I would say that anything harder is not beyond the ask. It is just that our word list is now bigger, meanings have split, and we often use the newer words. We

I would say that anything harder is not beyond the ask. It is just that our word list is now bigger, meanings have split, and we often use the newer words. We can still say and ask the same things with the old words, but the extra vocabulary makes for richer discourse; and we're now more used to those choices. In a situation where brevity and clarity is necessary (e.g. dangerous environments, modern warfare), the language quickly strips itself to its core - without having to think about it. Even "mind the gap".