Geography ยท Social Science

Asian Language Families

1,727 Questions

Asian Language Families covers the classification, distribution, and linguistic groups across Asia, including Tibeto-Burman, Austroasiatic, and tribal dialects. It tests understanding of regional demographics and cultural heritage. This topic frequently appears in UPSC Civil Services and State PSC general studies papers.

Tibeto Burman LanguagesAustroasiatic Language GroupTribal Languages of IndiaLinguistic Demographics of Asia

Asian Language Families Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Central Africa?

  1. Chadic languages

  2. Cushitic languages

  3. Omotic languages

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Chadic languages, Cushitic languages, and Omotic languages are all Afro-Asiatic languages spoken in Central Africa.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is widely used in classical music in India?

  1. Khmer

  2. Mon

  3. Vietnamese

  4. Santali
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Santali is an Austroasiatic language spoken in eastern India and Bangladesh. It has a rich tradition of classical music, including folk songs, devotional songs, and dance music.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is known for its unique form of polyphonic singing?

  1. Khmu

  2. Bru

  3. Wa

  4. Khasi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Khasi people of Meghalaya, India, are known for their unique form of polyphonic singing called 'ka shad kynthei'. This singing style involves multiple singers singing different melodies simultaneously, creating a rich and complex soundscape.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Munda tribe in India?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Kharia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Mundari is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Munda people of eastern India. It is the most widely spoken Austroasiatic language in India and has a rich tradition of folk music, including songs, dances, and instrumental music.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Khasi tribe in India?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Khasi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Khasi is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Khasi people of Meghalaya, India. It has a rich tradition of folk music, including songs, dances, and instrumental music, and is known for its unique form of polyphonic singing called 'ka shad kynthei'.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Wa tribe in Myanmar?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Wa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Wa is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Wa people of Myanmar and China. It has a rich tradition of folk music, including songs, dances, and instrumental music, and is known for its use of gongs and drums.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Khmu tribe in Laos?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Khmu
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Khmu is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Khmu people of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has a rich tradition of folk music, including songs, dances, and instrumental music, and is known for its use of gongs and drums.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Mon tribe in Thailand?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Mon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mon is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon people of Thailand and Myanmar. It has a rich tradition of folk music, including songs, dances, and instrumental music, and is known for its use of gongs and drums.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken by the people of the Khmer tribe in Cambodia?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Khmer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Khmer is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Khmer people of Cambodia. It has a rich tradition of classical music, including folk songs, devotional songs, and dance music.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an Austroasiatic language?

  1. Santali

  2. Ho

  3. Mundari

  4. Kharia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Santali is an Austroasiatic language, belonging to the Austroasiatic language family.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a Tibeto-Burman language?

  1. Bodo

  2. Naga

  3. Kuki-Chin

  4. Meitei
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bodo is a Tibeto-Burman language, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman language family.

Multiple choice

Which language is the official language of Bhutan and is used in its literary works?

  1. Dzongkha

  2. Nepali

  3. Hindi

  4. English
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan and is used in its literary works. It is a Tibeto-Burman language.

Multiple choice

Which language is widely used in literature in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh?

  1. Bengali

  2. Chittagonian

  3. Marma

  4. Tripuri
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Chittagonian is widely used in literature in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. It is a dialect of Bengali with distinct features.

Multiple choice

Which language is used by the ADB in its communications with the government of Thailand?

  1. English

  2. Thai

  3. Lao

  4. Khmer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The ADB uses Thai in its communications with the government of Thailand, as Thai is the official language of the Thai government.

Multiple choice

Which language is used by the ADB in its communications with the government of Cambodia?

  1. English

  2. Khmer

  3. Lao

  4. Vietnamese
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The ADB uses Khmer in its communications with the government of Cambodia, as Khmer is the official language of the Cambodian government.