Practice Test Geeks(MLAT) Modern Language Aptitude Test Practice Test
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Phonetic Script and Association Flashcards

7 cards from real MLAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. In an MLAT-style exercise, '†' = /n/ and '‡' = /i/. What word is spelled by '†‡†'?

    Answer: nin

    Substituting each symbol: † =/n/, ‡=/i/, so †‡† = /n/+/i/+/n/ = 'nin.'

  2. Which of the following best illustrates the phoneme /ŋ/ in English?

    Answer: sing

    The /ŋ/ phoneme is the velar nasal heard at the end of 'sing,' not found in 'sin,' 'thin,' or 'shin.'

  3. A phonetic script assigns '©' = /v/ and '®' = /e/. How is '©®©' pronounced?

    Answer: vev

    ©=/v/ and ®=/e/, so ©®© = /v/+/e/+/v/ = 'vev.'

  4. Which term describes the MLAT task that requires hearing a word in a new script and writing it in that script?

    Answer: Phonetic writing

    The phonetic writing task in the MLAT asks test-takers to represent heard sounds using the newly learned script symbols.

  5. In a novel phonetic system, long vowels are marked by doubling a symbol. If '★' = /a/, how is /aː/ written?

    Answer: ★★

    Following the rule that doubling a symbol marks a long vowel, /aː/ would be written as ★★.

  6. Which word pair demonstrates the contrast between a lateral and a nasal consonant?

    Answer: light / night

    'light' begins with the lateral /l/ and 'night' begins with the nasal /n/, making them a minimal pair differing in manner of articulation.

  7. Why is rapid acquisition of an artificial phonetic script considered a valid predictor of foreign language aptitude?

    Answer: It reflects the ability to form new sound-symbol associations under novel conditions

    The ability to quickly learn novel sound-symbol pairings mirrors the core skill of attaching unfamiliar phonemes to new written forms in any foreign language.