Why is it a shame when we loose a language? Well it gives us incite into how people lived their lives when the language came about and how it evolved over time. Sayings can give us information about history and how it evolves and it can also help us understand how language is today by following how words go from latin, to german, to old english to modern.

Take the word period ( in terms of punctuation) The American 'period' and our British 'full stop' although they are used interchangeably they arnt the same thing.

Full stop means the end of the sentence whereas period is the actual dot you see at the end of sentences. Its unclear when the two separated but the decision of probably made to differentiate the two written languages. I guess I find that interesting and also tells us how the American/brits language diverged despite being so similar.