General Awareness · 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

Govindasvāmin's contributions to mathematics and astronomy were primarily written in:

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Prakrit

  3. Tamil

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

Govindasvāmin's mathematical and astronomical treatises were written in Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language has the most endangered dialects?

  1. Telugu

  2. Kannada

  3. Tamil

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

Telugu has the most endangered dialects among South Indian languages, with 10 dialects listed as critically endangered by UNESCO.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Telugu is considered the most endangered?

  1. Chenchu

  2. Savara

  3. Konda

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

The Chenchu dialect of Telugu is considered the most endangered, with only a few hundred speakers remaining.

Multiple choice

How many dialects of Kannada are considered endangered?

  1. 5

  2. 7

  3. 9

  4. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Nine dialects of Kannada are considered endangered, including the Kodava, Tulu, and Beary dialects.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Tamil is considered the most endangered?

  1. Irula

  2. Toda

  3. Kota

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

The Irula dialect of Tamil is considered the most endangered, with only a few hundred speakers remaining.

Multiple choice

How many dialects of Malayalam are considered endangered?

  1. 3

  2. 5

  3. 7

  4. 9
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Five dialects of Malayalam are considered endangered, including the Paniya, Kattunayakan, and Malapandaram dialects.

Multiple choice

Which South Indian language has the least number of endangered dialects?

  1. Telugu

  2. Kannada

  3. Tamil

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

Malayalam has the least number of endangered dialects among South Indian languages, with only 3 dialects listed as endangered by UNESCO.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate number of endangered dialects in South Indian languages?

  1. 20

  2. 30

  3. 40

  4. 50
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Approximately 40 dialects in South Indian languages are considered endangered.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Kannada is spoken in the Kodagu region of Karnataka?

  1. Kodava

  2. Tulu

  3. Beary

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

The Kodava dialect of Kannada is spoken in the Kodagu region of Karnataka.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Tamil is spoken by the Toda people of the Nilgiri Hills?

  1. Irula

  2. Toda

  3. Kota

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

The Toda dialect of Tamil is spoken by the Toda people of the Nilgiri Hills.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Malayalam is spoken by the Paniya people of Kerala?

  1. Paniya

  2. Kattunayakan

  3. Malapandaram

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

The Paniya dialect of Malayalam is spoken by the Paniya people of Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Kannada is spoken in the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka?

  1. Kodava

  2. Tulu

  3. Beary

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

The Tulu dialect of Kannada is spoken in the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka.

Multiple choice

Which dialect of Tamil is spoken by the Kota people of the Nilgiri Hills?

  1. Irula

  2. Toda

  3. Kota

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

The Kota dialect of Tamil is spoken by the Kota people of the Nilgiri Hills.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a major language used in journalism in India?

  1. Hindi

  2. English

  3. Sanskrit

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

Sanskrit is a classical language of India and is not widely used in journalism today.

Multiple choice

Which Union Territory has Tamil as its official language?

  1. Puducherry

  2. Tamil Nadu

  3. Kerala

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

Tamil is the official language of the Union Territory of Puducherry.