Geography ยท Social Science

Asian Language Families

1,615 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

What is the name of the language spoken by the Chin people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Chin people of Myanmar speak the Chin language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Chin has several dialects and is spoken in the Chin State in western Myanmar.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Rakhine people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Rakhine people of Myanmar speak the Rakhine language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Rakhine is spoken primarily in the Rakhine State in western Myanmar and has a close relationship with the Burmese language.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the language spoken by the Palaung people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Palaung people of Myanmar speak the Palaung language, which belongs to the Palaungic branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Palaung is spoken primarily in the Shan State in eastern Myanmar and has a rich oral tradition.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Wa people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Wa people of Myanmar speak the Wa language, which belongs to the Austroasiatic language family. Wa has several dialects and is spoken primarily in the Wa State in eastern Myanmar.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the language spoken by the Lisu people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Lisu people of Myanmar speak the Lisu language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Lisu has several dialects and is spoken primarily in the Kachin State and Shan State in northern Myanmar.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Akha people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Akha people of Myanmar speak the Akha language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Akha has several dialects and is spoken primarily in the Shan State and Kachin State in northern Myanmar.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the language spoken by the Lahu people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Lahu people of Myanmar speak the Lahu language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Lahu has several dialects and is spoken primarily in the Shan State and Kachin State in northern Myanmar.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Naga people of Myanmar?

  1. Burmese

  2. Shan

  3. Karen

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

The Naga people of Myanmar speak the Naga language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Naga has several dialects and is spoken primarily in the Naga Self-Administered Zone in northern Myanmar.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a cross-linguistic pattern observed in the way languages encode spatial relations?

  1. Nouns for objects that are higher in space are typically marked with a grammatical case that indicates elevation.

  2. Verbs of motion typically encode the direction of motion relative to the speaker's perspective.

  3. Adjectives describing spatial relationships typically use absolute rather than relative terms.

  4. Prepositions that indicate location typically mark the object being located rather than the reference point.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In many languages, nouns for objects that are higher in space are marked with a grammatical case that indicates elevation, such as the ablative case in Latin or the locative case in Finnish.

Multiple choice

What was the language of instruction at Nalanda University?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Pali

  3. Prakrit

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

Sanskrit was the primary language of instruction at Nalanda University.

Multiple choice

What was the language of instruction at Nalanda University?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Pali

  3. Prakrit

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

Sanskrit was the primary language of instruction at Nalanda University.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a variety of Sindhi spoken by the Sindhi diaspora in Southeast Asia?

  1. Thari Sindhi

  2. Lasi Sindhi

  3. Vicholi Sindhi

  4. Southeast Asian Sindhi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Southeast Asian Sindhi is a variety of Sindhi spoken by the Sindhi diaspora in Southeast Asia.

Multiple choice

What are some of the characteristic features of Austroasiatic languages?

  1. Tonal languages

  2. Use of classifiers

  3. Subject-verb-object word order

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

Austroasiatic languages typically have tonal languages, use classifiers, and have a subject-verb-object word order.

Multiple choice

Which Austroasiatic language is spoken in India?

  1. Vietnamese

  2. Khmer

  3. Mon

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

Santali is an Austroasiatic language spoken in India.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Austroasiatic language spoken in Cambodia?

  1. Vietnamese

  2. Khmer

  3. Mon

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

Khmer is the Austroasiatic language spoken in Cambodia.