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The Mongolic language family originated on the Tibetan Plateau.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Mongolic language family's origins are traced to the Mongolian Plateau, not the Tibetan Plateau.
Modern Mongolian is considered to have evolved directly from Old Turkic.
Answer: False
Explanation: Modern Mongolian evolved from Middle Mongol, not directly from Old Turkic.
The Bugut inscription, dated to 584 CE, represents one of the earliest substantial textual records discovered in a Mongolic or Para-Mongolic language.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Bugut inscription, dating from 584 CE, is recognized as one of the oldest significant texts found in a language belonging to the Mongolic or Para-Mongolic groups.
According to Juha Janhunen's classification, Mongolian proper is categorized within the Shirongolic branch of the Mongolic language family.
Answer: False
Explanation: Juha Janhunen classifies Mongolian proper as belonging to the Common Mongolic branch, not the Shirongolic branch.
To which primary language family does Mongolian belong?
Answer: Mongolic
Explanation: Mongolian is the principal language of the Mongolic language family.
What is the geographical origin of the Mongolic language family?
Answer: The Mongolian Plateau
Explanation: The Mongolic language family originated on the Mongolian Plateau.
From which historical linguistic stage did Modern Mongolian evolve?
Answer: Middle Mongol
Explanation: Modern Mongolian evolved from Middle Mongol, the language prevalent during the Mongol Empire.
Which inscription, dated 584 CE, is cited as one of the oldest substantial texts in a Mongolic or Para-Mongolic language?
Answer: The Bugut inscription
Explanation: The Bugut inscription, dated 584 CE, is recognized as one of the oldest substantial texts found in a Mongolic or Para-Mongolic language.
As per Juha Janhunen's classification, to which branch of the Mongolic language family does Mongolian proper belong?
Answer: Common Mongolic
Explanation: Juha Janhunen classifies Mongolian proper as belonging to the Common Mongolic branch.
Mongolian serves as the official language of Mongolia and possesses official provincial status within Inner Mongolia, China.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mongolian is designated as the official language of Mongolia and holds official provincial status in Inner Mongolia, China, reflecting its significant presence in both regions.
The predominant portion of Mongolian speakers resides outside of Mongolia, with a significant concentration in China.
Answer: False
Explanation: While a substantial number of Mongolian speakers reside in China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, the majority of native speakers are located within Mongolia itself.
Buryat and Oirat are classified as varieties of Mongolian under the prevailing international linguistic standard.
Answer: False
Explanation: While related, Buryat and Oirat are considered distinct languages within the Mongolic family according to current international standards, rather than mere varieties of Mongolian.
The utilization of Mongolian within Inner Mongolia has experienced a consistent decline commencing from the late Qing dynasty.
Answer: False
Explanation: The use of Mongolian in Inner Mongolia has undergone cycles of decline and revival, rather than a continuous decline since the late Qing dynasty.
The standard form of Mongolian utilized in Mongolia is based upon the Chakhar dialect.
Answer: False
Explanation: Standard Mongolian in Mongolia is based on the Khalkha dialects, while Chakhar is the basis for Standard Mongolian in Inner Mongolia.
A significant phonological distinction is observed where Middle Mongol affricates *ts and *dz have merged into ts/dz in Inner Mongolia, while retaining their distinctness in Mongolia.
Answer: False
Explanation: The distinction is reversed: Middle Mongol affricates *ts and *dz have split into ts/dz in Inner Mongolia, while they remained distinct as tʃ/dʒ in Mongolia.
Which region officially recognizes Mongolian as a provincial language?
Answer: Inner Mongolia, China
Explanation: Mongolian holds official provincial status in Inner Mongolia, China.
What is the approximate global number of native Mongolian speakers?
Answer: 5 to 6 million
Explanation: There are approximately 5 to 6 million native speakers of Mongolian worldwide.
Which standard variety of Mongolian is typically the focus of discussions on its grammar?
Answer: Standard written Khalkha
Explanation: Linguistic studies of Mongolian grammar commonly center on the standard written Khalkha dialect.
How are Buryat and Oirat classified in relation to Mongolian according to the source?
Answer: As distinct languages within the Mongolic family, not varieties of Mongolian by international standard
Explanation: The source indicates that Buryat and Oirat are considered distinct languages within the Mongolic family, not varieties of Mongolian by the current international standard.
