Logical Reasoning

PT9 · S2 · Q21 English and the Austronesian language

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English and the Austronesian language Mbarbaram both use the word “dog” for canines.

Conclusion (thus / this shows that)

Sometimes when languages share words that are similar in sound and meaning, the similarity is due neither to language relatedness nor to borrowing.

Evidence (since)

English and the Austronesian language Mbarbaram both use the word “dog” for canines.

The two languages are unrelated.

Speakers of the two languages came into contact only long after the word “dog” was used in either language.

Intermediate Conclusion

Therefore, neither language could have borrowed “dog” from the other.

Evaluate

It's hard to argue with the intermediate conclusion. If both languages had the word 'dog' before ever coming into contact with each other, then neither of them could have borrowed it from the other language.

But does that prove that "dog" is an example of a similar word that has nothing to due with language relatedness or borrowing?

Well, the argument establishes the languages aren't related. Can we possibly argue that the common word "dog" is related to borrowing, but just not borrowing from each other?

Goal

We want an answer that rules out the possibility of some hidden borrowing source or otherwise upholds the claim that this case is indeed an example of two languages sharing a word without relatedness or borrowing.

21.

The argument requires that which one of the following be assumed?

  1. English and Mbarbaram share no

    Too Strong: no other words

    The argument never worries about whether they share other words, so this is unnecessary. If they did share other words, it wouldn’t weaken the conclusion. Just because "dog" is the only shared word mentioned, doesn't mean the author is saying that "dog" is the only shared word.

    4% picked this

  2. Several languages besides English and

    Opposite (if anything)

    If anything, this answer would weaken the argument, because the more languages that use "dog", the more likely we could explain the English / Mbarbaram similarity by saying they're both borrowing from one of these other languages.

    3% picked this

  3. Usually when two languages share

    Too Strong: usually

    The concept of "most / usually / typically / generally" is famously wrong on Necessary Assumption 98% of the time. Who cares whether shared words are due to related languages 49% of the time vs. 51% of the time? That higher number isn't necessary to this argument.

    8% picked this

  4. Correct

    There is no third language

    Why this is right

    This has a lovable Defender ruling-out "no". If we negate this answer, does it weaken the argument? Yes, if there IS a third language from which English and Mbarbaram borrowed "dog", then dog is a case where languages share a word due to borrowing. But the argument hinged on "dog" being an example of a similar word that had nothing to do with language relatedness and nothing to do with borrowing.

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

    79% picked this

  5. If two unrelated languages share

    Too Strong: must

    We separately know that English and Mbarbaram are unrelated languages, share a word, and have come into contact with each other. But the argument never assigned any permanent connections between these concepts. If we hear, "Lisa is a poet and grew up in Kansas", that doesn't allow us to say "If someone grew up in Kansas, they must be a poet".

    6% picked this

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