Key word is “MOSTLY.” English language changed LESS in the 400 years since his death than it did in the 100 years before his birth. Take a look at English from the late 1400s and it is much different.
Excellent point. We can read Shakespeare and the King James Bible and understand the content. Read a document from King Alfred the Great era, not so much. IMHO and I am no expert, writing, the need for writing, is to record information. Commerce would have a great influence on writing and the need to change, adapt, include new words as needed to keep up with the business demands. After the fall of Rome, in Western Europe, not too much commerce taking place. The western world was busy hanging on to what little learning it had and survival. As Western Europe evolved from the ‘dark ages’ the need for language and writing skills increased exponentially. Just my thoughts.
Great thread pj! Well done.