145
How far back in time can you understand English? (www.deadlanguagesociety.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Chromebby@lemmy.world to c/neat@lemmy.world
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Very entertaining. I’m totally lost around 1400. I don’t even recognize 1200 as English lol.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] scops@reddthat.com 3 points 2 days ago

Is it some kind of social commentary that the writer seems progressively more superstitious and easily frightened as the centuries roll back?

Dude talks about a walk back to his B&B like he's a Hobbit dodging nazguls

[-] CombatWombat@feddit.online 4 points 2 days ago

Yep! For instance, the author discusses the changes from a blog post to a letter from 2000 - 1800. As they move back in time, both the language and also the themes and form change to match the style of literature and culture of the time.

[-] Not_mikey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago

I mean he has a right to be suspicious

!the story seems to be about a werewolfs goons capturing him and sentencing him to death until he's saved by Ælfgifu gehaten!<

this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2026
145 points (100.0% liked)

Neat - For neat stuff you found

1703 readers
15 users here now

For stuff that's neat. Neat article? Neat video? Neat pic of a bug you saw? All good. Neat meme? Ehhh... take it to the meme subs.

Rules

  1. Don't be an asshole. If you're reading a comment you're about to make and think "Hmm... this sounds like the kind of comment an asshole would make" then do not make that comment. Yes, even if the other person "started it". The report button is your friend.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Stern@lemmy.world