We know that Proto-IndoEuropean, for example, was spoken at least 6,000 years ago, and that it had a fully formed vocabulary and complex grammar (for example, it had a case system for nouns, like Russian does.) Clearly such a language did not spring into existence all at once, it must be the case that language had been spoken for thousands of years before that.
So the short answer is: no one knows what the earliest langauge was called, or if it even had a name, and we'll probably never know.
All human languages currently spoken (with a few partial exceptions like Haitian Creole or conlangs like Esperanto) are derived from languages spoken back in the mists of time and can be considered equally old. Anyone who says, "X is definitely the world's oldest language" is spouting nonsense.
The oldest written languages are probably Egyptian and Sumerian, about 5000 years.
2007-08-20 08:30:55
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answer #1
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answered by zim_8 4
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Yeah, it is not Sanskrit I know that's for sure, since Sanskrit is Indo-European, and Indo-European is the origin of Sanskrit, so it's thusly just a little older, by nature. Also Proto-Indo-European predates that.
Now there are many theories about the origins of language, buuuuut you didn't ask that, you asked the earliest known spoken language. (If you want the origin of language then you'll have to Email or IM me separately.)
There are many theories about how and where the first languages were spoken. We have a pretty good idea where Indo-European was spoken, but we are always surprised with new discoveries.
There is also a theory that there was a language known as Nostratic which could be from where all the major language families in the world have come forth. It's possible, but not exactly known.
Now there are ways to reconstruct ancestor languages from it's decents, however the farther back you go, the more guesswork it becomes. We have had a basic reconstruction of Indo-European, but even that has different variations based on different research.
Now I specialize in Indo-European languages, but I couldn't tell you which came between it and the others, maybe Afro-Asiatic. The Afro-Asiatic family includes Ancient Egyptian as well as others. It's the only one, besides Indo-European which would have a good chance of being one of the earliest, being that it's in Africa where the voicebox was being developed.
If the Nostratic theory is true, then it would be Nostratic which would be the earliest language. However, we cannot be sure.
If you want more info feel free to contact me.
2007-08-20 08:19:53
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answer #2
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answered by Timothy 4
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Earliest Known Language
2016-12-26 14:24:34
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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RE:
what is the earliest known spoken language?
2015-08-06 03:49:49
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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2016-06-02 19:39:56
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Sandskrit must be one of the first. Babylonian? Ancient Egyptian? Not sure which one comes right at the beginning, they were some of the first written ones.
Ther very first spoken ones are impossible to tell. it wouldnt have a name. the closest word to describe it is caveman language. probably somewhere in sub saharan africa as homo erectus or one of them developed the ability of speech long before. Neanderthals also had the power of speech as recent archaeological evidence has suggested
2007-08-20 07:18:28
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Perhaps Mesopotamian as that's one of the oldest known civilizations. There very easily could be many earlier languages dating back 40 to 50 thousand years ago.
2007-08-20 07:19:10
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answer #7
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answered by Pirate AM™ 7
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Anthropologists have long though that early man had a rudamentary vocublary... probably grunts and groans and most associated with simple things like hunting with the group or simple intratribal communications. They did not have a 'vocabulary' as such... just simple sounds, much as a dog or a cat has today.
2007-08-20 07:19:50
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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As speaking leaves no historical trail, I am not sure that question can be answered with any confidence. I would look to when humans (or pre-humans) developed the ability for speech. That should give you a general idea.
2007-08-20 07:18:58
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answer #9
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answered by gefyonx 4
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ifhor fori a eoh fprioop ha-eii a?
2007-08-20 07:23:54
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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