Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there was never such a year. The language of Chaucer's or Shakespeare's time was no better and no worse than that of our own - just different.
Interpretation
Language evolves over time, and no single period can be considered the definitive standard of excellence.
Jean Aitchison's quote highlights the notion that language is dynamic and constantly changes rather than adhering to a fixed standard of 'excellence.' The idea that there was a perfect period in history when language peaked is a myth; language in the time of great writers like Chaucer and Shakespeare was simply different, not inherently superior or inferior to contemporary language.
In practice
In a discussion about linguistic diversity, one might refer to Aitchison's quote to argue against prescriptive norms.
The living language is like a cowpath: it is the creation of the cows themselves, who, having created it, follow it or depart from it according to their whims or their needs. From daily use, the path undergoes change. A cow is under no obligation to stay
Part of what makes a language 'alive' is its constant evolution. I would hate to think Britain would ever emulate France, where they actually have a learned faculty whose job it is to attempt to prevent the incursion of foreign words into the language. I love editing Harry with Arthur Levine, my American editor-the differences between 'British English' (of which there must be at least 200 versions) and 'American English' (ditto!) are a source of constant interest and amusement to me.
Words have a genealogy and it's easier to trace the evolution of a single word than the evolution of a language.
People have been warning us that language was going to the dogs ever since Latin started turning into French. Yet the dogs in question never seem to emerge yelping on the horizon.
She wanted more, more slang, more figures of speech, the bee's knees, the cats pajamas, horse of a different color, dog-tired, she wanted to talk like she was born here, like she never came from anywhere else
Language makes infinite use of finite media.
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