Language is very probably the one character separates us from the chimpanzees, our closest relatives. All other major differences between us likely stem from language. Ever since prehistoric man that he couldn't easily draw «I need a vacation, so book two tickets on the next Stegosaurus to Maui », language has continually changed. Anyone who thinks it's going to suddenly stop changing, probably drives an Edsel and expects land-line telephones to make a comeback. Naturally, language changes to reflect new concepts, technology and products. Who wouldn't rather say «Internet » than the thing that allows us to have access to global information, shop from our home and receive junk mail without going to the mailbox. Yet linguists find that all languages change over time ”albeit at different rates. For example, while Japanese has changed relatively little over 1,000 years, English evolved rapidly in just a few centuries. Many present-day speakers find Shakespeare's sixteenth century texts difficult and Chaucer's fourteenth century Canterbury Tales nearly impossible to read. Languages change for a variety of reasons. Large-scale shifts often occur in response to social, economic and political pressures. History records many examples of language change fueled by invasions, colonization and migration. Even without these kinds of influences, a language can change dramatically if enough users alter the way they speak it. New technologies, industries, products and experiences simply require new words. Plastic, cell phones and the Internet didn't exist in Shakespeare's time, for example. By using new and emerging terms, we all drive language change. What is more fascinating is the shifting meanings of established words, like making issue a synonym of problem. Today though we take great care not to offend anyone so everything from a sprained ankle to a lazy co-worker and a bankrupt corruption is an issue. Many of us want to so desperately