Linguists debate whether all languages are descended from a common ancestor. This can’t be completely true, since many sign languages have been invented out of whole cloth in modern time (Nicaraguan sign is a famous example), as was, to a meaningful extent, Hawaiian Pidgin.
However, students of history know from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus that Phrygian is the first language. According to his writings, an Egyptian king by the name of Psammetichus ordered that two children “of the ordinary sort” be raised in an isolated cabin without exposure to language. At the age of two or so, the children began to speak Phrygian, which was taken as proof that Phrygian, not Egyptian, is the world’s earliest language.
This study is a great example of why experiments need to be replicated before they are taken too seriously.
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Dear all,
How are you all? Great to be with you all today after so many days. I had been visiting some herbal natural falls down south. I had been to nagarkoil, via madurai came to chennai. I could not visit the great architecture Meenakshi temple in madurai second time. Ok.
When we think everything is over, someone protest. The fact is that the root words are in TAMIZH for most of the languages of this world, but the fact was not shown to the world. It shows how much of domination so effective was there by the aryans. They were so energetic to spread their sanskrit. Their ultimate aim was to rule this world by pushing sanskrit everywhere.
OK. now it shows clearly that tamizhian was doing his duty and minding his life. He was not claiming anywhere that he had the root words. Only when the topic comes he open his eyes….hehehe…..tamizhian and all the south indians (dravidians) were not aware that they would one day be tortured and dominated by the aryans. I think tamizh has the deepest root still on the earth, they could not dominate this language. In south india, there are only four states. But, in other parts of india there are so many states like UP, BIHAR, PUNJAB, GUJARAT, KASHMIR, RAJASTHAN, MP etc….just take these northern states only……leave east and west india.
why sanskrit could not survive?
Why sanskrit could not be the mother tongue of all these north indians?
Why it could not dominate as a unique language?
What is the reason behind its “Death”?
Why the north indians created different style, expression and language?
Is it true that sanskrit words are still used because of their atrocities and pressure in south india except tamizh nadu though it has given space for some words?
Why did the south indians allow the sanskrit? What kind of problems they had been facing?
The entire population of northeren india is higher than the population of south india, then why the north indians could not kept the language sanskrit as their mother tongue?
Was there protest and anger against this language sanskrit?
When sanskrit was created getting inspiration from tamizh was it the mother tongue of “brahmins” only? What was the language of people other than brahmins in india?
A language which was created by the tribes from central asia could feel proud then why the root language TAMIZH is silent….it was made to be silent. It could not tolerate the cruelty of the creators of the language sanskrit.
If you remove “m” from “Inbam” and make a word “Inba” to suit you…..the efforts and hardships for making a word like “Inbam” is not shown. VERY VERY GOOD!!!! FANTASTIC!!!!! Are they ready for a debate as abdul thambi wanted?
Dear Miss M,
Hope u enjoying the Kutralam Aruvi near by my Home town.Thanks for quoting my name .Hope none of sanskritistwould be ready for debate because they are abstained by the fear of failure!
Dear abdul thambi (little brother)
Yes, i had great time taking bath full of herbs. I had been to kutraalam so many times, so this time THIRUPARUPPU FALLS near kanyakumari. I had been to AGATHIYAR FALLS two times too. I had great time with my hubby and son and my in-laws. While coming through madurai in car with hubby i could see the streets of madurai city worse. Why dont you people make the municipal officials to make the roads even. The city has ancient charm and glory. You people should do something to protect the city’s atmosphere. Madurai is a crowded city. I heard this city NEVER SLEEPS. 24 hours working even at night……at night also all the hotels are serving food…my goodness!!!!!
I think from neighbouring villages people come to this city for all goods, clothes and work, so the city is always brisky. ok…now its time for me to watch tv and know what the world is doing? President Obama is not visiting tamizh nadu…i am sad. He should know the culture of south india also.
ok. now tip of today is keralites are eating coconuts and put them in all dishes and drink lots and lots of coconut water to enhance the skin texture. One of the secrets why they are fair and beautiful. So start using coconut oil in soups and dishes to improve the skin tone. Also find out their usage of dry fruits like cashewnuts, cardamom in food improve the skin tone. Worship coconut tree from today onwards.
