Here's what we know and what we can infer:
* Language is older than writing: We know that languages existed long before writing systems were developed. While writing helps us track the development of language, it doesn't provide a complete picture of its origins.
* Proto-languages and language families: Linguists have identified language families, suggesting a shared ancestor (proto-language). For example, the Indo-European language family has been traced back to a proto-language spoken around 4500-2500 BCE in the Pontic-Caspian Steppe.
* The "Out-of-Africa" hypothesis: The dominant theory for the origins of modern humans points to Africa as the starting point. This suggests that early human languages likely developed in Africa before the migration to other parts of the world.
It's important to remember that:
* No single language is "older" than any other. All languages have evolved over time, and their origins are intertwined.
* Language is a complex system: It's difficult to pinpoint when or how language "began." It likely developed gradually through stages of increasing complexity.
* Archaeological evidence is limited: While archaeology can provide insights into the history of language, it can't provide definitive answers about its origins.
Therefore, we can't definitively say which languages appeared first. However, based on the evidence, it's likely that:
* The earliest languages emerged in Africa.
* Languages developed gradually over time.
* The oldest surviving language families offer glimpses into the ancient history of language.
The study of language origins continues to be an ongoing area of research. New discoveries and advancements in linguistic analysis may reveal even more about the evolution of languages in the future.