Arts and Literature Information

With over 600,000 words, English contains more words than any language in human history. English has changed inconspicuously, yet steadily since establishing its roots in the fifth century. In fact, English has changed so significantly that the English speaker of the year 404 would have great difficulty understanding the English speaker of 1404, not to mention the one of 2004.

An English speaker of 1404 might say, “We stowpe and stare vp-on the shepes skyn, And keepe must our song and wordes in,” as did poet Thomas Hoccleve, when he complained that artificers could sing while working, but not so clerks like himself.

If the English language resisted change, we would have no words to use to refer to such technological advancements as the internet, or cell phones, or CDs. As long as speakers’ needs change, so will the English language.