i used to go to kutraalam with my father several times. I remember the sweet dish “thirunelveli halwa”(wheat halwa) which my father used to buy for me near junction..today the quality is not good….anyways, i love my father a lot and he was worried about me before dying…he asked me how much salary am getting,,,he is still living with me….tears..surprisingly we the family, my mother, my sister and my brother were near him…i saw him die…he was my inspiration…i want him back.
kutraalam aruvi ( herbal water falls) is near my native town tirunelveli not near madurai….Suruli falls is near your town….the name of sivan is also “suruliananthan” here in this name also he is representing water….he is also “sureswaran”…i will explore this “su” some other day. “sukumaran” and “sukumari” and “sukanya” are also in my list…. She is sukanya not suganya…madurai’s proununciation differs….just like tirunelveli’s
Yes i heard the herbal falls is good for mental and retards, so book the ticket at once and have a bath. Thanks for making me understand the world. i found that mad people always makes others the mad people, they want help.
Dear Friends,
I am surprised to see this debate on the oldest language in India / world.
What is the point in debating when you knew the beauty of your language (or anything)?
Ok. It is seen that Tamil is 2500 years old. Accepted!!!
Today’s any language is not as same as the language what used to be communicated (verbally / written) by our ancients. The scripts changed and the vocabularies modified/ updated as time flies.
How many of you guys can read and understand “Shuddh Tamil”?
How many of you guys can read the old scriptures.
Every language has been going through with lot of modifications timely. It is so evident that these changes/modifications would continue over the generations.
If any one of you gets a chance to come back to world after 1000 years (I know it’s not possible. But you guys can imagine it), you would witness the changes happen in cultures, languages, geography, etc. and a lot. It will not be the same as what you see / listen today.
Well ….coming to the point of proving the greatness of languages….
No one have the right criticize any language until they learn it thoroughly. Every language has its own realm of literature. It is our foolishness to comment on something with a very minimal knowledge.
You guys go to your neighbor and say your parents are higher than his/her parents, and try getting his admiration; do you think he would admit it? No way…. as you knew the value of your parents, in similar way he/she knows about his/her parents.
It is that, you need to admit the importance/value of something you have, not the others.
Why would you like to get the admiration for Tamil Language, When you knew its value, what is the point of the others opinion. What do you expect form the world?
There are many cultures, many religions and of course many languages in the world, all these are made for our elevation to higher knowledge to understand the universal laws.
What are we achieving by fighting for the greatness of our languages, religions, cultures? In no way this helps us create harmony in the universe.
Accept everything is as divine grace. Whatever is there in the universe, is created by higher force with is transcendental.
I believe in the force which is far beyond our understanding, there is a universal mind/force which is in charge of everything.
Then why having partiality, look at the things with broad sense. Appreciate everything which is positive, all are made for our benefit.
Stop fighting & and especially stop trying to gain importance. Those have a true importance; will have its importance forever.
After all, we are all one in the universe. The ultimate common thing among all of us is we are standing on the same earth and under the same sky.
All is well in the world
It is not “suth Tamizh “,the exact Tamizh word for pure Tamizh is Thooya Tamizh…
very good!!!!
we also say “Thooya Maatha” in tamizh
“Chaste Mother” in english.
So, the ancient tamizhan was worshiping water and it was a young girl for him.
Sometimes i have doubt why sivan is famous…. why parvati or wife of sivan is not so famous. What was her contribution for us all?
I also found in urdu the name “MEHERUNN”ISSA” (umm-issa) “k “uma” eesa…..so who was this parvati? Was she “WATER GODDESS”?
I also have some opinion about “EVE” in tamizh we say for female gender “AVAL”….christians when they write “EVE” in tamizh “EVAAL”.
What about “ADAM”?
see you all
Good to see that, at least you could relate all the religions in one concept. i.e, Tamil. Good god. religion conflict is shunned.
Well I must appreciate your research on finding these details, I guess this is your all time favorite to collect information.
And coming to Sivan & Parvathi, they are not separate. There is only one “Supreme Power”
Whether u call it Siva or Parvathi. Its up to u.
In Hinduism, each individual has given enough freedom to understand our puranas and devote to their ultimate god.
So its your choice to deal with whom.
NOOR-“UNNISSA” is another muslim name…here also you have “um-isa…uma-eesan, kuma-eesan.. and ZABARUNNISSA….”zabar” is “sabar”eeswaran” the name of sivan in tamizh. I dont want to explore the connection between Suleiman and Sooliamman now…i need clarifications.
