<Li> the Cypro - Minoan syllabary </Li> <P> Earlier symbols, such as the Jiahu symbols, Vinča symbols and the marks on the Dispilio tablet, are believed to be proto - writing, rather than representations of language . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Language </Th> <Th> Attestation </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 2690 BC </Td> <Td> Egyptian </Td> <Td> Egyptian hieroglyphs in the tomb of Seth - Peribsen (2nd Dynasty), Umm el - Qa'ab </Td> <Td> "proto - hieroglyphic" inscriptions from about 3300 BC (Naqada III; see Abydos, Egypt, Narmer Palette) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26th century BC </Td> <Td> Sumerian </Td> <Td> Instructions of Shuruppak, the Kesh temple hymn and other cuneiform texts from Shuruppak and Abu Salabikh (Fara period) </Td> <Td> "proto - literate" period from about 3500 BC (see Kish tablet); administrative records at Uruk and Ur from c. 2900 BC . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 2400 BC </Td> <Td> Akkadian </Td> <Td> A few dozen pre-Sargonic texts from Mari and other sites in northern Babylonia </Td> <Td> Some proper names attested in Sumerian texts at Tell Harmal from about 2800 BC . Fragments of the Legend of Etana at Tell Harmal c. 2600 BC . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 2400 BC </Td> <Td> Eblaite </Td> <Td> Ebla tablets </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 2250 BC </Td> <Td> Elamite </Td> <Td> Awan dynasty peace treaty with Naram - Sin </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21st century BC </Td> <Td> Hurrian </Td> <Td> Temple inscription of Tish - atal in Urkesh </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1700 BC </Td> <Td> Hittite </Td> <Td> Anitta text in Hittite cuneiform </Td> <Td> Isolated Hittite words and names occur in Assyrian texts found at Kültepe, from the 19th century BC . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16th century BC </Td> <Td> Palaic </Td> <Td> Hittite texts CTH 751--754 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1450 BC </Td> <Td> Mycenaean Greek </Td> <Td> Linear B tablet archive from Knossos </Td> <Td> These are mostly administrative lists, with some complete sentences . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1400 BC </Td> <Td> Luwian </Td> <Td> Hieroglyphic Luwian monumental inscriptions, Cuneiform Luwian tablets in the Hattusa archives </Td> <Td> Isolated hieroglyphs appear on seals from the 18th century BC . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1400 BC </Td> <Td> Hattic </Td> <Td> Hittite texts CTH 725--745 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1300 BC </Td> <Td> Ugaritic </Td> <Td> Tablets from Ugarit </Td> <Td> see Ugaritic alphabet </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> c. 1200 BC </Td> <Td> Old Chinese </Td> <Td> Oracle bone and bronze inscriptions from the reign of Wu Ding </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Language </Th> <Th> Attestation </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

Who was the first language spoken in the world