King Alfred's English, a History of the Language We Speak and Why We Should Be Glad We Do

by Laurie J. White

A language is somewhat like a card game. It consists of vocabulary and grammar. The vocabulary is the deck of cards, and the grammar is the rules for the game. The deck is useless by itself because without some rules no game is possible. And just as knowing the rules makes playing the card game possible, knowing grammar makes communication possible. Without grammar, no one could even talk.

Living languages always simplify over time.

Cædmon holds the honor of being the earliest known English poet.