“uma” the water and “eesan” the fire both are dependant on each other…without them it would be difficult for us to survive….this little girl uma so naughtiest was all these years hiding mysteriously….i found her atlast…she the most naughtiest!!!!! and ferocious sometimes too :(
NOOR-UNNISSA, Neruppu in tamizh is fire, so am sure the urdu word “noor” had been formed from the word “neruppu”. “NOOR” is a shortened word of “neruppu” It also give us the meaning “the light” or the “brightness”. Fire in tamizh has so many names akkini, neruppu, thee, chuvaalai, chothi etc.
suddenly you are philosophical, you should have stopped everything
dear tamilians
dont dump our tamil language, you know world and old first language is tamil, you know india first language was tamil, it not begging language like kannada kannada langauge derived from sanskirt,kungunni,thulu,script was telgu, )
tamila your history was great admirable,
priase tamil and your tamil world
be tamilian died as tamilian
Dear mani,
In tamizh we say for an individial “MANITHAN”.
In english “MAN”…..this word has the root word in tamizh i suppose.
In tamizh we say “MADAM” piditha yaanai (an elephant with strange behaviour)
In english we say “MAD” for a person with split personality with hysteria. So in think this word had been formed getting inspiration from “MADAM”.
HI
nee mutham ondru koduthaal mut tamil
nee vetkapattu sirithaal sen tamil
nee paesiya vaarthaigal paiyn tamil
o..oho…o..oho…o.ohoho.ho…..
nee mutham ondru koduthaal mu tamil
nee vetkapattu sirithaal sen tamil
nee paesiya vaarthaigal paiyn tamil
o..oho…o..oho…o.ohoho.ho…..
sengaandhal idhazh enbadhil naan kandaen nee yen tamil
mingaandha paechil mothamaai naan kaettaen isai taamil
nee konjam naadaga tamil
nee konjam manmadha tamil
un thamizh en tamil
t a m i l thamizh thamizh tamil….
un otrai vizhi paarvaiyil naan katru kondaen tamil
un katrai oli punnagai adhil otrikkondaen tamil
un vayasin kutham tamil
un azhagin motham tamil
nee thamizh naan tamil
t a m i l thamizh thamizh tamil….
Dear tamil,
Its not tamil but TAMIZH. Thanks for making me sing. I want to die while singing…..hihi
i did not know that it was you only tamil thambi.
French people living in pondicherry have learned Tamil and speaking Tamil.but north Indians who are coming to tamilnadu instead of learning Tamil are complaining that there is no Hindi in tamilnadu.Because there is no Hindi north Indians are saying that Tamil peoples are conservative.Tamil language is 2500 years old than Hindi which IS only 1000 years old.A foreigner will accept Tamil language value but not the north Indians.Every human being will respect the elders, same way Tamil should be respected by other languages.
Dear periyar bhagtan,
In pondicherry, the tamizhians who learnt french are grateful to the language. But whoever is learning tamizh never utter a word of praise . Sad indeed!!!
In pondicherry, the french people made the city with streets of evenness and after heavy rainfall there wont be a drop of water on the street. No trace of rain water.But this is not the case in chennai or any other city of tamizh nadu i suppose. I think the same case in other states of india also. So try to learn the technology and secrets from french people and implement the art at the earliest for our state.
Make the tamizhians expert in french and grab the knowledge from them and be thankful to them also…….hihihihi
even after knowing so many languages the brahmin poet Bharathiyar was a phenomenon and his expressions through poem was the language Tamizh. He is still a wonderful person. He learnt tamizh so well and we could understand his passion in his poems. So, it shows that knowledge leads to exploration of this whole world. We should know a language which is widely spoken just for our safety, so that we could hear what they talk, what they plan and what is their intention and so on….those who forget their mother tongue and humiliate and make her vanish away from this earth should be asked questions. As far as mother tongue tamizh is concerned am still emotional even though i am thankful to other languages which helped me to survive during times of misery. DEDICATION, PASSION AND LOVE for TAMIZH would lead us to face glorious future and would ultimately make it survive also…She is innocent and divine and lovable daughter of her creator.
Those who insist to speak in your on homeland …please kick them in their ass.
Brahvi is the world’s oldest language, used in Pakistan, Iran, and they have the best culture, and dress, it has no, specific grammar,and very difficulte for a person to understand it easily.
