Strange Words : English Examined

Beauties of English Index


Strange Words : English Examined

Our language is so constituted that it is very easy to make new words or to adapt strange ones, so that there is no art or science which cannot be fully and copiously dealt with in English. But the greatest care ought to be taken, the advice of learned grammarians and the authority of the magistracy (government) should be sought before new or strange words should be admitted into COMMON use: for this childish (shall I say mad?) affection of words is absolutely blameworthy when much more suitable ones could be drawn from our own fount, the affected words obscure the native propriety of the language and make the language itself untrue to its own nature, confused uncertain and burdened with a useless weight of words.

(- Christopher Cooper 1698 from English Examined : Page 54)