* Language Evolution is Gradual: Languages don't suddenly appear. They evolve over long periods through interaction, borrowing, and adaptation.
* Ancient Origins: While the earliest known inscriptions in the Arabic alphabet date back to the 4th century CE, evidence suggests an earlier Proto-Arabic language existed. Linguists speculate it emerged sometime in the 1st millennium BCE.
* No Clear-Cut "Start" Date: There isn't a singular event or point in history marking the exact origin of Arabic. It was a gradual process.
Instead of a specific date, we can consider these milestones:
* Proto-Arabic: This hypothetical language is thought to have emerged around the 1st millennium BCE, forming a base for the later development of Arabic.
* Old South Arabian Languages: These languages, related to Proto-Arabic, were spoken in what is now Yemen and Oman from the 1st millennium BCE until the 1st millennium CE.
* Classical Arabic: This standard form of the language, based on the language of the Quran and developed in the 7th century CE, became the literary and religious language of the Arab world.
Therefore, rather than a definitive "beginning" date, it's more accurate to say that Arabic evolved over a long period, with significant milestones shaping its development.