Tamil is the only Language in India which does not have Sanskrit mix but all the other Indian languages are mixed with Sanskrit.Tamil is still maintaining its purity and will continue still the earth exist.Both Tamil and Sanskrit are having different roots.Before Sanskrit speaking Aryans came from central Asia Dravidian’s ruled India and their language is Tamil.
A person used to communicate with other person using language.If a language is used for only performing puja how can one say it as a language.if a language like Sanskrit is not used for communicating with others it is called as Dead language.So the oldest language is one which is survived and still widely spoken.if you compare the ages of other Indian languages Tamil comes next after Sanskrit.so Tamil is the oldest language in India.
the source of knowledge is accepted to be vedas which were written in sanskrit so one should get a fair idea which is the oldest language in the world. It is of no consequence whether the language is spoken widely in the present times or not.
Dear all,
People like Rajinder & Mohit bharadwaj and too many are much influenced by the false propaganda of Sanskrit created by Indian Government.Northerners are the people with poor tolerance and they always want to anchor the influence over others.The root cause for this problem are as follows,
*our brothern(Kannadiga,Telugu & Malayalis) doesnt have tolerance to accept the fact that aforementioned language is an offshoot of Tamizh.All these languages have atleast 60% Tamizh words,20 % local words and 20% local words of that particular language.still they are happy to accept that their language is an derivative of Sanskrit and denying to accept that it is an ofshoot of Tamizh though they seek majority of Tamizh words.(For eg) Manai(K)- Manai(T),Veedu(M)-Veedu(T),ILLU(TELUGU)-Illam(Tamizh).Regional slang (Word) due to natural(geographical) and articificial barriers(Northerners influence) has evolved into distinct languages.Our dravidian brothern itself dening to accept the truth,how can u accept the fact that northerns can accept that Tamizh is the oldest self evolved language.
*Vedas and upanishads may be written in pali or prakrit not in sanskrit,there was no scripts have attested about sanskrit before Ramayana.Devanagari is an adopted form of roman scripts.Most of the sanskrit literatures including vedas have been written after 6th century AD.Just (H)Indian Govt is predating sanskrit literatures to 6th century BC.SANSKRIT is a corrupt form of Tamizh introduced by Ariyans to fool and get the influence of Kings.It was never spoken and it will be never spoken…..Sanskrit used to loot all the words from all language and proclaim it is the reservoir of vocabulary.Reality is that there were no root words to justify that it pertains to Sanskrit.Sanskrit has borrowed or looted enormous Tamizh words.Those words have real Tamizh roots and Tamizh has the only power to witness and justify that it belongs to itself.Northerners kindly read TAMIZH grammar & literature and come down for debate.Though are knowingly denying the true fact about Tamizh because it is challenging to all world languages.Northerners are people ,have ears but hear not with them,Hav EYES BUT SEE not with them,they have heart but not accept the true facts with them…
All Tamizhians dont get inferior urself, ur language has got international reputation and spoken overseas ..but dont stop urself to contribute to Tamizh language…!Vaazha Tamizh,Vaazha Tamizhagam…..
Dear rajinder,
Do not talk about veda period. I am getting irritated. Enough is enough. Never say….ONCE MORE!!!!!!
Sanskrit is the oldest language in the world as all vedas are written in this language.
As the oldest religion is hindu and they used this language to write puran, upanished.
Whoever had writen literary works with good concern and discipline are remembered. no partiality.
The tamizh brahmin poet Makakavi Supramaniya Parathiyar is one of the examples.. He is remembered for his huge moustache and humanity. I can never forget him because i used to sing his songs when i was young..my school days..there is no partiality. He was a gem of a person.
According to Thanthai Periyar if you remove Sanskrit words from Kannada,Telugu and Malayalam,all these languages will be more or less sounds same like Tamil.
Dear periyaar bhakthane,
nee engirunthu vanthaai? Nee ithanai naalaai engirunthaai?
From where you jumped suddenly? Where were all these days?
Dear Friends,
Many people are getting angry when we say that Tamil is the oldest language in India.They are ready to accept Sanskrit as the oldest language but not Tamil.why is this partiality?
The most ancient language is a Magyar (Hungaryan).
The most logical one and one of the heaviest, because are built in a binary system.
He was ahead of his age.
please talk about oldest language in India not in Europe.
who is ahead of his age?
Dear Dr.Gergo,
u make me curious. After all why do we have brain?
SAIVISM was the most ancient.
