* Evolution, not birth: Languages evolve over time, rather than having a specific "birth date."
* Early forms: The earliest known writings in Malayalam date back to the 9th century CE, but they show strong influences from Sanskrit and Tamil.
* Dialectal origins: Malayalam likely emerged from a group of South Dravidian dialects, making its origins even more complex.
Here's what we can say about Malayalam's history:
* Ancient Roots: Malayalam's roots are deeply connected to the Dravidian language family, with connections to Tamil and other South Indian languages.
* Emergence: By the 10th century CE, a distinct "Malayalam" writing style and vocabulary were becoming recognizable, based on available inscriptions and literature.
* Development: Over the centuries, Malayalam continued to evolve, solidifying its own distinct grammar and literature, drawing influences from Sanskrit and other languages.
Therefore, it's more accurate to say that Malayalam is an ancient language with a long history of development and evolution, rather than having a precise "birth date."