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

Which language is the seventh most widely spoken in India?

  1. Kannada

  2. Malayalam

  3. Odia

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

Kannada is the seventh most widely spoken language in India, with over 4% of the population speaking it as their native language.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language spoken in the backwater regions of Kerala?

  1. Malayalam

  2. Hindi

  3. English

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

Malayalam is the primary language spoken in the backwater regions of Kerala, reflecting the state's rich linguistic heritage and cultural identity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a Dravidian language?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language, while Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada are Dravidian languages.

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 most widely spoken Dravidian language, with over 80 million speakers.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate number of Dravidian languages spoken in India?

  1. 15

  2. 25

  3. 35

  4. 45
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

There are approximately 25 Dravidian languages spoken in India.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is considered to be the oldest?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is considered to be the oldest Dravidian language, with a rich literary tradition dating back over 2,000 years.

Multiple choice

What is the primary factor contributing to the linguistic diversity among Dravidian languages?

  1. Geographical Isolation

  2. Cultural Influences

  3. Political Boundaries

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

Geographical isolation has played a significant role in the linguistic diversity among Dravidian languages, as different regions developed their own unique dialects and variations.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language has been influenced by Sanskrit the most?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Telugu has been influenced by Sanskrit more than other Dravidian languages due to its historical and cultural proximity to the Indo-Aryan regions.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language has the largest number of dialects?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil has the largest number of dialects among Dravidian languages, reflecting its long history and geographical spread.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language has been recognized as a classical language by the Government of India?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Tamil is the only Dravidian language that has been recognized as a classical language by the Government of India.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is spoken in the state of Kerala?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Malayalam is the Dravidian language spoken in the state of Kerala.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate number of Dravidian languages spoken outside of India?

  1. 5

  2. 10

  3. 15

  4. 20
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

There are approximately 10 Dravidian languages spoken outside of India, primarily in neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is spoken in the state of Karnataka?

  1. Tamil

  2. Telugu

  3. Kannada

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

Kannada is the Dravidian language spoken in the state of Karnataka.

Multiple choice

Which Dravidian language is spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh?

  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 spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Multiple choice

What is the language of the Aranyakas?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Pali

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

The Aranyakas are written in Sanskrit, which was the liturgical language of ancient India.