In his book "Made in America," Bill Bryson emphasizes that the absence of a word or phrase in records doesn't imply it has never existed. He suggests that language is dynamic and constantly evolving, with many terms potentially falling out of historical documentation without disappearing from actual usage.
This observation highlights the limitations of recorded language, as it relies on available documentation which may not capture the full spectrum of linguistic evolution. Bryson urges readers to appreciate the richness and variability of language beyond what is formally recognized.