Language is man's greatest creation. Our ancestors, the Neanderthals, showed us the first glimpses of language, using grunting and pointing to communicate with one another.
Over the next few millenniums, the spoken word began to rise. As early as 3 BC, the first languages began to be spoken, and it is from these ancient art forms (because make no mistake, language is an art form), that the spoken word we enjoy today in many different countries, has been derived. With that in mind, here are the 5 oldest languages known to civilization.
5. Greek
The first appearance of written Greek has been traced back to over 3000 years ago. Since then it has been used continuously, and is currently the official language of Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, an Eastern Mediterranean island country. It is the oldest Indo-European language still used today.
However, the Modern Greek spoken today is not quite the same as the Ancient Greek used in 9th century BC. The language developed to what we now call Medieval Greek, by around 4th century AD, around 1700 years ago, the age of Alexander the Great, before progressing to the Modern Greek commonly spoken nowadays.
4. Hebrew
Historically, the earliest uses of the language Hebrew was more than 3000 years ago, but became a dead language in the 4th century.
Yet, today, it is spoken by more than 9 million people across the world. This is thanks to the spread of Zionism, the Jewish Nationalist Movement, over the last 2 centuries. While Modern Hebrew is quite different than Ancient Hebrew when spoken, the written forms of both are quite similar.
3. Egyptian
Egypt, being one of the oldest civilizations of humankind, was naturally the birthplace of one of the oldest languages, Egyptian. This Ancient language, along with Egyptian Coptic are the oldest languages native to Egypt. The first usage of this language in text has been dated back to 3400 BC, approximately 5000 years ago.
Ancient Egyptian was eventually lost to time and Coptic was largely spoken until the 18th century. Today, only few know these languages, and the commonly spoken language is Arabic, or Saidi Arabic.
2. Sanskrit
Sanskrit is older still than Egyptian, and it's usage dates back to earlier than 2000 BC, more than 4000 years ago. Numerous Vedic texts as well as the scriptures of Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism, which emerged at this time, heavily feature the use of Sanskrit.
Sanskrit has also been the basis of a number of other languages (both the modern and ancient forms). While it is not very widely known and even less frequently spoken, Sanskrit continues to remain one of India's official languages and is even taught in many schools.
1. Tamil
(By AntanO, Wikimedia Commons)
This language emerged slightly before Sanskrit, but unlike it's more religiously used counterpart, Tamil is still a commonly spoken language, especially so in Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state. Tamil is also an official language in both Singapore and Sri Lanka as well as India.
As a widely spoken language, there are currently over a dozen different dialects of Tamil spoken all across the states. However, forms of ancient Tamil are also still alive and well in many circles of these localities.
The Great Wall of China: 8 Facts About the Iconic Landmark
The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous man-made monuments in the world. Here are 8 unbelievable facts about this iconic landmark!
Travel to the North of the Globe to See the Arctic Henge
There's something so fascinating about the northernmost parts of the world. This time, we travel to the north of the globe to see the Arctic Henge.
These Unique Art Forms Have Been Practiced For Centuries
Art often reflects the unique history, traditions, and culture of a specific country. Discover 16 ancient and unique art forms from around the world.
Did You Know Bones Make Up 15% of Your Bodyweight?
A 9-minute video compilation stacked with facts you've never heard about nature and the human body.
14 Obsolete English Terms We Wish Were Brought Back!
Over the centuries, so many eloquent and useful English words fell out of use. We wish these 14 clever (but sadly obsolete) terms were used more often.
I Never Knew These Intriguing Things About Life In Japan!
Japan has a number of cultural differences. Here are 15 intriguing facts about this countries.
Got Dark Knees and Elbows? 8 Remedies That'll Help
Put an end to dark knees and elbows with these 8 natural remedies.
Brighten Up a Dark Room With These 10 Houseplants
If you'd like to liven up a dark room in your house, consider buying some of the following plants. These plants don’t have beautiful flowers, but they have pretty leaves, which is more than you’d expect from plants that get little to no sunlight.
10 Excellent Uses for Mayonnaise Around the House!
Mayonnaise is a great complimentary condiment for food, but did you know there are multiple non-food-related uses for this kitchen staple?
Got an Egg Slicer? Here's What You Can Use It For
Creative ways on what to do with your egg slicer. Impressive!
For Beautiful Hair and Skin, Neem Tree Oil Is All You Need
This natural remedy is all you need in your medicine cabinet for great hair and skin.
7 Proven Techniques for Testing & Fixing Christmas Lights
Test your holiday lights with these easy fixes.
I've Discovered Conditioner Has Many Other Talents...
Hair conditioner can do a lot more than just make your hair shiny...
12 Fabulous Uses for Socks That Have Lost Their Mate
Here is a terrifically useful list of 12 handy ways that your odd sock or stocking can regain her purpose, get ‘out there’ and reinvent herself.
