Language History, Change and Relationship

Why does language change? Why can we speak to and understand our parents but have trouble reading Shakespeare? Why is Chaucer's English of the 14th century so different from the modern English of the late 20th century that the two are essentially different languages? Why are Americans and English one people divided by a common language ? Therefore, can the language of Chaucer and modern English - modern British and American English - still be called the same language? This book provides answers to questions like these in a straightforward way, aimed at the non-specialist.