Bill Bryson's exploration of the English language reveals how pronunciation can shift over time, noting specific examples such as the difference in sounds between "bath" and "bathe," or how the letter 's' changes to a 'z' in "house" when pluralized. These subtle alterations can lead to considerable confusion, especially for non-native speakers who are trying to master the language.

Furthermore, Bryson emphasizes the complexity of English by presenting the spelling doublet "life/lives," which also has two distinct pronunciations, "līves" and "lĭves." This illustrates the multifaceted nature of English, where both spelling and pronunciation can vary significantly, making it a particularly challenging language to learn.