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 spoken by the Sindhi people of Karnataka?

  1. Kannada

  2. Tulu

  3. Sindhi

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

Sindhi is spoken by the Sindhi people of Karnataka, and it is an Indo-Aryan language.

Multiple choice

Which unscheduled language is spoken in the southern Indian state of Karnataka?

  1. Bodo

  2. Dogri

  3. Kannada

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

Kannada is the official language of the state of Karnataka and is spoken by over 40 million people.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the official language of the Indian state of Kerala?

  1. Tamil

  2. Kannada

  3. Malayalam

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

Malayalam is the official language of the Indian state of Kerala, spoken by over 35 million people.

Multiple choice

To which language family does Malayalam belong?

  1. Indo-Aryan

  2. Dravidian

  3. Sino-Tibetan

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

Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian language family, which includes other South Indian languages such as Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.

Multiple choice

In which language are the Vedas written?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Hindi

  3. Tamil

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

The Vedas are written in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language of the Brahmanas?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Hindi

  3. Tamil

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

The Brahmanas are written in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language.

Multiple choice

Apabhramsha originated from which ancient Indian language?

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Tamil

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

Apabhramsha evolved from Prakrit, a group of vernacular languages derived from Sanskrit.

Multiple choice

Apabhramsha influenced the development of which modern Indian languages?

  1. Hindi

  2. Marathi

  3. Gujarati

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

Apabhramsha contributed to the evolution of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and other modern Indian languages.

Multiple choice

Which Prakrit language is considered the most important?

  1. Pali

  2. Ardhamagadhi

  3. Maharashtri

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

Pali is the most important Prakrit language because it is the language of the Theravada Buddhist scriptures. It is also the language of many ancient Indian inscriptions.

Multiple choice

Which Prakrit language is known for its use in Marathi literature?

  1. Pali

  2. Ardhamagadhi

  3. Maharashtri

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

Maharashtri is the Prakrit language that is used in Marathi literature. It is also the language of some Buddhist texts.

Multiple choice

Which Prakrit language is known for its use in Gujarati literature?

  1. Pali

  2. Ardhamagadhi

  3. Maharashtri

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

Sauraseni is the Prakrit language that is used in Gujarati literature. It is also the language of some Buddhist texts.

Multiple choice

Yakshagana, a traditional theatre form of Karnataka, is known for its vibrant performances and captivating storytelling. In Yakshagana contests, troupes compete against each other to showcase their skills and artistry. What is the primary language used in Yakshagana performances?

  1. Kannada

  2. Tulu

  3. Konkani

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

Yakshagana is primarily performed in Kannada, the official language of Karnataka. However, some troupes may incorporate elements of other languages, such as Tulu or Konkani, depending on the region and the story being presented.

Multiple choice

Which of the following languages is spoken by the Chenchu people of Andhra Pradesh?

  1. Chenchu

  2. Toda

  3. Kota

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

Chenchu is a Dravidian language spoken by the Chenchu people of Andhra Pradesh. It is estimated to have about 10,000 speakers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following languages is spoken by the Irula people of Tamil Nadu?

  1. Irula

  2. Kota

  3. Toda

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

Irula is a Dravidian language spoken by the Irula people of Tamil Nadu. It is estimated to have about 1,500 speakers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following languages is spoken by the Paniya people of Kerala?

  1. Paniya

  2. Toda

  3. Kota

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

Paniya is a Dravidian language spoken by the Paniya people of Kerala. It is estimated to have about 10,000 speakers.