anyone knows tamil here? how old is tamil language? is it older than sanskrit?

Answer 1

The origins of Tamil, like the other Dravidian languages, but unlike most of the other established literary languages of India, are independent of Sanskrit. Tamil has the oldest literature amongst the Dravidian languages (Hart, 1975), but dating the language and the literature precisely is difficult. Literary works in India or Sri Lanka were preserved either in palm leaf manuscripts (implying repeated copying and recopying) or through oral transmission, making direct dating impossible. External chronological records and internal linguistic evidence, however, indicate that the oldest extant works were probably composed sometime between the 5th century BCE and the 2nd century CE.

The earliest extant text in Tamil is the Tolkāppiyam, a work on poetics and grammar which describes the language of the classical period, the oldest portions of this book may date back to around 200 BCE (Hart, 1975). Preliminary results from archaelogical excavations in 2005 suggest that the oldest inscriptions in Tamil may date atleast to around 500 BCE[1]. Apart from these, the earliest examples of Tamil writing we have today are rock inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE, which are written in an adapted form of the Brahmi script (Mahadevan, 2003). Linguists categorise Tamil literature and language into three periods: ancient (500 BCE to 700 CE), medieval (700 CE to 1500 CE) and modern (1500 CE to the present). During the medieval period, a number of Sanskrit loan words were absorbed by Tamil, which many 20th century purists, notably Parithimaar Kalaignar and Maraimalai Adigal, later sought to remove. This movement was called thanith thamizh iyakkam (meaning pure Tamil movement). As a result of this, Tamil in formal documents, public speeches and scientific discourses is largely free of Sanskrit loan words.
Classification

Tamil is a member of the Tamil language family, which includes the Irula, Kaikadi, Betta Kurumba, Sholaga, and Yerukula languages. This group is a subgroup of the Tamil-Malayalam languages, which falls under a subgroup of the Tamil-Kodagu languages, which in turn is a subgroup of the Tamil-Kannada languages. The Tamil-Kannada languages belong to the southern branch of the Dravidian language family. Tamil is most closely related to Malayalam, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala which borders Tamil Nadu, which linguists estimate separated from Tamil between the 8th and 10th centuries.
Geographic distribution

Tamil is the first language of the majority in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and in northern and northeastern Sri Lanka. The language is also spoken by small groups of minorities in other parts of these two countries, most notably in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, and in Colombo and the hill country in Sri Lanka

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Tamil-speaking indentured servants from India and Sri Lanka were sent to many parts of the British empire where they founded Tamil-speaking communities. There are currently sizeable Tamil-speaking populations descended from them in Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, and Mauritius. Many people in Guyana, Fiji, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago have Tamil origins, but the language is spoken only by a small number there. (see Tamil diaspora)

Groups of more recent emigrants - refugees from the Sri Lankan civil war, as well as economic migrants such as engineering, IT, medical professionals and academics - exist in Canada (especially Toronto), Australia, the USA and most western European countries.
Legal status

Tamil is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and is one of 22 nationally recognised languages under the Indian Constitution. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and has constitutional recognition in South Africa.

In addition, Tamil was recognised as a classical language by the Government of India in 2004, following a campaign by several Tamil associations supported by academics from India and abroad, most notably Professor George L. Hart, who occupies the Chair in Tamil Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. (See his statement.) It was the first Indian language to be so recognised. The recognition was announced by the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, in a joint sitting of both houses of the Indian Parliament on June 6, 2004. (See item 41 of his address and the BBC news item on the formal approval by the Indian Cabinet.)

Answer 2

Don't know tamil.
It's pritty old, but I think it is not as old as sanskrit.

check the links

Answer 3

Tamil is quite old, maybe around 2000 years, I'm not sure whether it is older than Sanskrit, but it is certainly the oldest living language, i.e, it is the oldest language in the world that is still spoken.

Answer 4

Actually no none know how old is tamil! The life is estimated based on the oldest existing tamil literature (Tholkappiyam). Something similar can be said about sanskrit.

Take a look at the following sites and decide for yourself

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit

Answer 5

Tamil is spoken in cameroon in africa and in korean has atleast 1000 words. My theory is old tamil was first language from africa and they all moved out around 40000 years ago and evolved their own form of language. Thats why you will see many tamil words in latin , to korean ..everywhere actually. Even chinese Ne is same meaning in tamil. My theory is anyone wanted to keep some orginality of tamil were pushed to corner of the world. Only flexible people stayed in middle like chinese as their languaged evolved more rapidly. Thats why you see even japanese and korean are similar to tamil. Shocking was hearing twisted tamil spoken by cameroon kids. you have to slow it down because they added their own speed...

Answer 6

i am a Tamilian.it is a moot question whether Tamil is older than Sanskrit.having said that it is true that a great many scholars believe it is.Tamil is ageless like Sanskrit.some pitch the age of Tamil at 5000 years.

Answer 7

Tamil is the oldest language than sanskrit.
there is a proverb in tamil .i do not know whether you know it.

kal thonri man thonraa kaalathirkku mun thonriya kudi tamizh kudi

which means tamil people existed before the stones and sand were formed.

Answer 8

Not an answerable question. They are not related languages.

Answer 9

I consider both to be around 5000 years old.
VR

Answer 10

What?