Appendix 1

Sample tests english phonology

1. Choose the incorrect letter.

Phonology

a)is the study (and use) of sound patterns to create meaning.

b)is the study of sound in speech.

c)includes comparative linguistic studies.

d) relies on phonetic information for its practice.

2. Choose the correct letter.

The system of vowels in Old English

a)included eight short vowels (monophthongs) (according to other sources 7) and seven long vowels.

b)included nine short vowels and nine long vowels.

c)included ten short vowels and ten long vowels.

d)included six short vowels and six long vowels.

3. What phenomenon in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

ᵹod (god) - ᵹ ō d (good)

west (west) – w ē st (waste)

a)The length of the vowel in OE was a phonemic quality. The words having long and short vowels differed in meaning.

b)The length of the vowel in Middle English was a phonemic quality. The words having long and short vowels differed in meaning.

c)The length of the vowel in New English was a phonemic quality. The words having long and short vowels differed in meaning.

d) The length of the vowel in Early New English was a phonemic quality. The words having long and short vowels differed in meaning.

4) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

hard > heard (hard)

arm > earm (arm)

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) diphthongization of vowels;

d) back (velar) mutation.

5) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

sandian – sendan (to send)

namnian – nemnan (to name)

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) diphthongization of vowels;

d) back (velar) mutation.

6) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

skal- sceal (shall)

skāggwon - scēawian (to show)

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) diphthongization of vowels;

d) back (velar) mutation.

7) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

i > io hira – hiora (their)

silufr – siolufr (silver)

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) diphthongization of vowels;

d) back (velar) mutation.

8) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

naht – neaht-niht-nieht – nyht

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) diphthongization of vowels;

d) mutation before h.

9) What process in OE do these examples illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

a _{+ h+} vowel > ēa slahan – slēan (slay)

e _{+ h+} vowel > ēo sehen-sēon (see)

i _{+ h+} vowel > ēo tihan- tēon (accuse)

o _{+ h+} vowel > ō fohan-fōn (catch)

a) breaking of vowels;

b) umlaut of vowels i/j mutation;

c) contraction;

d) mutation before h.

10) Choose the incorrect letter.

a) The Germanic Consonant Shift is also known as the First Sound Shift or Grimm's Law.

b) Grimm's Law implies a set of relationships among the consonants of the Germanic and non-Germanic Indo-European languages.

c) The Germanic Consonant Shift is considered to be Grimm’s Law and Verner’s Law taken together.

d) Grimm's Law (or the First Sound Shift) doesn’t help to explain the consonant changes from P-I-E to Germanic.

11. What law do the examples in the table illustrate? Choose the correct answer.

		IE	Germanic		IE	Germanic		There were shortcomings. It didn’t always work.	IE	Germanic
1.	bh>b	bhratar	broþar	b>p	abel	apple	p>f		pater	fadar
2.	dh>d	madhu	medu	d>t	decem	ten	t>þ (θ)		tres	three
3.	gh>g	hostis	gast	g>k	genu	knee	k>h		noctem kerd	nahts heart