* Ancient Origins: Tamil is one of the oldest living classical languages in the world. It has a rich literary tradition dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE.
* No Definitive Evidence: While there are ancient inscriptions and texts, there's no conclusive evidence for a specific "birth year" of the language. It likely evolved over centuries from Proto-Dravidian, a hypothetical ancestor of the Dravidian languages.
* Continuous Evolution: Languages are constantly evolving, and Tamil is no exception. It has changed over time, with new words and grammar features developing.
Instead of a specific year, experts use the term "proto-history" to describe the early stages of Tamil. This period is characterized by limited written records, but linguistic evidence suggests that Tamil has been spoken and evolved for thousands of years.