How old is Sanskrit?

Long ago, before languages were introduced, human beings used gestures and primitive oral sounds to communicate with each other. It was the time when there were no civilizations but only kingdoms were present at the time. The concept of language emerged about 10,000 years ago and it completely changed the communication platform of humanity. Since then, the use of languages has developed, and currently, we have more than 7,000 languages that different speakers speak. But the origin of the first language has always been the debate. Today, we will study one of the oldest languages of the world i.e. Sanskrit language. It is a major part of the Indo-European language family.

Many people are curious about its origin and long-lasting history. Let’s study this ancient language to determine how old is Sanskrit?

Origin of Sanskrit language

According to linguists, Sanskrit language was very influential to several other languages of Europe. Some say that the language came from Tamil. Sanskrit belongs to Indo-European languages. The Armenian language also belongs to this group. The origin of the Armenian language was 450 BC. It is one of the three earliest documented languages and all of them have a common root which is now referred to as Proto-Indo-European language. These three languages include Vedic Sanskrit, Mycenaean Greek, and Hittite. Some believe that it occurred in the world about 4000 years ago, while some say 6000 years. There are long debates ongoing on this topic.

Sanskrit was the language of classics previously. Even until now, it has achieved the status of the official language in the Indian Peninsula. Though it is the oldest language, it fell out of common usage around 600 B.C. It is now a liturgical language i.e. it is the holy language present in the scripture of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. As well, it is a sacred language also. The first written record of Sanskrit can be found in Rig-Veda, it is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymn that was seen somewhere around the 2nd millennium B.C. According to some recent studies, this lingo forms the basis for many European languages and it is still one of India’s official languages. Also, check out the oldest languages of Europe.

History of Sanskrit

Vedic Sanskrit is the earliest form of the Sanskrit language. It is also a literary language of ancient India. The dialects of this lingo were found in the northern midlands of the Indian subcontinent approximately around 1500 BCE. This lingo was orally preserved as a part of the Vedic chanting tradition. It was even present during the Buddha’s time. Its pronunciation varied regionally over time. Moreover, this lingo has evolved several scripts over the centuries. The great scholar Panini converts Vedic Sanskrit into Classical language when he was defining grammar around 500 BCE.

Vedic Sanskrit

It is the lingo of Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Its knowledge became a form of high social class during and even and after the Vedic period. This language can have traces from to the centuries where people speak Indo-Iranian known as Aryan languages. The middle Indo-Aryan languages migration theory explains the common features of Sanskrit and other Indo-European languages by analyzing the current original speakers of Sanskrit. It gives birth to several modern languages.

All middle Indo-Aryan languages and modern Indo-Aryan languages are present in original forms from ancient times. The pre-history of Indo-Aryan languages which explains that Vedic Sanskrit is unclear and different hypothesis place a wide limit on it. Its literature also began with the oral tradition of Sanskrit Epics. Though it was a debate for scholars whether Sanskrit is a literary language or just a spoken language but Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit is a literary language heavily influenced by Middle Indo-Aryan languages.

Classification

The pre-classical form of Sanskrit is called Vedic Sanskrit.

The standardized form of Vedic is called Classical Sanskrit.

Sanskrit, as a language competed with numerous, less exact vernacular Indian languages, is called Prakritic languages.

Sanskrit Literature

Around 500 BC, an ancient scholar Panini described the grammar of Vedic Sanskrit. It includes 3,959 rules of syntax, semantics, and morphology. He gave information about the study of words and how they relate to each other. The most important surviving text of Vyakarana i.e. the linguistic was Panini’s Astadhyayi. It consists of eight chapters which are stating his rules and their sources. Through the standardization of this grammar, Panini took help and created what we have now known as Classical Language. The morphology of Sanskrit has two categories i.e., nominal forms and verbal forms. The verbal form is more common. Shulman mentions the Dravidian nonfinite verbal forms.

Origin Of Classical Period

The origin of the classical period of literature of Sanskrit dates back to the Gupta period and the successive pre-Islamic middle kingdoms of India, spanning approximately the 3rd century to the 8th century. Another Indian literature, Hindu Puranas include myths and legends that date back to the century of classical Sanskrit. Works of Sanskrit literature like Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali and the Upanishads are still alive and practitioners still use it for yoga today. The translation of series of sacred Hindu treatises was available in Arabic and Persian. Ethical reflections and proverbial philosophy characterize Sanskrit fairy tales and fables. People use a particular style making its way into Persian and Arabic literature. There is a lot of exertion on these fairy tales and they got a lot of fame. The ancient inscriptions of the lingo date back to the 6th century.

Writing System

The early history of writing Sanskrit and other languages is quite a problematic topic. The earliest possible Script from South Asia is from the Indus Valley civilization (3rd/2nd millennium) but this script – if it is a script is not understood nor has translation in normal lingo. ‘Lipi’ is the term in Sanskrit which means “writing, letters, and alphabets”. In context, it refers to the script, art, or any manner of writing or drawing. This term of writing system also appears in some of the earliest Buddhist, Hindu, and Jaina texts. For centuries, people write Sanskrit with several scripts. These include Brahmi script i.e. modified consonant syllabic, Nagari script which was drastically in use, and other scripts such as Gujarati, Bangla, Odia, and major south Indian scripts.

