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 language was the most widely spoken in the Great Andamanese Family?

  1. Great Andamanese

  2. Jarawa

  3. Onge

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

Great Andamanese was the most widely spoken language in the Great Andamanese Family, with an estimated 5,000 speakers at the time of European contact.

Multiple choice

To which language family does Nicobarese belong?

  1. Austroasiatic

  2. Dravidian

  3. Indo-Aryan

  4. Sino-Tibetan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Nicobarese is a member of the Austroasiatic language family, which includes languages spoken in Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia.

Multiple choice

Is Nicobarese an endangered language?

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not sure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Nicobarese is considered an endangered language due to its small number of speakers and the influence of other languages.

Multiple choice

Is Nicobarese influenced by other languages spoken in the region?

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not sure
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Nicobarese has been influenced by other languages spoken in the region, including Hindi, Tamil, and English.

Multiple choice

Which language family is predominantly spoken in the Maldives?

  1. Indo-European

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Austronesian

  4. Sino-Tibetan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Maldivian language, also known as Dhivehi, belongs to the Indo-European language family, specifically the Indo-Aryan branch.

Multiple choice

Which language group is represented by the Swahili language?

  1. Niger-Congo

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Austronesian

  4. Sino-Tibetan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Swahili, a Bantu language, belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. It is widely spoken along the East African coast and serves as a lingua franca in the region.

Multiple choice

Which language is closely related to Malagasy, the language spoken in Madagascar?

  1. Indonesian

  2. Malay

  3. Javanese

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

Malagasy is closely related to Cham, a language spoken in central and southern Vietnam. Both languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

Multiple choice

Which language family includes the languages spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

  1. Austroasiatic

  2. Sino-Tibetan

  3. Austronesian

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

The languages spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to the Austroasiatic language family. These languages, such as Jarawa and Onge, are unique to the region and have distinct linguistic features.

Multiple choice

Which language family do Tibeto-Burman languages belong to?

  1. Sino-Tibetan

  2. Indo-European

  3. Austroasiatic

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

Tibeto-Burman languages are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, which is one of the largest language families in the world.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate number of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken worldwide?

  1. Around 400

  2. Around 100

  3. Around 2000

  4. Around 600
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

There are approximately 400 Tibeto-Burman languages spoken by various communities across Asia.

Multiple choice

Which region is considered the primary homeland of Tibeto-Burman languages?

  1. Himalayan Region

  2. Southeast Asia

  3. Central Asia

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

The Himalayan Region, particularly the eastern Himalayas, is widely regarded as the primary homeland of Tibeto-Burman languages.

Multiple choice

Which Tibeto-Burman language has the largest number of native speakers?

  1. Burmese

  2. Tibetan

  3. Nepali

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

Burmese, spoken in Myanmar, is the Tibeto-Burman language with the largest number of native speakers.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate geographic distribution of Tibeto-Burman languages?

  1. Central and South Asia

  2. Southeast Asia and East Asia

  3. North Asia and Europe

  4. Africa and South America
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tibeto-Burman languages are primarily distributed across Central and South Asia, including the Himalayan region, parts of China, Myanmar, and Northeast India.

Multiple choice

Which Tibeto-Burman language is spoken in Bhutan?

  1. Dzongkha

  2. Tibetan

  3. Nepali

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

Dzongkha is the official language of Bhutan and is spoken by the majority of the population.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Arunachal Pradesh, India?

  1. Adi

  2. Nishi

  3. Apatani

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

Adi is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Adi people of Arunachal Pradesh, India.