Why You Shouldn’t Keep a Bar Soap for More Than 2 Years
The following 10 personal hygiene products all expire sooner than you’d think and you must replace them regularly
Ten Things You Can Do With Sugar You Never Knew About
Sugar can do a whole lot more than just make things sweet.
A Quarter & a Cup of Water Lets You Know If Food Is Safe
Learn this odd trick to know if your food is still good to eat by using a quarter and a cup of water. It's ingenious and incredibly simple.
If You Wear These Shoes Often, You Are Damaging Your Feet
Wearing these shoes often can damage your feet!
COLLECTION: Growing Tips for Outdoor and Indoor Plants
Dive into the world of indoor and outdoor plants with these 10 great guides to show you the way.
All About Women: 24 Facts About the Fairer Sex
These fascinating facts will probably surprise even our female readers. We gathered 24 facts that we best you've never heard about, and each of them will make you understand yourself and women a bit better.
WATCH: 10 Microwave Tips You've Never Heard Of
These 10 tips will help you get the very best out of your microwave - replenish old food, keep it clean and simply master it!
5 Natural Solutions to Keep Unwanted Insects Away
These illustrations will show you how to reduce your pest problems in your garden.
This DIY Solution Can Clean Even the Dirtiest of Bathtubs
Nobody likes getting down on their hands and knees to scrub the grime off the bathtub. Thankfully, this fantastic concoction will do all the hard work for you!
10 Essential Tips to Revamp Your Home on a Budget
Looking to renovate your home? Here's how to do so on a budget.
Sustainable Innovation: A 7-Seater Solar-Powered Bike
Now here is an example of sustainable innovation. This guy built a seven-seater solar bike bus from scrap.
Re-purpose Your Old Clay Pots Into Something Special!
Clay pots are rather mundane things if there isn't something quite spectacular growing out of them, but you can use them to make something amazing...
Kitchen Tips: How Long You Can Keep Leftovers?
It’s crucial to know how long different leftover foods can last in your fridge, and when it’s time to part ways with them for your own safety and health
How to Clean BETWEEN the Oven's Glass Panels
Here is a neat trick you can use to make sure that this troublesome gap is kept free of dirt and filth so that your oven door remains spotless!
WARNING! This Common Ingredient Could Be Fatal to Cats!
They say that curiosity killed the cat, but new studies now show that certain essential oils may kill your cats too if you're not careful. Learn why here...
10 Delicious Microwave Hacks That Will Make Cooking Easier
Your microwave has a few more tricks up its sleeve! 10 more tricks, to be more precise, that will unlock your microwave's hidden potential.
Make These Baby Products Naturally at Home!
To help you create your own natural remedies for your little one, we suggest trying out the following homemade "recipes".
16 Unique Uses For Coconut Oil Outside the Kitchen
There's more to coconut oil than its incredible health benefits. Here are 16 fantastic ways that it can be used outside the kitchen.
WARNING: Why We Shouldn't Lie on Our Stomachs!
Lying on your stomach for long stretches of time or every day can have some negative consequences...
Make Your Home Smell Amazing with These 2 Ingredients
You can make your home smell absolutely amazing by using just these two ingredients. This video will show you how to make your own air freshener.
7 Ways Lemons Can Make Your Life a Whole Lot Easier!
Here you'll discover seven surprising ways how you can use lemons and lemon juice to make your life cleaner and easier.
Follow These 3 Easy Steps to Ripen an Avocado in Minutes
This foolproof trick will make your rock hard avocado soft and creamy in mere minutes. Just follow these simple instructions...
These YouTube Channels Are a Delight for Senior Citizens
Discover the best YouTube channels for seniors that offer a plethora of engaging and entertaining content.
This Is Why You Should NOT Reboil Your Water!
It can be tempting to reboil water for your hot drinks. But when ordinary water is over boiled or reboiled, the chemical compounds change for the worse. Learn about it here.
9 Tips for Smelling Good All Day Long
Everyone feels self-conscious about the way they smell sometimes. These 9 tips will help you smell good and maintain it during the day.
16 Useful Inventions That You Never Knew Your City Needs!
These cool and awesome inventions have been designed to make the world a much better and easier place.
The Best Time of Day to Eat Healthy Foods!
In this article we have outlined the best time of the day to indulge in some of your favorite foodstuffs.
Have You Been Making These Toilet Paper Mistakes Too?
The next time you use toilet paper, avoid these mistakes.
Locked Your Keys inside Your Car? You Need This Hack!
If you've locked yourself out of your car, this neat trick will help you solve your problem.
I Lost My Double-Chin After I Learned This Great Tip..
Get rid of double chins and neck fat with this simple daily exercise.
Make One of These Magical Glass Terrariums at Home!
You can create this simple terrarium in just 1-2 hours using basic and inexpensive materials.
How to Start a Garden on a Windowsill
No green thumb is needed for this simple gardening project.
Ten Golden Mantras for Growing Old with Grace
Ten golden mantras for those who wish to grow older with style and dignity to make life after retirement more pleasant, to enjoy and treasure the elder years of wisdom and intelligence..