Midterm Examination

ELT 302

Name: Ludivina G. Lajot Course: BSED-English 1st Year Date: July 30,2022

Instructions: Read the following statements carefully and provide what is/are asked for each
item. Strictly no copying of answers from the internet; use your own words to express your
understanding from our previous discussions. Phrases/sentences that are exactly the same
from the internet or from your fellow classmate will automatically get zero in that item.

1. Differentiate the following terms in at least one sentence and give one sample situation
for each.
a. Individual multilingualism vs Societal multilingualism (5 pts)

Answer: Individual multilingualism means a person's ability in languages other than their
mother tongue. While societal multilingualism refers to linguistic diversity found in a country or
community. For instance, Individual multilingualism: one mind, many languages’ considers how
individuals use two or more languages in their lives; how the brain processes more than one
language; how speakers switch between languages when they speak or write; the impact of
language on identity; and language loss and maintenance. The concepts of code-switching and
diglossia.

b. Bilingualism vs Multilingualism (5 pts)

Answer: Bilingualism is a person who has the ability to speak two languages proficiently like us
we are bilingual because we are fluent of Filipino and English language. While on the other
hand, Multilingualism is a person who has the ability to speak many languages proficiently an
example of this is most of us Filipino want to immigrate or to relocate in other country in the
world by that they are going to study the language of the country they are going to. So in that
situation they acquire and learn more language so in that case it is called multilingualism.

c. Language vs Dialect (5 pts)

Answer: Generally, a language is written as well as spoken, while a dialect is just spoken until it
is promoted to the elite status usually for political purposes. When it becomes a national
language, it then becomes codified into that nation's literary tradition and acts as an identifier or
national identity. An example of language are English, Filipino, Visayan and etc. While on the
other hand, and example of dialect are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo,
Bicolano, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

d. First language vs Second language (5 pts)

Answer: A first language is the mother tongue or native language of a person while a second
language is a language a person learns in order to communicate with the native speaker of that
language. For instance, my first language is my mother tongue which is Visayan while my
second language is English wherein I learn it from school and our medium of instruction.

e. Receptive bilingualism vs Productive bilingualism (5 pts)

Answer: Receptive bilingualism is when you can understand two languages but only speak in
one. An example of this would be a student/person who is exposed to both Visayan and English
at home, and can understand both languages, but only responds in Visayan. While productive
bilingualism on the other hand, is a speaker can produce and understand both languages.

2. Describe the linguistic diversity of the languages in the Philippines in 2-3 sentences. Do
you think this linguistic diversity is advantageous or not to Filipinos? Justify your
answer. (10 pts)

Answer: Philippines is one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world. According to
Ethnologue, a catalogue of world languages that keeps being updated yearly, there are 171 living
languages in the archipelago. Many Filipinos mistakenly label as a "dialect" any language which
is not widely spoken in the country. For me, linguistic diversity is more advantageous to us
Filipinos its because The biggest benefits of studying English in the Philippines is the
opportunity to have knowledge about social, life, culture and customs in around the world. You
will experience cultural sharing from your classmates of new countries through many activities.

3. List at least three possible motivations that drive people to be multilingual. Elaborate
each in one sentence. (10 pts)
Answer: First, they should feel an affinity for it, it means they should love of what language they
acquire to learn. Second, they should want to get to know people who speak that language, in
that case knowing that people can make a communication effectively and fluently. Lastly, and
they are often also interested in the culture associated with the language in order that they can
cope the language and make it as a habit.

4. What is the importance of establishing linguistic rights for each country and its language
speakers? (10 pts)

Answer: Linguistic rights are the human and civil rights concerning the individual and collective
right to choose the language or languages for communication in a private or public atmosphere.
Other parameters for analyzing linguistic rights include the degree of territoriality, amount of
positivity, orientation in terms of assimilation or maintenance, and overtness.

5. How does domain affect the way we choose the language/s we prefer in communication?
Provide a sample situation. (10 pts)

Answer: The accents and dialect of people belonging to different places differs even if
their language is same. Language variation affect communication by impeding
communication through a creation of a strong potential understanding and the differences
in language can result in misunderstanding.