MLAT Phonetic Script and Association 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an MLAT-style exercise, '†' = /n/ and '‡' = /i/. What word is spelled by '†‡†'?
- nin (Correct answer)
- imi
- ana
- unu
Correct answer: nin
Substituting each symbol: † =/n/, ‡=/i/, so †‡† = /n/+/i/+/n/ = 'nin.'
Question 2: Which of the following best illustrates the phoneme /ŋ/ in English?
- sing (Correct answer)
- sin
- thin
- shin
Correct answer: sing
The /ŋ/ phoneme is the velar nasal heard at the end of 'sing,' not found in 'sin,' 'thin,' or 'shin.'
Question 3: A phonetic script assigns '©' = /v/ and '®' = /e/. How is '©®©' pronounced?
- vev (Correct answer)
- rer
- ece
- fef
Correct answer: vev
©=/v/ and ®=/e/, so ©®© = /v/+/e/+/v/ = 'vev.'
Question 4: Which term describes the MLAT task that requires hearing a word in a new script and writing it in that script?
- Phonetic writing (Correct answer)
- Grammar induction
- Paired associates
- Number learning
Correct answer: Phonetic writing
The phonetic writing task in the MLAT asks test-takers to represent heard sounds using the newly learned script symbols.
Question 5: In a novel phonetic system, long vowels are marked by doubling a symbol. If '★' = /a/, how is /aː/ written?
- ★★ (Correct answer)
- ★-
- ★+
- ★^
Correct answer: ★★
Following the rule that doubling a symbol marks a long vowel, /aː/ would be written as ★★.
Question 6: Which word pair demonstrates the contrast between a lateral and a nasal consonant?
- light / night (Correct answer)
- bite / site
- fan / van
- pet / bet
Correct 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.
Question 7: Why is rapid acquisition of an artificial phonetic script considered a valid predictor of foreign language aptitude?
- It reflects the ability to form new sound-symbol associations under novel conditions (Correct answer)
- It measures how well someone already knows a foreign language
- It tests grammatical intuition
- It evaluates reading speed in the native language
Correct 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.
MLAT Phonetic Script and Association 4
In an MLAT-style exercise, '†' = /n/ and '‡' = /i/.
What word is spelled by '†‡†'?