The first language, in terms of the oldest known written language, is generally considered to be Sumerian. It dates back to at least 3500 BC, with the earliest written evidence found on artifacts such as the Kish Tablet from ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerian is recognized as one of the first languages to have a clear written record, using the cuneiform script

. Alongside Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian is also among the oldest known written languages, with hieroglyphic inscriptions dating back to around 3200 BC

. If considering the oldest language family still spoken today, the Afroasiatic language family (which includes Hebrew and Arabic) has roots tracing back approximately 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, though the exact divergence of these languages is debated

. Regarding the oldest living languages still in use, Tamil is often cited as one of the oldest continuously spoken languages, with written records dating back to at least the 5th century BC and a rich literary tradition that suggests an even older origin, though archaeological evidence is limited

. Other ancient living languages include Sanskrit (first attested around 1500-1200 BC) and Greek (with written records from around 1450 BC)

. In summary:

• Oldest known written language: Sumerian (c. 3500 BC)
• Other ancient written languages: Ancient Egyptian, Akkadian
• Oldest language family: Afroasiatic (including Hebrew and Arabic)
• Oldest living languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Greek

This makes Sumerian the earliest language with a written record and often considered the first language in human history based on current archaeological evidence