How has the usage of Mongolian in Inner Mongolia been characterized historically?
Answer: Cycles of decline and revival
Explanation: The use of Mongolian in Inner Mongolia has historically been marked by cycles of decline and subsequent revival.
Which dialect serves as the foundation for Standard Mongolian in Inner Mongolia?
Answer: Chakhar
Explanation: The Chakhar dialect forms the basis for Standard Mongolian as used in Inner Mongolia.
Regarding Middle Mongol affricates, what key pronunciation difference is noted between Mongolian spoken in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia?
Answer: They split into ts/dz in Inner Mongolia vs. tʃ/dʒ in Mongolia.
Explanation: A key pronunciation difference is that Middle Mongol affricates *ts and *dz split into ts/dz in Inner Mongolia, while they remained distinct as tʃ/dʒ in Mongolia.
Within Mongolia, the traditional Mongolian script functions as the exclusive writing system for the Khalkha dialect.
Answer: False
Explanation: In Mongolia, the Khalkha dialect is primarily written using the Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet, although the traditional Mongolian script is also utilized.
The 'Phags-pa script was devised with the objective of simplifying the representation of Middle Mongol vowels.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'Phags-pa script was designed to represent the full vowel system of Middle Mongol, not specifically to simplify it.
The traditional Mongolian script was adopted under the auspices of Genghis Khan in the year 1204.
Answer: True
Explanation: The traditional Mongolian script, derived from the Uyghur script, was adopted in 1204, a significant development for the representation of the Mongol language.
The Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet was mandated in Mongolia in 1941, purportedly due to its historical connections with the traditional script.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Cyrillic alphabet was made mandatory in 1941 primarily due to Soviet influence and standardization efforts, not historical ties to the traditional script.
The Mongolian government has outlined plans to completely phase out the Cyrillic script by 2025, reinstating the traditional script exclusively.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Mongolian government announced plans to use both Cyrillic and the traditional script in official documents by 2025, indicating a move towards dual script usage, not a complete phase-out of Cyrillic.
What is the predominant script utilized for the Mongolian language in Inner Mongolia?
Answer: Traditional Mongolian script
Explanation: The traditional Mongolian script is the predominant writing system used for Mongolian in Inner Mongolia.
What was a key characteristic of the 'Phags-pa script concerning its representation of Middle Mongol?
Answer: It retained the complete vowel system.
Explanation: A significant characteristic of the 'Phags-pa script was its retention of the complete vowel system of Middle Mongol.
The Mongolian language exhibits vowel harmony and permits consonant clusters comprising up to three consonants in syllable-final positions.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mongolian phonology is characterized by vowel harmony and allows for complex syllable structures, including consonant clusters of up to three consonants at the end of a syllable.
Mongolian vowel harmony mandates that all vowels within a non-compound word, inclusive of suffixes, must conform to the same harmony group, determined by the Advanced Tongue Root (ATR) parameter.
Answer: True
Explanation: The principle of vowel harmony in Mongolian requires vowels within a word and its suffixes to align within the same ATR category (front or back).
The Mongolian vowel phoneme /e/ exhibits phonemic length distinctions across all recognized dialects.
Answer: False
Explanation: Phonemic length is not consistently present for the vowel /e/ across all Mongolian dialects; in some, it has merged with /i/.
The voiceless velar plosive /k/ is a prominent feature within the consonant inventory of the Mongolian language.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Mongolian consonant inventory notably lacks the voiceless velar plosive /k/, featuring instead a voiced alveolar lateral fricative /ɬ/.
The maximal syllable structure permissible in Mongolian is CVVCCC, where the final consonant frequently represents a word-final suffix.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mongolian phonotactics allow for complex syllable structures, with CVVCCC being the maximum, often incorporating suffixes.
What is a characteristic feature of the Mongolian language's phonology?
Answer: Vowel harmony and consonant clusters up to three consonants syllable-finally
Explanation: Mongolian phonology is characterized by vowel harmony and the presence of consonant clusters extending up to three consonants at the end of a syllable.
How does vowel harmony operate in Mongolian with respect to suffixes?
Answer: Suffixes must match the vowel harmony group of the root word.
