Geography · 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

What is the name of the Yeniseian language spoken in the Podkamennaya Tunguska River basin?

  1. Ket

  2. Yugh

  3. Arin

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

Assan was a Yeniseian language spoken in the Podkamennaya Tunguska River basin, but it is now extinct.

Multiple choice

Which Yeniseian language was spoken in the Upper Yenisei River basin?

  1. Ket

  2. Yugh

  3. Arin

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

Pumpokol was a Yeniseian language spoken in the Upper Yenisei River basin, but it is now extinct.

Multiple choice

Which European language has had the greatest influence on West Indian languages?

  1. English

  2. French

  3. Spanish

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

English is the most widely spoken language in the West Indies, and it has had a significant influence on the languages of the region. This is due to the fact that many West Indian countries were once British colonies.

Multiple choice

Which West Indian language has been most heavily influenced by French?

  1. Haitian Creole

  2. Jamaican Patois

  3. Trinidadian Creole

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

Haitian Creole is a French-based creole language that is spoken in Haiti. It is the most heavily influenced by French of all the West Indian languages.

Multiple choice

Which West Indian language has been most heavily influenced by Spanish?

  1. Puerto Rican Spanish

  2. Dominican Spanish

  3. Cuban Spanish

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

Puerto Rican Spanish is a Spanish-based creole language that is spoken in Puerto Rico. It is the most heavily influenced by Spanish of all the West Indian languages.

Multiple choice

Which West Indian language has been most heavily influenced by Dutch?

  1. Papiamento

  2. Sranan Tongo

  3. Saramaccan

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

Papiamento is a Dutch-based creole language that is spoken in Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. It is the most heavily influenced by Dutch of all the West Indian languages.

Multiple choice

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

  1. English.

  2. Mandarin Chinese.

  3. Spanish.

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

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1 billion native speakers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following was a major language that was used along the Silk Road?

  1. Chinese

  2. Persian

  3. Arabic

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

Chinese, Persian, Arabic, and Greek were all major languages that were used along the Silk Road, facilitating communication and trade between different cultures.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the podcast that explores the revitalization of the Hawaiian language?

  1. Ka Leo o Hawai'i

  2. Hawaiian Voices

  3. Ola ka 'Olelo

  4. The Hawaiian Language Podcast
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ola ka 'Olelo is a podcast produced by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa that features interviews with Hawaiian language experts, educators, and community members working to revitalize the Hawaiian language.

Multiple choice

Which podcast focuses on the revitalization of the Hawaiian language?

  1. Ka Leo o Hawai'i

  2. Hawaiian Voices

  3. Ola ka 'Olelo

  4. The Hawaiian Language Podcast
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ola ka 'Olelo is a podcast produced by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa that features interviews with Hawaiian language experts, educators, and community members working to revitalize the Hawaiian language.

Multiple choice

Which podcast focuses on the revitalization of the Maori language?

  1. Te Reo Maori

  2. Maori Voices

  3. Maori Language Podcast

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

Te Reo Maori is a podcast produced by the Maori Language Commission that features interviews with Maori language experts, educators, and community members working to revitalize the Maori language.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the podcast that explores the revitalization of the Hawaiian language?

  1. Ka Leo o Hawai'i

  2. Hawaiian Voices

  3. Ola ka 'Olelo

  4. The Hawaiian Language Podcast
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ola ka 'Olelo is a podcast produced by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa that features interviews with Hawaiian language experts, educators, and community members working to revitalize the Hawaiian language.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a Uto-Aztecan language?

  1. Nahuatl

  2. Hopi

  3. Quechua

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

Quechua is a Quechuan language, not a Uto-Aztecan language.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a Northern Uto-Aztecan language?

  1. Nahuatl

  2. Hopi

  3. Tarahumara

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

Shoshone is a Northern Uto-Aztecan language.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a Southern Uto-Aztecan language?

  1. Nahuatl

  2. Hopi

  3. Tarahumara

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

Tarahumara is a Southern Uto-Aztecan language.