Question:
Which of the following areal/typological feature(s) may be seen in a vast majority of the languages of South Asia?
Which of the following areal/typological feature(s) may be seen in a vast majority of the languages of South Asia?
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Areal features arise from language contact and can cross genetic language boundaries.
Updated On: Dec 20, 2025
- Compound Verbs
- Retroflexed Sounds
- Non-nominative Subject Case
- Agglutinative Morphology
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The Correct Option is A, B, C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the South Asian linguistic area.
South Asia is a well-known linguistic area where unrelated languages share common structural features due to long-term contact.
Step 2: Evaluating the features.
Compound verbs are widespread across Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, and other South Asian languages.
Retroflex consonants are a defining phonological feature of the region.
Non-nominative subjects, such as dative or ergative subjects, are commonly found across many South Asian languages.
Step 3: Eliminating the incorrect option.
Agglutinative morphology is characteristic of some languages, especially Dravidian, but it is not shared by the vast majority of South Asian languages.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, options (A), (B), and (C) correctly describe areal or typological features of South Asian languages.
Final Answer: (A), (B), and (C)
South Asia is a well-known linguistic area where unrelated languages share common structural features due to long-term contact.
Step 2: Evaluating the features.
Compound verbs are widespread across Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, and other South Asian languages.
Retroflex consonants are a defining phonological feature of the region.
Non-nominative subjects, such as dative or ergative subjects, are commonly found across many South Asian languages.
Step 3: Eliminating the incorrect option.
Agglutinative morphology is characteristic of some languages, especially Dravidian, but it is not shared by the vast majority of South Asian languages.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, options (A), (B), and (C) correctly describe areal or typological features of South Asian languages.
Final Answer: (A), (B), and (C)
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