Linguistic

A group of anthropologists are investigating how American English is used and how it has changed over time. They are interested in recording statements about categories uttered by native speakers of American English. Imagine that you are a respondent in the study. You have to decide whether statements such as ’A murder is a type of CRIME’ are acceptable in American English.

Notice that items can occur in more than one acceptable sentence of this kind. For example, both ’Herbal tea is a type of BEVERAGE’ and ’Herbal tea is a type of MEDICINE’ might be considered acceptable statements in American English.

Circle ’Y’ if you think the statement is acceptable in American English.

Circle ’N’ if you think the statement is NOT acceptable in American English.

Circle ’Ø’ if you don’t know the meaning of the words.

You have to choose between ’Y’ and ’N’ even if you find it difficult to decide.

Circle ’Ø’ only when you don’t know the meaning of the words.