I further wonder whether it would be at least as accurate to suggest that if Harold had beaten William in 1066, we might actually be speaking English right now, rather than the bizarre Franco-Norman/Saxon hybrid that we have evolved since then!

And if one does take "English" to mean modern English then perhaps the soldiers we should be thanking are Harold's soldiers, for being bad at their jobs?

Still, if I ever decide to get a bumper sticker of this kind it's going to say:

"Oh hai! Can readz? Thank interwebchoobz!"