Logical Reasoning

PT120 · S1 · Q14 Linguist: Regional dialects, many of

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Linguist: Regional dialects, many of which eventually become distinct languages, are responses by local populations to their own particular communicative needs.

Conclusion (so)

Even if we were to unify the world economy and be forced into adopting a universal language for trade, this language will inevitably develop many regional dialects.

Evidence

Regional dialects are responses by local populations to their own particular communicative needs.

Evaluate

The conclusion has two noteworthy features: 1. it's a conditional (when) 2. there's a new concept (a unified global economy forces the development of a universal language)

Each of these features is suggestive that this will be testing a Missing Link. Generally, when there's a new concept in the conclusion, the correct answer is telling us what the author is assuming about that concept.

Why does the author think this universal language of the global trade economy would inevitably develop many regional dialects?

We have to use the premise, which defines "regional dialects".

The fact that we have an overlapping term that's defined in the evidence also suggests Missing Link.

If I argued ...

... you would know that I'm assuming that "anyone who can do Y can do X".

The new concept in the conclusion 'anyone who can do Y' gets connected to the definition 'can do X", via the overlapping term "blipsy".

In this argument it said, "A regional dialect is a response by local populations to their own particular communicative needs. Therefore, the universal trade language of the future will have regional dialects".

So we know that it's assuming "the universal trade language of the future will have responses by local populations to their own particular communicative needs".

The new concept in the conclusion "universal trade language of the future" gets connected to the definition "responses by local populations to their own particular communicative needs", via the overlapping term "regional dialects".

Goal

Let's look for an answer reinforcing the idea that the author assumes that in this future world where we have a global economy and a universal language used in trade, it will cause there to be local populations who have their own particular communicative needs (leading to new regional dialects).

14.

Which one of the following is an assumption that the linguist's argument requires?

  1. No two local populations have

    Too Strong

    Too Strong: all are unique Doesn't Mention New Concept The author is definitely assuming that "not all local populations have the same needs", because she assumes that different local populations will have different, particular needs. But she doesn't need to assume that "no local populations have the same needs". If we negate this answer and say, "hey, author, there are at least two local populations that have the same communicative needs as each other", that won't hurt the author. She'll just say, "Sure. But there are many local populations that don't have the same communicative needs as each other, and that's why there will be many regional dialects created".

    6% picked this

  2. In some regions of the

    Out of Scope: engage in trade

    The author's argument doesn't hinge at all on any given amount of people who do / don't engage in trade. If we negate this, it will be saying, "Every single person in the world will engage in international trade once the world economy unifies". That doesn't hurt the author's argument at all. She can say, "Yup, everyone will be engaged in international trade, but there will be local populations with particular communicative needs so the universal trade language will develop some regional dialects.

    2% picked this

  3. A universal language for use

    Trigger-Support Too Strong: unless

    Any time the conclusion is a conditional claim, we will never be ... - strengthening by suggesting that the trigger is likely to happen - weaken by suggesting that the trigger is unlikely to happen - assuming that the trigger will happen In other words, just accept the trigger. Worry about the outcome. If we see that this answer's language is completely wrapped up in the internal language of the trigger, there's no way it's performing the Evidence to Conclusion link we want. Suppose I say, "When rising sea levels from global warming force Miami residents to head inland, Orlando will be the primary place they go." Am I assuming that, "Miami residents will not head inland, unless global warming causes rising sea levels"? Of course not. They may go inland because of a hurricane, or because the real estate in Miami gets too expensive. Our author is implying that a unified world economy would be sufficient to force the adoption of a universal language, but she doesn't imply that a unified world economy is required for a universal language to be adopted.

    3% picked this

  4. When the unification of the

    Out of Scope: eradicated

    This argument doesn't need to assume that any regional dialects are eradicated. It's only claiming that many new regional dialects will be created. (You don't have to destroy an old one to create a new one)

    4% picked this

  5. Correct

    After the unification of the

    Why this is right

    If we wanted to look at this formally, the conclusion is claiming this logic path: Unified economy many with universal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > regional trade language dialects The evidence provided this much. responses to many particular local - - > regional communic needs dialects The answer is addressing this missing link. Unified economy responses to with universal ---> particular local trade language communic needs

    Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    84% picked this

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