General Awareness ยท Civics Polity

Indian and Sri Lankan Languages

3,062 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

What is the primary language of Indian cinema?

  1. Hindi

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Hindi, the official language of India, is the primary language used in Indian cinema, particularly in Bollywood films, which are produced in Mumbai.

Multiple choice

In which state is Telugu the official language?

  1. Andhra Pradesh

  2. Telangana

  3. Kerala

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

Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh, situated in southeastern India.

Multiple choice

Which state in India has Malayalam as its official language?

  1. Kerala

  2. Tamil Nadu

  3. Andhra Pradesh

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

Malayalam is the official language of the state of Kerala, situated in southern India.

Multiple choice

In which state is Tamil the official language?

  1. Tamil Nadu

  2. Kerala

  3. Karnataka

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

Tamil is the official language of the state of Tamil Nadu, located in southern India.

Multiple choice

Which language family do Dravidian languages belong to?

  1. Indo-European

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Dravidian

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

Dravidian languages form an independent language family, distinct from other major language families like Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate number of Dravidian languages spoken worldwide?

  1. Around 20

  2. Around 50

  3. Around 80

  4. Around 100
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

There are approximately 80 Dravidian languages spoken by communities across South Asia, with the majority found in India.

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
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tamil is the most widely spoken Dravidian language, with over 70 million native speakers primarily located in Tamil Nadu, India, and Sri Lanka.

Multiple choice

What is the primary geographical region where Dravidian languages are spoken?

  1. North India

  2. South India

  3. East India

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

Dravidian languages are predominantly spoken in South India, with significant concentrations in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its rich literary tradition dating back several centuries?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil has a rich literary tradition spanning over 2,000 years, with notable works like the Sangam literature and the epic poem 'Silappatikaram'.

Multiple choice

What is the characteristic feature of Dravidian languages that distinguishes them from other language families?

  1. Tonal System

  2. Gender System

  3. Case System

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

Dravidian languages are known for their distinctive retroflex consonants, which are produced by curling the tongue back towards the palate.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its unique writing system that is not derived from any other script?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil has its own unique writing system called Tamil script, which is not derived from any other known script and has a history dating back to the 3rd century BCE.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the Dravidian languages spoken in the northern regions of India?

  1. Northern Dravidian

  2. Central Dravidian

  3. Southern Dravidian

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

The term 'Northern Dravidian' refers to the Dravidian languages spoken in the northern regions of India, including languages like Brahui and Kurukh.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is spoken by the Gond people, one of the largest tribal communities in India?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Gondi is a Dravidian language spoken by the Gond people, primarily in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh in India.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the Dravidian language spoken in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala?

  1. Toda

  2. Kota

  3. Badaga

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

Toda is a Dravidian language spoken by the Toda people, an indigenous community living in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is known for its unique whistling speech, enabling communication over long distances?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Silbo Gomero is a whistled language derived from the Canary Islands Spanish language, but it shares similarities with Dravidian languages in terms of its whistling techniques.