Here's why:
* Ancient Literature: Tamil has a rich literary tradition dating back to the Sangam period (300 BCE to 300 CE). The Sangam poems provide valuable insights into the language and culture of ancient Tamil society.
* Dravidian Family: Both Kannada and Tamil belong to the Dravidian language family, which is believed to have originated in South India. However, Tamil is considered to be a more ancient branch of the Dravidian family.
* Linguistic Evidence: Linguistic evidence suggests that Tamil has retained a more archaic form of Dravidian vocabulary and grammar compared to Kannada.
While Kannada also has a long history and a vibrant literary tradition, it is generally accepted that Tamil predates Kannada by several centuries.