Shakespeare used 17,677 words in his writings, of which at least one-tenth had never been used before. Imagine if every tenth word you wrote were original. It is a staggering display of ingenuity. But
In his exploration of the English language, Bill Bryson highlights the remarkable creativity of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare's body of work consisted of 17,677 unique words, a significant portion of which, approximately one-tenth, were entirely original. This fact underscores the extraordinary inventiveness of the playwright, suggesting a world of linguistic possibilities where one out of every ten words crafted was unprecedented.
Such a feat of originality emphasizes Shakespeare's impact on language and literature. Bryson encourages readers to appreciate this ingenuity and consider the influence that such a wealth of new vocabulary has had on the evolution of English. The mention of Shakespeare’s contributions serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of language and its development over time.
