Geography ยท General Awareness

World Languages and Geography

2,195 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 the ninth most widely spoken in the United Nations General Assembly?

  1. Japanese

  2. Korean

  3. Italian

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

Japanese is the ninth most widely spoken language in the United Nations General Assembly, with over 1 country using it as their official language.

Multiple choice

Which language is the tenth most widely spoken in the United Nations General Assembly?

  1. Korean

  2. Italian

  3. Hindi

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

Korean is the tenth most widely spoken language in the United Nations General Assembly, with over 1 country using it as their official language.

Multiple choice

Which language is the eleventh most widely spoken in the United Nations General Assembly?

  1. Italian

  2. Hindi

  3. Urdu

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

Italian is the eleventh most widely spoken language in the United Nations General Assembly, with over 1 country using it as their official language.

Multiple choice

Which language is the thirteenth most widely spoken in the United Nations General Assembly?

  1. Urdu

  2. Indonesian

  3. Bengali

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

Urdu is the thirteenth most widely spoken language in the United Nations General Assembly, with over 1 country using it as their official language.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken on the island of Teressa?

  1. Car Nicobarese

  2. Chowra

  3. Great Nicobarese

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

Teressa is spoken on the island of Teressa.

Multiple choice

What was the official language of the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

  1. German

  2. Hungarian

  3. Czech

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

German was the official language of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Multiple choice

Which television show has been praised for its portrayal of the linguistic diversity of the United States, featuring characters from various racial and ethnic backgrounds speaking in their native languages?

  1. Orange Is the New Black

  2. The Good Place

  3. Modern Family

  4. The Big Bang Theory
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Orange Is the New Black is a drama series that features a diverse cast of characters from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, speaking in their native languages, showcasing the linguistic diversity of the United States.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a social dialect?

  1. Standard English

  2. African American Vernacular English

  3. Cockney

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

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a social dialect spoken by African Americans in the United States. It has its own unique features of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a language that has undergone language death?

  1. English

  2. Spanish

  3. French

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

Wampanoag is a Native American language that has undergone language death. It was once spoken by the Wampanoag people of New England, but it is no longer spoken by any members of the tribe.

Multiple choice

In which country is Swahili primarily spoken as a native language?

  1. Kenya

  2. Tanzania

  3. Madagascar

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

Swahili is widely spoken in Tanzania, along the coastal regions and is also used as a lingua franca in East Africa.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language of the island nation of Mauritius?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Creole

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

Mauritian Creole, a French-based Creole language, is the primary language spoken by the majority of the population in Mauritius.

Multiple choice

What is the official language of the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Creole

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

Seychellois Creole, a French-based Creole language, is the official language of the Seychelles, alongside English and French.

Multiple choice

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in the Comoros Islands?

  1. Comorian

  2. French

  3. Arabic

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

Comorian, also known as Shikomori, is the official language of the Comoros Islands, belonging to the Bantu branch of Niger-Congo languages.

Multiple choice

In which country is Malagasy, an Austronesian language, primarily spoken?

  1. Madagascar

  2. Indonesia

  3. Philippines

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

Malagasy is the official language of Madagascar and is spoken by the majority of the population, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of Austronesian languages.

Multiple choice

What is the primary language of the Chagos Archipelago, a British Indian Ocean Territory?

  1. English

  2. French

  3. Creole

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

Chagossian Creole, a French-based Creole language, is the primary language spoken in the Chagos Archipelago.