* Language is dynamic: Language is a living system that adapts and evolves over time. It's not static, and changes occur constantly as people:
* Borrow words: From other languages, creating new blends (e.g., "selfie", "hashtag").
* Create new words: To describe new concepts or technologies (e.g., "blog", "app").
* Alter grammar: Shifting sentence structure or word order (e.g., the evolution of the English "Thou" to "You").
* Change pronunciations: Sounds shift over generations (e.g., the "r" sound in American English being lost in words like "car").
* Change is gradual: While language is dynamic, change doesn't happen overnight. It's a slow, gradual process, often driven by social and cultural factors.
* Language change is not uniform: Different groups of speakers within a language may change at different paces and in different ways. This leads to regional dialects and even the emergence of new languages entirely.
So, why is language not continuous?
"Continuous" implies a constant, unbroken flow of change. While language is dynamic, the changes aren't always smooth or predictable. They can be sudden (like a sudden influx of new vocabulary) or slow and gradual (like the evolution of grammar). There are periods of relative stability interspersed with periods of more significant change.
Think of it like a river. The river is always flowing, but there are stretches of calm water punctuated by rapids or waterfalls. Language is similarly dynamic, with periods of stability interspersed with periods of more rapid change.