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Languages of the Indian Ocean: A Journey Through Linguistic History

Description: Embark on a linguistic voyage through the Indian Ocean region, where diverse languages have shaped the cultural tapestry of this vast maritime realm. Test your knowledge of the languages spoken across the Indian Ocean islands, coastal regions, and trading ports.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: indian ocean languages linguistic diversity historical influences cultural exchange
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Which language family is predominantly spoken in the Maldives?

  1. Indo-European

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Austronesian

  4. Sino-Tibetan


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Maldivian language, also known as Dhivehi, belongs to the Indo-European language family, specifically the Indo-Aryan branch.

What is the official language of Mauritius?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Creole

  4. Hindi


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

English is the official language of Mauritius, a legacy of British colonial rule. However, Creole, a French-based language, is widely spoken and serves as a lingua franca among the Mauritian population.

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in Sri Lanka?

  1. Sinhala

  2. Tamil

  3. English

  4. Malay


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka and is spoken by the majority of the population. Tamil is also recognized as an official language and is widely spoken in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

What is the primary language of the Chagos Archipelago?

  1. English

  2. French

  3. Creole

  4. Malagasy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Creole, a French-based language, is the primary language spoken in the Chagos Archipelago. It developed during the period of French colonial rule and has remained the lingua franca among the Chagossian community.

Which language group is represented by the Swahili language?

  1. Niger-Congo

  2. Afro-Asiatic

  3. Austronesian

  4. Sino-Tibetan


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Swahili, a Bantu language, belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. It is widely spoken along the East African coast and serves as a lingua franca in the region.

What is the predominant language spoken in the Seychelles?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Creole

  4. Malagasy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Creole, a French-based language, is the predominant language spoken in the Seychelles. It developed during the period of French colonial rule and has become the lingua franca among the Seychellois population.

Which language is closely related to Malagasy, the language spoken in Madagascar?

  1. Indonesian

  2. Malay

  3. Javanese

  4. Cham


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Malagasy is closely related to Cham, a language spoken in central and southern Vietnam. Both languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

What is the official language of the Comoros?

  1. French

  2. Arabic

  3. Comorian

  4. English


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Comorian, also known as Shikomori, is the official language of the Comoros. It is a Bantu language closely related to Swahili and is widely spoken among the Comorian population.

Which language family includes the languages spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

  1. Austroasiatic

  2. Sino-Tibetan

  3. Austronesian

  4. Dravidian


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The languages spoken in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to the Austroasiatic language family. These languages, such as Jarawa and Onge, are unique to the region and have distinct linguistic features.

What is the primary language of the Maldives?

  1. Hindi

  2. Urdu

  3. Sinhala

  4. Dhivehi


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Dhivehi is the primary language of the Maldives. It is an Indo-Aryan language closely related to Sinhala, the language spoken in Sri Lanka.

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in Réunion?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Creole

  4. Malagasy


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

French is the official language and is spoken by the majority of the population in Réunion. Creole, a French-based language, is also widely spoken and serves as a lingua franca among the Réunionnais population.

What is the official language of the British Indian Ocean Territory?

  1. English

  2. Hindi

  3. Urdu

  4. Tamil


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

English is the official language of the British Indian Ocean Territory, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. It is used in government, education, and communication.

Which language group includes the languages spoken in the Lakshadweep Islands?

  1. Dravidian

  2. Indo-European

  3. Austroasiatic

  4. Sino-Tibetan


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The languages spoken in the Lakshadweep Islands belong to the Dravidian language family. These languages, such as Malayalam and Mahl, are closely related to other Dravidian languages spoken in southern India.

What is the primary language of the Socotra Archipelago?

  1. Arabic

  2. English

  3. Socotri

  4. Somali


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Socotri is the primary language spoken in the Socotra Archipelago. It is a Semitic language closely related to Arabic and is spoken by the majority of the population on the island.

Which language is spoken by the majority of the population in Mayotte?

  1. French

  2. English

  3. Comorian

  4. Malagasy


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

French is the official language and is spoken by the majority of the population in Mayotte. Shimaore, a Bantu language closely related to Comorian, is also widely spoken among the Mahoran population.

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