Explanation: Vowel harmony in Mongolian requires that suffixes adhere to the vowel harmony group established by the root word.
Which of the following is not identified as a monophthong vowel phoneme in standard Mongolian?
Answer: /y/
Explanation: The vowel /y/ is not listed among the standard monophthong vowel phonemes of Mongolian; the listed ones are /a/, /i/, /o/, /u/, /e/, /ü/, /ö/.
According to the provided information, which consonant is notably absent from the Mongolian phonemic inventory?
Answer: Voiceless velar plosive /k/
Explanation: The voiceless velar plosive /k/ is notably absent from the Mongolian consonant inventory.
What is the maximal syllable structure described for the Mongolian language?
Answer: CVVCCC
Explanation: The maximal syllable structure in Mongolian is stated to be CVVCCC.
Linguistic analyses of Mongolian grammar typically focus on the vernacular Khalkha dialect.
Answer: False
Explanation: Standard linguistic studies of Mongolian grammar typically focus on the standardized written Khalkha dialect, rather than solely the vernacular form.
The fundamental word order in Mongolian sentences is subject-verb-object (SVO).
Answer: False
Explanation: The predominant word order in Mongolian is subject-object-verb (SOV).
Within Mongolian noun phrases, adjectives characteristically follow the noun they modify.
Answer: False
Explanation: In Mongolian noun phrases, adjectives typically precede the noun they modify.
Mongolian employs approximately fifteen distinct grammatical cases to denote syntactic roles within a sentence.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mongolian utilizes approximately seven to nine grammatical cases, not fifteen.
The marking of plurality in Mongolian is invariably achieved through the suffix -nar.
Answer: False
Explanation: Plurality in Mongolian is marked by various suffixes, including -nuud/-nüüd, -uud/-üüd, and -nar, but not exclusively by -nar.
The negative imperative mood in Mongolian is constructed utilizing the word 'güi'.
Answer: False
Explanation: The negative imperative in Mongolian is typically formed using the word 'bitgii' or its formal variant 'büü', not 'güi'.
The Mongolian verb suffix -na/-no/-ne/-nö signifies a past tense.
Answer: False
Explanation: This suffix indicates the present/future tense, not the past tense.
Yes/no questions in Mongolian are typically formed through the use of particles such as -be or -ve.
Answer: False
Explanation: Particles like -be or -ve are used for information questions, while yes/no questions employ particles like -uu/-yüü.
The default phrase order within Mongolian sentences is subject-predicate-object (SPO).
Answer: False
Explanation: The unmarked phrase order in Mongolian sentences is subject-object-predicate (SOP).
Mongolian verbs possess the capacity to express cooperative and plurative voices, generally indicated through the application of specific suffixes.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mongolian verbs can indeed express cooperative and plurative voices, which are typically marked by distinct suffixes.
The Mongolian language is classified as a differential object marking (DOM) language.
Answer: True
Explanation: Mongolian exhibits characteristics of a differential object marking (DOM) language, where the case marking of direct objects varies based on factors such as referentiality and topicality.
Differential subject marking (DSM) in Mongolian is characterized by the appearance of subjects in main clauses within the accusative case.
Answer: False
Explanation: Differential subject marking (DSM) in Mongolian typically applies to subjects of embedded clauses, not main clauses, where they appear in the accusative case.
The auxiliary verb 'ge-' in Mongolian performs a function analogous to the Japanese verb 'to iu' ('to say').
Answer: True
Explanation: The Mongolian auxiliary verb 'ge-' functions as a complementizer, similar to the Japanese verb 'to iu', often used with verbs of saying or psych verbs.
Clauses in Mongolian are characteristically conjoined subordinately, with the initial clause frequently terminating in a converb.
Answer: False
Explanation: Clauses in Mongolian are frequently conjoined paratactically, often with the initial clause concluding in a converb, rather than exclusively subordinately.
Possessive pronouns in Mongolian invariably precede the noun phrase to which they relate.
Answer: False
Explanation: Possessive pronouns in Mongolian can appear in various positions, sometimes preceding, sometimes following the noun phrase they modify.
The suffix '-güi' in Mongolian serves principally for the formation of the past tense of verbs.
Answer: False
Explanation: The suffix '-güi' is primarily used for verb negation, not for forming the past tense.
