While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:A community of 280 Jedek speakers was documented by researchers...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- A community of 280 Jedek speakers was documented by researchers in Malaysia in 2017.
- This finding surprised the linguistic community, as Jedek was presumed to have no remaining speakers.
- Scholars now categorize Jedek as experiencing "dormant language revival."
- The concept of "dormant language revival" applies to languages once considered extinct that are later discovered to have active speaker populations.
- Such discoveries challenge assumptions about language extinction and demonstrate the persistence of linguistic communities.
The student wants to explain what "dormant language revival" means and provide a concrete example. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?
Jedek, a language spoken in Malaysia, was discovered to have 280 active speakers when researchers found the community in 2017.
"Dormant language revival" describes languages that were thought extinct but were later found to have surviving speakers, exemplified by Jedek, which was rediscovered in Malaysia in 2017.
Until 2017, linguists were unaware that Jedek still had active speakers, making it an example of dormant language revival.
Languages that were believed extinct sometimes turn out to have surviving speaker communities, as researchers discovered with Jedek in 2017.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A community of 280 Jedek speakers was documented by researchers in Malaysia in 2017." |
|
| "This finding surprised the linguistic community, as Jedek was presumed to have no remaining speakers." |
|
| "Scholars now categorize Jedek as experiencing 'dormant language revival.'" |
|
| "The concept of 'dormant language revival' applies to languages once considered extinct that are later discovered to have active speaker populations." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The discovery of active Jedek speakers in 2017 exemplifies dormant language revival, a phenomenon where languages presumed extinct are found to have surviving speaker communities.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- To accomplish the student's goals, the correct answer must include a clear definition of what dormant language revival means
- Use Jedek as the concrete example with enough detail to show how it fits the definition
- Create a logical connection between the definition and the example
Jedek, a language spoken in Malaysia, was discovered to have 280 active speakers when researchers found the community in 2017.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides the Jedek example but completely fails to explain what dormant language revival means
- Only accomplishes half of the student's goals
"Dormant language revival" describes languages that were thought extinct but were later found to have surviving speakers, exemplified by Jedek, which was rediscovered in Malaysia in 2017.
✓ Correct
- Clearly defines dormant language revival as languages thought extinct but later found to have surviving speakers
- Provides Jedek as the concrete example
- Creates an explicit connection
- Accomplishes both goals effectively
Until 2017, linguists were unaware that Jedek still had active speakers, making it an example of dormant language revival.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions that Jedek is an example but doesn't actually define what dormant language revival means
- Assumes readers already understand the concept
Languages that were believed extinct sometimes turn out to have surviving speaker communities, as researchers discovered with Jedek in 2017.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes the general phenomenon without using the specific term dormant language revival
- Fails to accomplish the first goal of explaining what the specific concept means