General Awareness ยท 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

Which Dravidian language has the largest number of speakers?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Telugu is the Dravidian language with the largest number of speakers, with over 80 million native speakers.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian languages are believed to have originated from a common ancestral language called:

  1. Proto-Dravidian

  2. Proto-Indo-European

  3. Proto-Austronesian

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

The Dravidian languages are thought to have evolved from a common ancestor known as Proto-Dravidian.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its rich literary tradition dating back to the Sangam period?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is renowned for its extensive literary tradition, with a rich collection of ancient texts and poems from the Sangam period.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian languages exhibit a unique feature called:

  1. Retroflex consonants

  2. Tonal variations

  3. Nasalization

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

Dravidian languages are characterized by the presence of retroflex consonants, which are pronounced with the tongue curled back towards the roof of the mouth.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its complex verb conjugation system?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Malayalam is known for its intricate verb conjugation system, with various forms to express tense, aspect, mood, and person.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian languages have been influenced by various external factors, including:

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Persian

  3. Arabic

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

Dravidian languages have been influenced by Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and English throughout history, leading to the incorporation of loanwords and grammatical features.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its unique whistled language?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Kodava Takk, spoken by the Kodava people of Karnataka, is a whistled language used for long-distance communication in mountainous regions.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian languages exhibit a phenomenon called:

  1. Diglossia

  2. Bilingualism

  3. Multilingualism

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

Diglossia, a situation where two distinct varieties of a language are used in different contexts, is a common phenomenon observed in Dravidian languages.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its rich oral tradition and folk literature?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tulu, spoken in the coastal regions of Karnataka, is known for its vibrant oral tradition and a wealth of folk literature.

Multiple choice

The Dravidian languages have played a significant role in the development of:

  1. Indian classical music

  2. Indian dance forms

  3. Indian literature

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

Dravidian languages have profoundly influenced Indian classical music, dance forms, and literature, contributing to the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Multiple choice

What are the two official languages of Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala and Tamil

  2. Sinhala and English

  3. Tamil and English

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

Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka, as recognized by the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

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

Sinhala is spoken by the majority of the population in Sri Lanka, with approximately 74% of the population speaking Sinhala as their first language.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the largest minority group in Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

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

Tamil is spoken by the largest minority group in Sri Lanka, with approximately 18% of the population speaking Tamil as their first language.

Multiple choice

When did Sri Lanka adopt Sinhala and Tamil as its official languages?

  1. 1948

  2. 1956

  3. 1972

  4. 1987
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sri Lanka adopted Sinhala and Tamil as its official languages in 1972, with the adoption of the new Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Multiple choice

Which language is used in the education system in Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala only

  2. Tamil only

  3. English only

  4. Sinhala, Tamil, and English
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sinhala, Tamil, and English are all used in the education system in Sri Lanka, with the medium of instruction varying depending on the region and school.