1. Proto-Arabic: Linguists believe the earliest form of Arabic, known as Proto-Arabic, emerged around 2,000 years ago. This is based on the reconstruction of its vocabulary and grammatical features from related languages like Aramaic and Hebrew.
2. Classical Arabic: The form of Arabic we know as Classical Arabic, the language of the Quran and much of Islamic literature, developed in the 7th century CE. This is the time when the Quran was revealed and Arabic spread rapidly with the rise of Islam.
3. Modern Arabic: Modern Arabic, with its various dialects, is considered to have evolved from Classical Arabic. It's difficult to pinpoint an exact date for this evolution, but it's generally considered to have started around the 10th century CE and continues to evolve today.
So, what age should we consider "the age" of Arabic?
* 2,000 years if you're talking about the origin of Proto-Arabic, its ancestor.
* 1,400 years if you're focusing on Classical Arabic, the standardized language of the Quran.
* Over 1,000 years if you're interested in Modern Arabic in its various forms.
Therefore, the age of Arabic depends on what aspect of the language you're interested in. It's a rich language with a long and complex history.