answer)
D. Animals can express an infinite range of ideas
Explanation: Human language is creative because
it allows for the generation of an unlimited number of new sentences and ideas,
while animal communication is limited to a fixed set of signals.
13. What
is the term used to describe the ability of humans to talk about things that
are not present in the current environment?
A.
Instinct
B. Displacement (Correct Answer)
C. Arbitrariness
D. Creativity
Explanation: Displacement is the feature of
human language that allows us to discuss events or things that are not present
in the immediate environment, unlike animals that communicate about immediate
or current situations.
14. Which
of these features makes human language fundamentally different from animal
communication?
A.
Cultural transmission (Correct Answer)
B. Instinctual behavior
C. Fixed set of signals
D. Use of gestures only
Explanation: Human language is learned and
passed down culturally across generations, allowing humans to acquire and
change languages, whereas animal communication is typically passed genetically.
15. What
does 'arbitrariness' in human language refer to?
A. The
connection between the word and its meaning is universal
B. Words have fixed meanings
C. There is no inherent connection between the word and its meaning (Correct
Answer)
D. The meaning of words is defined by instinct
Explanation: Arbitrariness means that the
connection between words and their meanings is not inherent or natural, but
rather agreed upon by society, unlike animal signals, which are often direct
and tied to specific stimuli.
16. Which
of the following features of human language does animal communication lack?
A. Ability
to create new words
B. Abstract representation (Correct Answer)
C. Transmission through generations
D. Expressing past events
Explanation: Animal communication is largely
concrete and tied to immediate stimuli. Human language can represent abstract
ideas, thoughts, and concepts, which animals do not possess in their
communication systems.
17. Which
of these aspects does NOT apply to animal communication?
A. Use of
fixed signals
B. Expression of past and future events (Correct Answer)
C. Limited set of sounds
D. Use of gestures
Explanation: Animal communication is typically
focused on the present or immediate environment. They do not express ideas
about the past or future in the same way humans do through displacement.
18. What
makes human language unique compared to animal communication?
A. It is
learned instinctively
B. It uses a limited vocabulary
C. It allows for open-ended communication (Correct Answer)
D. It is passed through genes
Explanation: Human language is open-ended,
meaning it can be used to create an infinite variety of expressions. Animal
communication lacks this open-ended capability and is more fixed.
19. Which
of the following is an example of arbitrariness in human language?
A. The way
a dog barks when it sees a threat
B. The word "cat" representing the animal (Correct Answer)
C. A bird's call to warn of a predator
D. A gesture used to indicate hunger
Explanation: The word "cat" is
arbitrary in the sense that its connection to the animal it represents is not
inherent; it is a symbol that society has agreed upon, unlike animal signals
which are directly linked to a specific behavior or stimulus.
20. Which
feature distinguishes animal communication from human language in terms of
creativity?
A. Animals
can generate new signals on the spot
B. Humans can generate an infinite number of sentences (Correct Answer)
C. Animals use varied expressions based on context
D. Both humans and animals exhibit creativity equally
Explanation: Human language is creative in that
humans can combine words in countless ways to form new meanings. Animal
communication is limited to a fixed set of signals with minimal variation.
21. Which
of the following best describes the relationship between human language symbols
(words) and their meanings?
A. Fixed
and predetermined
B. Directly linked to the object or action they represent
C. Arbitrary (Correct Answer)
D. Instinctively understood
Explanation: In human language, symbols (words)
are arbitrary, meaning there is no inherent connection between the word and
what it represents. This is in contrast to animal signals, which often directly
reflect the situation or stimulus.
22. What
characteristic of human language allows humans to express complex and abstract
ideas?
A. Fixed
set of words
B. Creativity (Correct Answer)
C. Inherited language
D. Genetic communication
Explanation: Creativity in human language
enables individuals to form new ideas, create new words, and express complex
and abstract concepts. Animal communication, by contrast, is generally limited
to basic, concrete signals.
23. Which
feature of human language is most clearly missing in animal communication?
A. The
ability to communicate emotions
B. The ability to discuss past or future events (Correct Answer)
C. Use of gestures
D. Simple calls
Explanation: Human language includes the
ability to discuss events that are not currently happening (past and future
events), a feature animals generally lack in their communication.
24. What
is the term for the rule-based structure of human language that allows words to
be combined into meaningful sentences?
A.
Semantics
B. Syntax (Correct Answer)
C. Phonology
D. Pragmatics
Explanation: Syntax refers to the set of rules
in human language that dictate how words can be combined to form grammatically
correct and meaningful sentences. Animals lack such syntactical structures in
their communication.
25. What
is the main difference between the signals used by animals and human language?
A. Animal
signals are learned and passed culturally
B. Animal signals are arbitrary
C. Animal signals are fixed and innate (Correct Answer)
D. Animal signals can form complex sentences
Explanation: Animal communication is often
based on instinctual and fixed signals that are genetically determined, unlike
human language, which is arbitrary and learned.
26. How
does human language differ from animal communication in terms of its ability to
create new meanings?
A. Animals
can learn new words
B. Humans can invent new words and meanings (Correct Answer)
C. Animals use gestures to create new meanings
D. Both animals and humans can invent new meanings equally
Explanation: Human language allows individuals
to create entirely new words and meanings based on context, while animal
communication remains within a limited set of signals.
27. Which
of these is a defining characteristic of human language that sets it apart from
animal communication?
A. It is
passed genetically
B. It allows for arbitrary and symbolic communication (Correct Answer)
C. It uses innate signals
D. It is instinctual
Explanation: Human language is based on arbitrary symbols, such as words and sounds, whose meanings are agreed upon socially, unlike animal communication, which is more direct and innate.
28. What
does the term 'duality of patterning' refer to in human language?
A. The
ability to create complex meanings with simple units (Correct Answer)
B. The ability to express emotions
C. The use of a fixed set of signals
D. The instinctual nature of sounds
Explanation: Duality of patterning means that
human language has two levels of structure: the basic units (like phonemes) and
their combinations (like words) to create complex meanings.
29. Which of the following is an example of the creativity inherent in human language?
A. Dogs
barking to signal danger
B. Humans creating new words to describe technological advancements (Correct
Answer)
C. Monkeys using gestures to express emotions
D. Bees performing a waggle dance to show food location
Explanation: Human language allows the creation of entirely new words to describe new concepts or inventions, such as technological advancements. Animals do not create new signals or words to the same extent.
30. Which
of the following best explains the difference between the sounds used in human
and animal languages?
A. Human
sounds are instinctual, while animal sounds are learned
B. Human sounds are arbitrary, while animal sounds are fixed and natural
(Correct Answer)
C. Animal sounds are creative, while human sounds are limited
D. Both human and animal sounds are arbitrary and learned
Explanation: Human sounds (like words) are arbitrary, meaning they do not have an inherent connection to their meanings, whereas animal sounds are often fixed and directly linked to their immediate context, such as signaling danger or mating.
31. How
does human language demonstrate 'dual structure'?
A. Humans
have two distinct languages
B. Humans combine sounds and meanings to create complex sentences (Correct
Answer)
C. Humans use body language and vocal sounds equally
D. Humans communicate using both speech and gestures
Explanation: Duality of structure refers to the
ability to combine a small number of basic units (sounds or gestures) into
larger, meaningful structures (such as words and sentences). This is a feature
unique to human language.
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