The oldest among the spoken literary languages of South India is:

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Tamil.

• Tamil is the oldest spoken and literary language among South Indian languages.

• It has a continuous literary tradition dating back over 2,000 years.

• Tamil literature, including Sangam poetry, is some of the oldest surviving classical literature in the world.

Information Booster:

• Tamil is recognized as a classical language by the Government of India.

• The Sangam period (circa 300 BCE – 300 CE) marks the height of ancient Tamil literature.

• Tamil inscriptions are found dating back to 500 BCE.

• It has influenced other South Indian languages like Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

• Tamil is still widely spoken and used in literature, media, and education.

• It has a rich tradition of poetry, philosophy, and religious texts.

• Tamil language and culture have significantly contributed to Indian heritage.

Additional Information:

• Kannada: Old but younger than Tamil, literary records from 5th century CE.

• Malayalam: Developed later around 9th-13th century CE from Tamil.

• Telugu: Literary tradition dates from 11th century CE onwards.