In ancient times, people used strange gestures and sounds to convey their messages to others. It was a crude form of communication. With time, when people started interacting with each other, they came up with different languages. People wrote old languages with old scripts.
Globalization resulted in the formation of new languages. However, the aged people gave preferences to their old languages. According to them, their mother tongue could take their legacy forward. Many countries also took initiatives in the preservation of old languages. This is because old languages preserved their civilization and heritage.
The new generation is learning English because it is a universal language. However, in their homes, they try to speak the language of their ancestors. People around the world speak different languages. Languages in the world identify nations as every nation has its official language.
Do you know that few countries have more than one official language? One of these countries is India. To your surprise, India has 22 official languages. Moreover, Hindi is one of the most spoken official languages in India. Approximately 52.83 crore people speak this language in that country. For diplomatic relations with this enormous country, the best Hindi translation services are of great help. One of the important things about official languages is that no matter how old the language is. It can survive easily because of its popularity and use by the general public.
OLDEST LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD
Researchers date the history of old languages back thousands of years. Some of the languages got extinct while some languages survived.
Let’s look at some of the oldest languages in the world.
Tamil
To your surprise, Tamil is the only classical language that has survived in the global world. It is the official language of Singapore and Sri Lanka along with India. Moreover, the people of India speak this language widely. Historians date the history of Tamil scripts back to the 3rd century BCE, considering Tamil one of the oldest languages.. Approximately, 78 million people around the world speak Tamil. This language derives from the Dravidian language family.
For cultural exchange, you must take the assistance of a Tamil translation company to connect with the enriched heritage of India, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. However, the highest prevalence of this language is in India. Don’t forget to complement Tamil with the best Hindi translation services if you want to ensure successful expansion in India.
Hebrew Language
Hebrew is a 3000-year-old language. It is a Semitic language. People stopped using this language between 200 and 400 CE but this language revived in the 19th century with the rise of Zionism. Do you know that the Old Testament of the Bible is also in the Hebrew language? In the Hebrew script, the Hebrew language is written from right to left. Understanding what is written in the Hebrew language is limited to native Hebrew speakers.
Icelandic
Have you heard the name of the Icelandic language? Probably not. It is the national language of Iceland. Around 350,000 thousand people around the world speak this old language. This language came into existence when Norse settlers brought with them this language and they came to the country to stay. It is an Indo-European language that is derived from the North Germanic branch. Many Germanic languages have lost their significance however, the Icelandic language has retained its features. Surprisingly, the Danish government also ruled Iceland from the 14th to 20th century. However, they were unable to affect the structure of this language. The written scripts of Icelandic are similar to Old Norse which can be traced from the works of Ari the Learned.
Arabic
Arabic is one of the world’s oldest languages. It came into existence during the 1st century CE in Northern Arabia. Do you know that the Holy book of Muslims which is the Quran is also in the Arabic language? Muslims from around the world take the assistance of professional Arabic translation to understand their religious book so that they can act upon it. Surprisingly, 28 countries of the world have given it the status of official language. Despite being an old language, this language is surviving because it is associated with the religion Islam. Moreover, It is the significant language of the Arab world.
Farsi
Farsi language depicts the culture of Sufism. Some people think that Farsi is mutually intelligible with Arabic. However, it is not. Professional translation services can greatly help to understand how Farsi is different from Arabic.
Farsi is also the oldest language in the world because of its rich history. Do you know that people living in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Iran speak this language? The Farsi language that people speak today evolved from the old version of Farsi that was spoken in 8OO CE.
Wrapping Up
Translation companies today also play a significant role in preserving the old languages because they can provide translation services in unique language pairs. You can read and hear these languages, no matter how old they are. For instance, if India wants to preserve the heritage of Tamil Nadu where the official language of this state is Tamil then they have to take the assistance of a Tamil translation company. Many countries are putting effort into preserving their languages on a global level. If you can preserve your language then it means you are successful in preserving your identity and rich heritage.