General Awareness · Civics Polity

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages

2,991 Questions

Indian and Sri Lankan languages cover various linguistic families, regional dialects, and official state languages. A significant focus is placed on Dravidian languages and their distinctive scripts. Strengthen your general awareness of regional language distribution for upcoming tests.

Dravidian language familyOfficial state languagesRegional Indian dialectsSri Lankan languagesLinguistic communities

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages Questions

Multiple choice

The oldest Dravidian language is

  1. Malayalam

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugue

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

Tamil is widely recognized as the oldest living Dravidian language, with a literary tradition spanning over two millennia.

Multiple choice

The compositions of Thagaraja are in

  1. Telugu

  2. Tamil

  3. Sanskrit

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

Tyagaraja (Thagaraja) was a prolific composer of Carnatic music. The vast majority of his compositions, known as 'kritis', were written in the Telugu language.

Multiple choice

Bhakti poetry of Namdev was written in

  1. Bengali

  2. Hindi

  3. Tamil

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

Sant Namdev was a prominent Marathi saint-poet from the Varkari tradition. His devotional poetry, known as abhangs, is written in the Marathi language.

Multiple choice

Who introduced the printing in Kerala?

  1. Dutch

  2. Portuguese

  3. Swish

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

The Portuguese were the first to introduce printing technology to India, specifically in Kerala, to facilitate religious literature and administration.

Multiple choice

Which of the following languages was used in the literature of Sangam period?

  1. Tamil

  2. Sanskrit

  3. Telugu

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tamil was used in the literature of Sangam period. Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years c. 300 BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets. The period during which these poems were composed is commonly referred to as the Sangam period. These poems were composed by Tamil poets, both men and women. 

Multiple choice

Which languages were used in the bilingual edict?

  1. Sanskrit and Brahmi

  2. Magadhi and Brahmi

  3. Sanskrit and Aramaic

  4. Aramaic and Greek
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The fourth sentence of the passage answers this question. The one bilingual edict in Afghanistan is written in Aramaic and Greek.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian language family

  1. is an offshoot of Sanskrit

  2. is the least dispersed among the four major language families of India

  3. accounts for the language of nearly 40% of the Indian population

  4. has its members throughout the Peninsular Plateau
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Dravidian language family is the least dispersed among the four major language families of India. The Dravidian language family includes approximately 85 genetically related languages, spoken by about 217 million people. They are mainly spoken in southern India and parts of eastern and central India as well as in northeastern Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia and Singapore.

Multiple choice

True/False Drishti is ancient language of India.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Drishti refers to a focused gaze used in yoga practice to maintain concentration and balance. It is a Sanskrit term, but it is not an ancient language itself; Sanskrit is the language.

Multiple choice sociology community study of community forests - tribals study of tribals

What is the name for Nomadism in Hindi?

  1. Sanchari

  2. Tirugubothu

  3. Tenti

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

Movement of people from one place to another in search of food and grassland is called Nomadic life. The people are called nomads. They do not settle at one place for long time and wandered in search of food and temporary residence. Sanchari is the name for Nomadism in Hindi.