Geography ยท General Awareness

World Languages and Geography

2,320 Questions

World languages and geography explore the distribution of major language families, official languages, and native speakers across different continents. The questions cover linguistic demographics in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. This topic is frequently asked in UPSC, SSC, and State PSC general studies papers.

Official languagesLanguage familiesWidely spoken languagesRegional languagesLinguistic geography

World Languages and Geography Questions

Multiple choice

Which language is closely related to Baluchi?

  1. Dari

  2. Pashto

  3. Uzbek

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

Baluchi is closely related to Brahui, which is spoken in Pakistan and Iran.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken in the eastern part of Afghanistan?

  1. Dari

  2. Pashto

  3. Uzbek

  4. Pashto
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,D Correct answer
Explanation

Pashto is spoken in the eastern part of Afghanistan.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken in the southern part of Afghanistan?

  1. Dari

  2. Pashto

  3. Uzbek

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

Pashto is spoken in the southern part of Afghanistan.

Multiple choice

In ancient Rome, what was the primary language of instruction?

  1. Latin

  2. Greek

  3. Etruscan

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

Latin was the primary language of instruction in ancient Rome, reflecting the empire's cultural and political dominance.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the smallest number of people in the Maldives?

  1. Dhivehi

  2. Maldivian Sign Language

  3. English

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

Maldivian Sign Language is a language used by the deaf community in the Maldives. It is estimated to have only a few thousand speakers.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the smallest number of people in Afghanistan?

  1. Dari

  2. Pashto

  3. Uzbek

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

Turkmen is a language spoken by a small community in northern Afghanistan. It is estimated to have only a few thousand speakers.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the smallest number of people in the Maldives?

  1. Dhivehi

  2. Maldivian Sign Language

  3. English

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

Maldivian Sign Language is a language used by the deaf community in the Maldives. It is estimated to have only a few thousand speakers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a major language family?

  1. Indo-European

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Austronesian

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

Sino-Tibetan is not a major language family, but rather a family of languages spoken in East and Southeast Asia.

Multiple choice

Which language is considered the most widely spoken in the world?

  1. Mandarin Chinese

  2. Spanish

  3. English

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

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1.1 billion native speakers.

Multiple choice

Which language is predominantly spoken in Kenya, known for its diverse wildlife and the Maasai Mara National Reserve?

  1. Swahili

  2. Zulu

  3. Xhosa

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

Swahili is the official language of Kenya and is widely spoken throughout the country, including in safari destinations like the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Multiple choice

In Tanzania, home to Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park, which language is commonly used for communication?

  1. Swahili

  2. Masai

  3. Chagga

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

Swahili is the official language of Tanzania and is widely spoken across the country, including in popular safari destinations like the Serengeti National Park.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Maasai people, renowned for their traditional culture and connection to the African savanna?

  1. Maasai

  2. Samburu

  3. Turkana

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

The Maasai language, also known as Maa, is spoken by the Maasai people, an ethnic group inhabiting parts of Kenya and Tanzania, often encountered during safari tours.

Multiple choice

In South Africa, a country known for its diverse wildlife and iconic safari destinations like Kruger National Park, which language is widely spoken?

  1. Zulu

  2. Xhosa

  3. Afrikaans

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

Zulu is one of the official languages of South Africa and is widely spoken in the eastern part of the country, including popular safari destinations like Kruger National Park.

Multiple choice

In Namibia, a country known for its vast desert landscapes and Etosha National Park, which language is commonly spoken?

  1. Oshiwambo

  2. Nama

  3. Herero

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

Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken language in Namibia, particularly in the northern regions, including areas near Etosha National Park, a popular safari destination.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the Samburu people, a semi-nomadic ethnic group inhabiting northern Kenya?

  1. Samburu

  2. Turkana

  3. Pokot

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

The Samburu language, also known as Samburu, is spoken by the Samburu people, an ethnic group found in northern Kenya, often encountered during safari tours in the region.