When we look back at old texts its often obvious to an astute reader that there are phrases or words or idioms that were used at one point in time that are no longer used. We also see new terms "coined" as time goes on.

As time goes on languages change. Since language impacts what we think on a deep level seeing how language changes is important for seeing how thoughts change. There's a big trend these days to police language for this reason, preventing free speech is a way for tyrants to get their way.

When we look back in the past we can see a wealth of information about cultures and how they change over time from phrases that people once used a lot but no longer do. Sometimes the meanings of words change, but sometimes they just stop being used. When the meanings of words change you often have this jarring sensation when you see the old words used with the old meaning. But for words and phrases that have simply fallen out of use its not the same.

When people stop using certain phrases the meanings behind those phrases starts to fade in the collective consciousness of a language. Keep track of some of these phrases strikes me as an important way to keep a connection with the past.