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 404 might say, for example, Eft he axode, hu re eode nama wre e hi of comon,