The particle 'bish' in Mongolian functions as a negative marker specifically for future tense verbs.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'Bish' is a negative copula used with nouns and adjectives, not a future tense verb negator.
Essential interrogative pronouns in the Mongolian language include 'yuu' (what) and 'khaana' (where).
Answer: True
Explanation: 'Yuu' (what) and 'khaana' (where) are indeed key interrogative pronouns within the Mongolian language.
The Mongolian verb 'baina' functions to express the present or future tense of the concepts 'to be' or 'to exist'.
Answer: True
Explanation: 'Baina' is the standard present/future tense form for the verbs 'to be' and 'to exist' in Mongolian.
In Mongolian verbs, the suffix '-san/-son/-sen/-sön' denotes the present progressive aspect.
Answer: False
Explanation: This suffix denotes the past tense, not the present progressive aspect.
What is the fundamental word order of Mongolian sentences?
Answer: Subject-Object-Verb (SOV)
Explanation: The basic word order in Mongolian sentences is subject-object-verb (SOV).
In Mongolian noun phrases, where do adjectives typically occur?
Answer: Before the noun
Explanation: Adjectives in Mongolian noun phrases characteristically precede the noun they modify.
Which of the following is identified as a grammatical case in Mongolian?
Answer: Comitative
Explanation: Comitative is one of the grammatical cases utilized in Mongolian.
What is a frequently used suffix for the formation of plurals in Mongolian?
Answer: -nuud / -nüüd
Explanation: Common suffixes for forming plurals in Mongolian include -nuud/-nüüd, among others.
How is negation typically conveyed for certain verb forms in Mongolian?
Answer: Using the suffix '-güi' after participles
Explanation: Negation for certain verb forms in Mongolian is typically expressed using the suffix '-güi' appended to participles.
The Mongolian verb suffix -na/-no/-ne/-nö is employed to form which tense or aspect?
Answer: Present/future tense
Explanation: This suffix is used to form the present/future tense in Mongolian verbs.
What particle is utilized in Mongolian for the formation of negative imperatives?
Answer: bitgii
Explanation: The particle 'bitgii' is used in Mongolian to form negative imperatives.
What is the functional role of the auxiliary verb 'ge-' in Mongolian?
Answer: As a complementizer, similar to Japanese 'to iu'
Explanation: The auxiliary verb 'ge-' functions as a complementizer, analogous to the Japanese verb 'to iu'.
According to the source, how are clauses typically conjoined in Mongolian?
Answer: Paratactically, often with the first clause ending in a converb
Explanation: Clauses in Mongolian are frequently conjoined paratactically, often with the initial clause concluding in a converb.
Which of the following is identified as a primary interrogative pronoun in Mongolian?
Answer: Khaana
Explanation: 'Khaana' (where) is a primary interrogative pronoun in Mongolian.
The Mongolian verb 'baina' represents the present/future tense form for which concept?
Answer: To be / To exist
Explanation: 'Baina' is the present/future tense form of the verbs 'to be' and 'to exist' in Mongolian.
The primary sources of loanwords in the Mongolian lexicon are English and Mandarin Chinese.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historically, loanwords came from Old Turkic, Sanskrit, Persian, Tibetan, Tungusic, and Chinese. More recently, Russian and English have become significant sources, alongside continued Chinese influence.
Loanword adoption within the Mongolian state predominantly mirrors Chinese influence, whereas Inner Mongolia exhibits greater Russian influence.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Mongolian state tends to adopt more loanwords from Russian, while Inner Mongolia shows more influence from Chinese, reflecting differing geopolitical contexts.
'Galt tereg', translating literally to 'fire cart', serves as an instance of a loan translation (calque) in Mongolian for the concept of 'train', borrowed from Chinese.
Answer: True
Explanation: 'Galt tereg' is a calque from Chinese for 'train', literally meaning 'fire cart', illustrating lexical borrowing through translation.
Language names presented in italics within the 'Mongolic languages' navigation box signify languages that are currently extant and spoken.
Answer: False
Explanation: Italicized language names in the 'Mongolic languages' navbox indicate that those languages are extinct.
What does the use of italics for language names in the 'Mongolic languages' navigation box signify?
Answer: Extinct languages
Explanation: Italicized language names in the 'Mongolic languages' navbox indicate that those languages are extinct.