SAIVISM grew entirely by itself.
Historically the worship of siva is rooted in prehisotoric beliefs.
I think vinay and sathish both are same.
Dear Friends,
It hurts when some people are saying that all the languages including Tamil are derived from Sanskrit.Because Tamil and Sanskrit are having almost the same age.Tamil and Sanskrit are having different oldest civilizations in the world.Both are having different scripts.Because most of the people in India are religious,They are not able to accept Tamil as the oldest language like Sanskrit.
u seem to say that all the tamizhians are not worshipping. They have been worshipping still worshipping the fact is that no God comes down on earth to save them. Thats where the the point of “exploitation” comes. Do not forget the fact that dravidian culture was peaceful and people with good culture. Now, the time has changed. Merits and demerits in all the culture in this modern world.
Do not creat that all the tamizhians are sitting but not meditating. Those who spread the rumours should sit first of all to MEDITATE.
Dear Kaliyugam,
I am not against any religion.First of all there is no Dravidian or Aryans.it is created by created by British for divide and rule.If people like you accept Sanskrit as the oldest language in India why you are not able to accept Tamil as the oldest language.Even if we present the proof, you people are saying again and again that all the languages including Tamil are derived from Sanskrit.
so what about the river “kankai” being spelt as “gangai”? try not to humiliate atleast the river “kankai”
the way the tamizihans oppose brahmins is the only proof that would tell the whole universe we have our ancient culture and tradition still. No one say against them only we tamizhians eventhough we are the makers of all religious shrines of hindu gods. Because we had experience so worst. So many painful hearts gone into the deepest sand, they could not tell anyone when they were alive…but in the spiritual world they are still alive watching all the games.
most of the people in india are religious… IC. Ask them how many tamizh literary books they had burnt. They can not burn kanyakumari even now. She is only witness.
Dear,
Why a language becomes DEAD?
Selfish humans are the reasons for making a language “dead”. Greediness for capturing land, grabbing money, looting the wealth and passion for ruling the people and mind full of thoughts about torturing and dictating and make the innocent humans the slaves are the reasons for making a language dead…..how it survive and how it make itself escape from the clutches of treacherous people and who are the people who are dedicated towards the language are the matters to be given importance. Truth is truth forever!!!!
When it would be purely SELFISH.
The exact period when the name “Tamil” came to be applied to the language is unclear, as is the precise etymology of the name. The earliest attested use of the name is in a text that is perhaps as early as the 1st century BCE.
The earliest records in Old Tamil are short inscriptions from around the 2nd century BCE in caves and on pottery. These inscriptions are written in a variant of the Brahmi script called Tamil Brahmi.[32] The earliest long text in Old Tamil is the Tolkāppiyam, an early work on Tamil grammar and poetics, whose oldest layers could be as old as the 1st century BC.[28] A large number of literary works in Old Tamil have also survived. These include a corpus of 2,381 poems collectively known as Sangam literature. These poems are usually dated to between the 1st and 5th centuries AD,[33] which makes them the oldest extant body of secular literature in India.[34] Other literary works in Old Tamil include two long epics, Cilappatikāram and Maṇimēkalai, and a number of ethical and didactic texts, written between the 5th and 8th centuries.[35]
According to Archeologist Sanskrit is the oldest language in India. inscriptions found by them dates back to 260 BC.Tamil comes next at 3rd century B.C.But Sanskrit is a dead language because it is not a spoken language so presently Tamil is the Oldest language in India.
Dear all,
Vidiya vidiya raamaayanam kettaraam, seethaiku raaman sithaappanaraam. Very very funny!!!!!
Now the debate continues…….
I think everyone would be pleased when they would see TAMIZH a dead language.in the future.
I think there is no need for giving informations, proofs about tamizh now. If anyone want to dig the past then they can continue. After all tamizhian had been facing a lot of suppression and problems in life and he is not NEW to such things.
May SUPER NATURAL INVISIBLE POWER do something!!!!!
I take rest for some days. See you all.
Dear Friends,
This site is about which is the oldest language in India.If you know any thing about your Language please write here.so that everyone will know better about other languages.But some people are writing about their own personal stories and unwanted things.I got good information from this site http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/10696 but when i came to this site i was dissapointed to see people writing about some common problems like dowry,auto drivers,raining in Chennai and global warming.There are so many blogs for everything you can write this things there but this site is about oldest language.so please give specific information about languages.