* Evolution, not a sudden invention: Languages evolve over time, borrowing from other languages, adapting to new situations, and changing in pronunciation and grammar. Hindi's roots can be traced back to the Prakrit languages spoken in ancient India, and it has been influenced by Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic.
* No clear "birth" date: There wasn't a specific point where someone decided to create Hindi. It emerged gradually over centuries.
* Standardization: While Hindi's roots are ancient, the modern standardized Hindi we know today was established in the 19th century by scholars and writers who formalized its grammar and script.
Instead of a start date, we can talk about key milestones:
* Early forms: The languages that evolved into Hindi were spoken around 1000 BC.
* Medieval influences: Persian and Arabic heavily influenced Hindi during the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526).
* Modern Hindi: The 19th century saw standardization and the rise of Hindi literature, solidifying its position as a major language in India.
Therefore, while it's impossible to give a specific "year" for the start of Hindi, we can trace its journey back to ancient times and appreciate the complex history of its development.