Scriptures And Scholars

The scholars studying Sanskrit describe that there are no written records of an early period but they are confident that the oral transmission of the texts is valid and reliable. Indian texts in Sanskrit were already present in China by 402 CE.  All are Hindu texts except the Buddhist one.

Some Indian authors state that Sanskrit is was a dead language by the 1st millennium BCE. The Chinese language influences the migration of linguistic elements and ideas of Sanskrit texts. The evidence of writing systems in the form of Sanskrit and Prakrit inscription dates back to the 3rd century and 4th century. Sanskrit is the liturgical language of Hinduism and it was of so low caste that people did not listen or recite it. The Sanskritisation and Tanittamail Idakka date from the 19th century and 20th century. Sanskrit has another name Devbhasha. And Devanagari’s script belongs to the 18th century and 19th century.

People use Sanskrit for religious texts. This ancient lingo has various scripts on a variety of mediums like palm leaves, cloth, rock, metal sheets, and paper from ancient times. People speak it widely around the world like in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. Like the Greek language and Egyptian language, Sanskrit also has historical significance. Sanskrit played a role as a common language has evolved and diversified dialects. The presence of an accent system in Vedic Sanskrit is evidence from the Vedic texts.

Moreover, the earliest compositions are the Vedic texts. Furthermore, the regional scripts of this lingo were influencing the choice of the writing system. From history i.e. between the 4th century and 7th centuries, South Indian inscriptions were exclusively present in Sanskrit lingo. There was consistency in the language till the 17th century but the writing system was changing over time. Apart from Sanskrit, the Hebrew language and Arabic language are the oldest lingoes. The first example of Sanskrit belongs to the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. People speak it in the oral society. It influences many modern languages.

Long ago, before languages were introduced, human beings used gestures and primitive oral sounds to communicate with each other. It was the time when there were no civilizations but only kingdoms were present at the time. The concept of language emerged about 10,000 years ago and it completely changed the communication platform of humanity. Since then, the use of languages has developed, and currently, we have more than 7,000 languages that different speakers speak. But the origin of the first language has always been the debate. Today, we will study one of the oldest languages of the world i.e. Sanskrit language. It is a major part of the Indo-European language family.

Dravidian languages

The Dravidian languages, dating back to the 5th century, constitute a significant linguistic family with deep roots in South Asia. Serving as national languages in Southeast Asia, they share historical connections with Mycenaean Greek and Ancient Greek. Predominantly spoken in South Asia and Central Asia, these languages have been instrumental in the preservation of sacred texts, including Vedic texts from the 1st century. Despite the dominance of modern Indo-Aryan languages in contemporary times, Dravidian languages persist as living languages, embodying an ancient Indo-Aryan heritage dating back to the 14th century. Their ancient literature, transmitted orally through the centuries, continues to enrich South Asian culture. Though some have become dead languages over time, the influence of Dravidian languages extends beyond South Asia, reaching East Asia and beyond. Scholars like George Cardona and Dhanesh Jain, notably in their collaborative work since 2007, have significantly contributed to the understanding and preservation of Dravidian linguistic heritage.

Linguistic Diversity in South Asia

Southeast Asia, a region of immense cultural diversity, has been profoundly influenced by linguistic ties to South Asia. Within this context, South Asia serves as a pivotal hub, not only for its native languages but also as a gateway to Central Asia. This linguistic exchange is evidenced by traces of Ancient Greek in some indigenous languages and the broader Indo-European family. While modern Indo-Aryan languages dominate discourse in modern times, ancient Indo-Aryan languages from the 14th century persist as living languages, preserving rich traditions of ancient literature through oral transmission. This oral tradition, deeply ingrained in South Asian culture, transcends geographical boundaries, resonating across Southeast Asia and beyond. Scholars such as Dhanesh Jain and George Cardona have made significant contributions to the understanding of these linguistic phenomena, particularly through their collaborative work since 2007.

South Asia, a region renowned for its linguistic diversity, boasts a rich tapestry of native languages belonging to various families. In modern times, these languages continue to thrive, nourished by centuries-old traditions of oral transmission. Among these linguistic traditions, the Indo-European family holds particular significance, tracing its roots back to the 2nd century and beyond. Scholars like Dhanesh Jain and George Cardona have significantly contributed to the study and preservation of South Asian languages, notably through their collaborative work, such as the seminal publication in 2007 by Jain & George Cardona. Through their efforts, the intricate linguistic landscape of South Asia is meticulously documented and celebrated, reflecting the region’s cultural heritage and linguistic vibrancy.

The concept of a “family of languages” refers to a group of  coptic language that share common historical, structural, and sometimes even geographical origins. These languages typically evolve from a common ancestor and exhibit similarities in grammar, vocabulary, and phonetics. One prominent example is the Indo-European language family, which includes languages such as English, Spanish, Hindi, and Russian, among many others. The classification of languages into families helps linguists understand linguistic evolution, migration patterns, and cultural connections among different groups of people across time and space. Studying these language families provides insights into human history, cultural exchanges, and the diversity of expression found within the world’s languages.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS