Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with a rich cultural heritage and a fascinating history. But how old is Hindi language?
Hindi is actually a descendant of Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world. Sanskrit, which is considered the mother of all Indo-European languages, has been in existence for more than 3,500 years. It was used as a language of communication, literature, and religion in ancient India, and was spoken by scholars, priests, and intellectuals.
Over time, Sanskrit evolved into various other languages, including Hindi. Hindi emerged as a distinct language around the 7th century AD. It was heavily influenced by other languages such as Persian, Arabic, and Turkish, due to the cultural and linguistic exchanges that took place during the Mughal era.
The earliest known Hindi literature dates back to the 12th century, in the form of religious poetry called bhakti. This poetry was composed in vernacular Hindi rather than Sanskrit, which was the language of the elite at the time. The bhakti movement, which emphasized devotion to a personal god, had a profound impact on Hindi literature and language.
In the 19th century, Hindi underwent a major transformation with the introduction of Devanagari script. Devanagari, which means “divine city,” is a script that was developed specifically for Sanskrit and Hindi. It is a syllabic script, which means that each letter represents a syllable rather than a single sound. This made it easier to write Hindi words and helped to standardize the language.
Today, Hindi is the official language of India and is spoken by more than 500 million people worldwide. It is also one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, which means that it receives special constitutional recognition and protection.
In conclusion, Hindi is a relatively young language compared to Sanskrit, but it has a rich history and a vibrant culture. Its evolution and development over the centuries have been shaped by a variety of cultural and linguistic influences, making it a unique and fascinating language.