International Mother Language Day 2023: Top 10 Oldest Spoken Languages in the World

International Mother Language Day is an annual observance held on February 21  to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The day was first observed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2000, following a resolution adopted at the 30th General Conference in November 1999.

The day is intended to raise awareness of the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages, which are an essential part of a community's culture, identity, and history. It also aims to encourage the use of mother languages in education, media, and everyday communication, as well as to support language preservation and documentation efforts.

Each year, International Mother Language Day has a theme that focuses on a different aspect of multilingualism and linguistic diversity. The theme for 2023 is "Indigenous Languages Matter for Development, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation."

The day is celebrated in many countries around the world through various events, such as language and cultural festivals, seminars, and workshops. UNESCO also recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity with the International Mother Language Award.

Determining the exact age of a language can be challenging, as it involves tracing the linguistic history and evolution of a language, which can be a complex and dynamic process. However, here are ten of the oldest languages in the world that are still spoken today, based on estimates of their age and historical evidence:

Tamil: Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in southern India and Sri Lanka. It has a rich literary tradition that dates back over 2,000 years, with early inscriptions in Tamil dating back to the 3rd century BCE.

Sanskrit: Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was used in ancient India for religious and scholarly purposes. Its earliest inscriptions date back to the 2nd millennium BCE, and it was widely used for over 3,000 years.

Egyptian: Egyptian is an Afro-Asiatic language that was spoken in ancient Egypt. Its earliest inscriptions date back to the 3rd millennium BCE, and it was used for over 4,000 years.

Hebrew: Hebrew is a Semitic language that was used in ancient Israel and is now the official language of modern Israel. Its earliest inscriptions date back to the 10th century BCE.

Greek: Greek is an Indo-European language that has a long and rich history dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE. It has been used for over 3,500 years and is still spoken today.

Chinese: Chinese is a Sino-Tibetan language that has a rich history dating back over 3,000 years. It is still widely spoken today and is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.

Aramaic: Aramaic is a Semitic language that was used in ancient Syria and is still spoken by small communities in parts of the Middle East. Its earliest inscriptions date back to the 10th century BCE.

Armenian: Armenian is an Indo-European language that has a rich literary tradition dating back to the 5th century CE. It is the official language of Armenia and is still spoken by communities in other parts of the world.

Basque: Basque is a language isolate that is spoken in the Basque region of Spain and France. Its origins are not well understood, but it has been spoken for over 2,000 years.

Tamilakam: Tamilakam is a group of ancient Tamil-speaking regions in southern India, which had a distinct culture and language dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Its literary tradition is still celebrated today.

It's worth noting that there are many other ancient languages that are no longer spoken today but have had a significant impact on the development of modern languages and culture.

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