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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 East Indian language is closely related to Sanskrit?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Gujarati

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

Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language, is closely related to Sanskrit and shares many similarities in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is known for its unique script?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil, a Dravidian language, has a unique script that is distinct from other Indian scripts and is used to write Tamil literature and inscriptions.

Multiple choice

Which East Indian language is known for its unique grammatical features?

  1. Magadhi

  2. Angika

  3. Vajjika

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

Magadhi, an Indo-Aryan language, is known for its unique grammatical features, including the use of certain verb forms and the retention of archaic vocabulary.

Multiple choice

Which Indian language has the distinction of being the first to have a novel translated into English?

  1. Hindi

  2. Bengali

  3. Tamil

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

Bengali holds the distinction of being the first Indian language to have a novel translated into English. The novel, "Alaler Gharer Dulal" by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was translated into English in 1885.

Multiple choice

What is the official language of Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

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

Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka and is spoken by the majority of the population.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is widely used in Bollywood movies?

  1. Hindi

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Hindi is the most widely used language in Bollywood movies, which is the largest film industry in India.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is known for its rich literature, including the works of Rabindranath Tagore?

  1. Bengali

  2. Marathi

  3. Gujarati

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

Bengali is known for its rich literature, including the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Carnatic music tradition?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is the primary language used in the Carnatic music tradition, which is a classical music form of South India.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Kathakali dance form?

  1. Malayalam

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Malayalam is the language used in the Kathakali dance form, which is a classical dance form of Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Bharatanatyam dance form?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is the language used in the Bharatanatyam dance form, which is a classical dance form of Tamil Nadu.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Kuchipudi dance form?

  1. Telugu

  2. Tamil

  3. Kannada

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

Telugu is the language used in the Kuchipudi dance form, which is a classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Yakshagana dance form?

  1. Kannada

  2. Telugu

  3. Tamil

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

Kannada is the language used in the Yakshagana dance form, which is a classical dance form of Karnataka.

Multiple choice

Which modern Indian language is used in the Mohiniyattam dance form?

  1. Malayalam

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Malayalam is the language used in the Mohiniyattam dance form, which is a classical dance form of Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which language was spoken in the Cochin Kingdom?

  1. Malayalam

  2. Tamil

  3. Kannada

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

Malayalam was the language spoken in the Cochin Kingdom.

Multiple choice

Which Indian script is used in the state of Andhra Pradesh and is known for its distinct vowel signs?

  1. Devanagari

  2. Tamil

  3. Telugu

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

Telugu is a Dravidian script used in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India and is characterized by its unique vowel signs and distinctive letter shapes.