* Evolution, not sudden creation: Languages evolve over time, making it hard to say when one language "becomes" another. Malayalam developed from the ancient Tamil-Brahmi script and has been influenced by Sanskrit and other languages.
* Linguistic evidence: While there are ancient inscriptions and writings, they don't necessarily represent a fully formed "Malayalam" as we know it today.
* Differing interpretations: Scholars may have different views on what constitutes the "beginning" of Malayalam.
However, we can say that:
* Earliest evidence: The oldest inscriptions using a form of Malayalam script date back to the 9th century AD.
* Formation: Linguists generally consider Malayalam to have formed between the 9th and 14th centuries AD.
* Modern Malayalam: The language has continued evolving since then and is considered a distinct language today.
So, while a precise age is hard to determine, it's safe to say Malayalam has a history of over 1000 years and continues to thrive as a vibrant and evolving language.