ABSTRACT
The chapter looks at the growth of English vocabulary in the Early Modern English period. The key figures are Thomas Elyot and Thomas Wilson. It considers the two main strategies for enlarging the vocabulary - borrowing words from other tongues, both classical and modern, and developing the use of already-existing native words. This leads into a discussion of the so-called ‘Inkhorn Controversy,’ where these two strategies are opposed to each other. Examples of each strategy are discussed, including how some invented Germanic-based words were introduced in an attempt to replace Latinate ones. Particular attention is given to Shakespeare’s words. Attention is also paid to the lack of systematicity in much Early Modern English language, where individuals were given much freedom in the way they used the language.
