Spoken Languages:
* Proto-Indo-European: This reconstructed language is the ancestor of most European and many Asian languages, including English, Spanish, Hindi, and Persian. It is estimated to have been spoken around 4,500 years ago in the Pontic-Caspian steppe.
* Proto-Sino-Tibetan: This reconstructed language is the ancestor of Chinese, Tibetan, and many other languages spoken in East and Southeast Asia. It is thought to have been spoken around 6,000 years ago in the Yellow River valley.
* Proto-Afro-Asiatic: This reconstructed language is the ancestor of languages spoken in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of the Middle East, including Arabic, Hebrew, and Berber. It is estimated to have been spoken around 10,000 years ago in the Nile Valley.
It's important to note that these are just a few examples, and there are other ancient languages that have been reconstructed based on linguistic evidence.
Written Languages:
* Sumerian: This language, written in cuneiform script, is one of the oldest known written languages. It was spoken in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3,500 BCE.
* Egyptian Hieroglyphs: This writing system emerged in Egypt around 3,200 BCE. It evolved from earlier pictographic systems and was used to record a wide range of information, including religious texts, historical records, and everyday correspondence.
* Indus Valley Script: This script, used in the Indus Valley Civilization (modern-day Pakistan and northwest India) between 3300 and 1300 BCE, remains undeciphered. It is considered one of the earliest writing systems in the world.
These are just a few of the oldest known written languages. There are many other ancient writing systems, such as the Proto-Sinaitic script (around 1800 BCE) and the Linear B script (around 1450 BCE), which also played important roles in the development of writing and communication.
Important Considerations:
* Reconstruction: Many of the oldest languages have been reconstructed based on linguistic analysis of related languages. It's impossible to hear or know exactly how they were spoken.
* Missing Information: The archaeological record is not complete, and it's possible that there were other ancient languages that have not yet been discovered or reconstructed.
* Evolution: Languages are constantly evolving, and the oldest forms of languages often differ significantly from their modern descendants.
Ultimately, the question of the oldest spoken and written languages is a complex one, and there is no single definitive answer. However, the languages mentioned above provide valuable insights into the history of human communication and the development of language across different cultures.